COWDENBEATH 1 SHIRE 1

The play-off dream is over Shire. Darren McGregor’s hugely-debatable “goal” seven minutes from the end at Central Park gave Cowdenbeath the draw that was enough to take them through to the final.

Up until that point, Shire had looked the likelier side to find the strike that would end the stalemate after Brian Graham had scored in the game’s third minute to level the aggregate score at 2-2.

The decision to award Cowdenbeath the leveller infuriated Shire, who argued McGregor’s header, which was smothered by keeper Mark Peat, had not crossed the line. The force of their protests led to Eddie Forrest and Brian Graham being booked and Michael Bolochoweckyj and Sean Anderson sent-off.

Shire were forced into two changes to the team that had lost the first leg at Ochilview. David King had a groin problem while Derek Ure was also injured in the 2-1 defeat.

Ure at least was fit enough, after a late check, to make it onto the subs bench but Dean Richardson had to be drafted in to take his place at left-back. Eddie Forrest came in for Kingy at the centre of defence.

Jim McInally opted to change his tactics too. He went to a 4-3-3 and played Jamie Stevenson through the middle with Andy Rodgers on the right and Brian Graham wide on the left touchline.

After  losing out on Wednesday night Shire knew they would have go for goals and they got the perfect start going ahead after just three minutes. Cowden defender Darren McGregor hit a blind backpass to his keeper which Graham intercepted before rounding David Hay and planting the ball in the empty net.

That spurred on the visitors. After five minutes Craig Tully released Graham down the left and his dangerous looking cross had to be cut out for a corner.

After 15 minutes Tully’s bal over the top of the Cowden defence sent Graham clean through on goal and, although he was partially crowded out by defenders, he still got his shot off but it went wide of the far post.

Not long after Stevenson’s corner found Forest unmarked at the back post but his header was well-saved by Hay and another flag kick from Jamie was hit wide to Craig Donaldson whose 25 yard shot went just wide.

There was controversy on 21  minutes when Stevenson was clearly fouled by McGregor in the centre circle but ref Mike Tumilty chose to award the foul the other way. The Shire man was booked for debating the point and then Shire coach McInally was sent to the stand after, apparently, continuing the discussion with the linesman.

Four minutes later a strong run down the flank by Graham ended with a cross which Rodgers met at the back post although he could only direct the ball into the side net.

Cowden had a great chance to equalise on 40 minutes when Mark Ramsay was left unmarked at the back edge of the box but his netbound effort was blocked bravely by Forrest.

After the break Richardson fired the ball across the face of goal on 49 minutes with Rodgers just a fraction away from making contact which would have produced a goal.

Nine minutes into the second period John Gemmell was clean through but Peat got down well to scoop away the ball from the strikers’ feet. Cowden sent on John Dempster in a bid to get the goal that would get them the goal to clinch a play-off place.

But it was Shire who had the forward momentum as the game developed. A lovely pass from Stevenson put Donaldson clear after 63 minutes but he shot wide of target when well-placed.

Shire had been infuriated throughout by the match officials and, after 72 minutes, they had further cause for complaint when Rodgers was judged to have pushed Scott Linton as they jostled for the ball. The fact that Rodgers would have been clean through on goal but for the linesman’s flag brought an irritated response from the Shire man.

But Rodgers made up for that seven minutes later by delivering the perfect cross from the left that found Tully unmarked at the back post. The Shire captain seemed certain to score but, instead managed only to hit the side net with his header from the edge of the six yard box.

Seven minutes from the end a corner was headed towards goal by McGregor and Mark Peat appeared to make a routine save on the goal line but, to the consternation of the Shire players, the far-side linesman awarded a goal.

There were furious protests and, first Eddie Forrest and Brian Graham were booked. Then Michael Bolochoweckyj and Sean Anderson were shown straight red cards for continuing the argument.

The nine Shire men continued to try and find another goal that would have taken the game into extra-time but they simply ran out of time.

COWDENBEATH : Hay, Baxter, Linton, McGregor, Armstrong, Shields, Ramsay, Robertson(Tomana 63), Gemmell(McQuade 89), Ferguson(Dempster 71), Stein.

SHIRE : Peat, Hay, Forrest, Tully, Bolochoweckyj, Weaver(McKenzie 82), Donaldson(Anderson 67), Stevenson, Graham, Richardson, Rodgers.

REFEREE : M. Tumilty

ATTENDANCE : 633.