It's Not Over 'til It's Over

Last updated : 20 February 2013 By Alex Horsburgh
cowdenbeathAs is so often the case with Cowdenbeath FC a massive high is followed by a harsh dose of reality.
 
That was the case last Saturday afternoon when Livingston had The Blue Brazil conceding three points by half time as the West Lothian side raced to a 3-0 interval lead which eventually became the full time score.
 
Three games in seven days proved a bridge too far for the Central Park side and after punching above their weight to beat 1st Division promotion contenders Falkirk and Dunfermline Athletic by 4-1 and 4-2 respectively it was a hangover at Livi following the party high of memorable victories against two of their oldest rivals in the Scottish League.
 
Saturday sees another Kingdom derby hot on the heels of a first League win over The Pars since 1977 when Raith Rovers come to town. The Starks Park men did their local rivals from 12 miles up the road a favour by beating Dumbarton 3-2 on Saturday as Cowden were slumping at Livi but 'Beath manager Colin Cameron does not see that as the end of The Sons recent revival which now has them battling it out with The Blue Brazil in the 1st Division relegation zone.
 
Speaking on Monday night Cameron said: "Ian Murray really has turned things round at Dumbarton and I see their defeat on Saturday at Starks Park as only a temporary glitch. They really are on a roll just now and we must match our performances against Falkirk and The Pars this Saturday against Raith if we want to put some daylight between ourselves and Dumbarton again.''
 
Some Cowdenbeath fans see Raith as a bit of a bogey side these days and social media bluster after the 4-2 defeat of The Pars has now been tempered by a more cautious approach ahead of another vital match in The Blue Brazil's season.
 
''If truth be told they are all important games now'' said Colin Cameron. "We are now at the stage of the season where everybody really knows everybody else in this league and it is important not to go on a run of defeats. That could end promotion hopes or, in our case, a desire to continue in the second tier of Scottish football which would be a great achievement for Cowdenbeath.''
 
Chairman Donald Findlay set Cameron a task of a sixth place finish before the start of the season and after the defeat of Dunfermline that target looked entirely possible. However, such is the nature of the SFL structure that a failure to win three on the trot can send a team back into relegation trouble and that is what happened to Cowden when the lost at Livingston.
 
Now a derby win double in February is required if The Blue Brazil are too keep their heads above the Play-off zone. No need to print a celebratory T-Shirt this time if the near neighbours from Kirkcaldy are put to the sword like The Pars were.
 
On this occasion three points would be more than enough to be going on with.