Cowdenbeath 0-0 East Stirling

Oct 5 2008

EAST STIRLING gaffer Jim McInally praised Cowdenbeath as one of the top teams in the division - then saluted his players for running the show against them.

McInally said: "We dominated the game and a performance like that is better than our league placing.

"We moved the ball about well and carved out some good chances in the second half."

The promotion-chasing Fifers were lucky to escape with a point - a fact acknowledged by Cowden gaffer Danny Lennon who said: "That was a well-below-par performance."

Shire opened on the attack with Colin Cramb twice coming close before Paul McQuade threatened at the other end.

East Stirling were closest to scoring when a Michael Bolochoweckyj header skimmed the bar.

In the second half Cowden had to thank Sandy Hodge and John Armstrong for blocking efforts from Andy Rodgers and Cramb before they scorned a great chance in 52 minutes.

John Gemmell missed his kick with only keeper Jamie Barclay to beat.

But for the remainder of the half Shire were firmly on top.

Hodge again came to the Blue Brazil's rescue, clearing a Cramb shot off the line before Shire's Derek Ure almost snatched victory in the closing minutes.