Cowdenbeath 2-4 Ross County

Jan 27 2008 Chris Sanderson Reports

COWDEN boss Brian Welsh was left cursing two first-half own goals as County strolled to a comfortable victory.

Howlers from John and David Armstrong put the visitors in the driving seat before secondhalf strikes by Martin Scott and Andy Barrowman sealed the points to keep the Staggies at the top of the division.

The visitors got off to a flyer inside 28 seconds when John Armstrong turned Dene Shields' cross past keeper David Hay.

The Fifers went close on the half hour when County keeper Tony Bullock denied Dougie Hill. But the league leaders then added a second when John Armstrong turned another Shields cross past Hay.

And the Dingwall side were cruising four minutes into the second half when Scott drilled home the third after the Cowden defence only half-cleared a Barrowman effort.

Sean Higgins almost made it 4-0 but the midfielder's free-kick was brilliantly turned over the bar by Hay.

Cowden grabbed a 70th minute lifeline when Pat Clarke drilled home a Kenny Adamson cross but County restored their three-goal advantage in 78 minutes when Hay spilled a Hugh Robertson effort and Barrowman slotted the rebound.

John Dempster scored an injury-time consolation for the home side.