The 21st Century has seen a definite dominance for the team in black and white when it comes to the quintessential Fife derby. Six miles separate Cowdenbeath and Dunfermline Athletic and while The Pars have always been the more fashionable of the two neighbours there was a time when Cowden were a thorn in the side of their more illustrious opponents.
The 1950's saw a Cowden team at the bottom of the old 2nd Division beat a Pars team at the top 4-0 at Central Park. The 1960's saw Jock Stein lead Athletic to glory in the first part of their halcyon decade.. but only after he had turned down Cowdenbeath who saw his managerial potential first.
The 1970's saw Cowden unbeaten against The Pars in League and cup matches at Central Park from their first meeting on January 1st 1971 until their last in April 1979. However, since Cowden's last big league win over Dunfermline in 1993 at East End Park, a result that denied The Pars promotion, The Eastenders have well and truly laid the bogey against the 'wee team' from Central Fife.
Saturday sees yet another clash of the Kingdom Titans at Central Park and while The Pars start as firm favourites The Blue Brazil's historians might be posting tales of those matches of the 70's at Central Park on the home dressing room wall prior to the big kick off.
1973: Cowdenbeath 1 Dunfermline Athletic 0
A New Year's Day crowd of nearly 6,000 fans peered through the first half fog as Cowden ditched their traditional blue for red shirts. If this was a ploy so home players would identify each other better it worked. In the first 45 minutes Cowden centre-forward Billy Mullen rose above The Pars defence from a corner and headed home. Future Pars player Billy Laing, playing up front for 'Beath, was there to help the goal bound effort over the line for the only goal of a game which saw Cowden complete the league double over their neighbours in the old 19 team 2nd Division.
1976: Cowdenbeath 4 Dunfermline Athletic 0
The one-off Spring Cup in Season 1975/6 brought the Fife sides together in a section that also included Queens Park and Hamilton. The Pars won the first game 1-0 at East End Park but after bossing the first half in the return at Central Park Athletic completely collapsed after half time as Cowden showed more adaptability in a strong cross-wind. Ross (2), Murphy and Harrow got the home goals to once again prove that 'Beath were the undoubted bogey side for a Pars team that included former Scotland goalie Jim Herriot and defender Alan Evans before a big money move to Aston Villa.
1977: Cowdenbeath 3 Dunfermline Athletic 1
Ex-Pars goalie Ernie McGarr and former Pars number three Jim Markey were in defence for Cowden and they helped to continue 'Beath's good run against The Pars in the 70's in this 2nd Division match at Central Park. Ian Harley (2) and George Hunter were the Cowdenbeath scorers in a surprisingly one sided game. Mullin equalised for The Pars.