Cowdenbeath 2-1 Montrose

Sep 28 2008 Kristian Truelsen At Central Park

BIG-HEARTED John Gemmell helped Cowdenbeath seal a vital victory with a first-half strike - then dedicated the goal to Montrose rival Roddie Hunter. Hunter's father died recently and his former Albion Rovers team-mate was keen to show support for the stricken hitman.

After Paul McQuade hit Cowden's winner with a wonder solo strike Gemmell said: "I would like to dedicate my goal to Roddie whose dad died two weeks ago.

"We are still good mates and talk to each other regularly so I thought it would be fitting to do this for him.

"It was a good goal and a great move. We have been playing well but not getting points so this is a terrific result."

Cowden gaffer Danny Lennon reckons McQuade's 71st minute cracker may not be bettered this season.

He beamed: "Paul's goal was terrific and worthy of winning any game. It's an early contender for goal of the season.

"We deserved the win and our players were fantastic."

Gemmell had the first effort of a stuffy opening spell after 13 minutes but his tame strike went wide.

Moments later Kevin Bradley forced a save from Cowden keeper Scott Gallagher when he headed on David Worrell's looping cross.

The home team began to exert serious pressure and Jay Stein came close with a rasping shot from 25 yards that flew narrowly off target.

John Armstrong should have grabbed Cowden's opener in 26 minutes when Mark Baxter's free-kick bewildered the Montrose defence but the ball trundled wide.

The breakthrough arrived eight minutes later. Gemmell received a cutback from McQuade and side-footed home from six yards.

Bradley almost came up with an instant reply for Montrose when his blistering long-range shot just cleared the bar. And Jim Weir's men snatched a shock equaliser a minute before half-time when John Baird curled the ball past Gallagher after an intricate move cut open the home defence.

Montrose defender Gerry McLaughlan was lucky not to see red after the restart when he clipped last-man Gemmell who was racing in on goal. But ref George Salmond amazingly waved play on.

Cowden piled forward in search of a second and defender Darren McGregor almost got it in 59 minutes only to see his bullet header sail inches over.

The away side were often pegged back but Bradley almost fired them ahead on the counter attack but drilled wide.

However, the Blue Brazil still looked dangerous and snatched the winner in 71 minutes.

McQuade went on a majestic solo run, beating three Montrose defenders before rifling a shot past Greg Kelly.

The visitors' misery was complete late on when sub Chris McLeod, who had only been on four minutes, was red-carded for a horror lunge at Derek Fleming.

Montrose boss Weir said: "We had a lot of good chances and feel aggrieved to have lost."