FEW sides have ever had as dramatic a fall as Cowdenbeath over the last few years. Successive relegations in 2015 and 2016 saw them drop from the Championship into League Two before they followed that up with consecutive bottom-placed finishes and having to negotiate their way through the Scottish League Two play-off on both occasions in order to preserve their SPFL existence.

However, things may finally be looking up for the Blue Brazil – despite Saturday’s defeat to Clyde.

After wining six and drawing two of their last 13 league matches, Gary Bollan’s side have arrested yet another poor start to the season and are now in with a slim chance of breaching the top four.

Just ahead of that stretch of games, a 1-0 defeat away to Edinburgh City left the side with a measly five points from their opening seven matches and sitting second bottom, just one point ahead of Albion Rovers. It seemed then that Cowdenbeath were destined to once again battle it out in the basement of Scottish football, with the trapdoor into the pyramid structure creaking open once again – making whatever lurks below a real possibility. Again.

The start to the season was especially disappointing for those connected to the club, given that the summer transfer recruitment appeared to be fruitful. The likes of Jimmy Scott and Jason Talbot (pictured) – types you’d rather avoid in a dark alleyway – were added, while the burly Jordyn Sheerin was retained after a loan spell. The latter started the season well, netting eight times before September was out, though none of that trio has managed to hold down a regular starting place since.

More successful have been the additions of Kris Renton and, more recently, Gary Fraser, who started the season at Forfar, and Jordan Allan. The former Wolves youngster was without a club when Bollan snapped him up at the end of November and has since gone on to score four goals across his seven appearances so far, becoming the club’s top league goalscorer.

Another success story has been the capture of Robbie Deas on loan from Celtic. After an initial stint at left-back in a back four that constantly chopped and changed, he has since become a crucial part of a much improved defence in his more natural position in the centre.

As mentioned, the weekend’s result was poor, though had an air of respectability to it given that it came against a Clyde side which has now won six on the bounce and closed the gap on the top two significantly.

Unfortunately, the other results did not go Cowdenbeath’s way either, with Stirling and Elgin edging above them, and with Queen’s Park moving to within a point of Bollan’s men with an eye-catching 7-1 victory over Berwick. Cowden do, though, have a game in hand versus Albion Rovers over all of those sides and have a further game in hand over fourth-placed Annan Athletic, with the potential to go within three points of them.

Though, with the top three putting an insurmountable gulf between themselves and the rest of the league, and with Annan seemingly destined to finish fourth – strengthening that position with wins over the top two in as many weeks – Cowdenbeath may have to wait until next season for a genuine promotion push.

But if an unlikely promotion isn’t achieved, at least the four-season slump has been arrested and the foundations have been laid for a genuine challenge next season.

Brechin come through injury crisis to record victory

WHEN Barry Smith was appointed manager of Brechin following his resignation from Raith, it seemed inevitable that he would at some point put a dent in his former club’s promotion hopes.

Even an injury crisis at Glebe Park could not prevent Brechin from recording back-to-back victories for the first time since July 2017. Those latest two victories came off the back of a 1-0 defeat at Arbroath, where they conceded a late goal after successfully repelling the league leaders for most of the match.

Going into Saturday’s match, the casualty list grew by the day, with injuries to Scott Robertson, Ryan McGeever, Dene Shields, Callum Tapping, Jordan Tapping and Euan Spark leaving Smith able to name just two fit outfield substitutes. Luckily for the manager, he was able to secure Lewis Toshney on loan from Dundee United, who went straight into the heart of the defence and was a big part of Brechin’s victory over Raith.

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It was Kalvin Orsi, pictured, who was the stand-out, however, with his direct running – both at full-backs and while leading the charge during counter-attacks – proving the difference on the day. His delivery set up Euan Smith for the first and he was heavily involved in the second.

Brechin’s latest two victories not only ended a run of seven consecutive defeats in which they conceded 18 goals, it set up an intriguing four-way battle at the bottom of League One, with the bottom four sides separated by just four points.

Same defensive issues blight McKinnon's Falkirk

FALKIRK slipped back to the bottom of the Championship after a 2-2 draw at home to Inverness.

It was the same old problems for Ray McKinnon, pictured, who again watched helplessly from the sidelines as his side failed to employ basic marking.

Shaun Rooney standing in space repeatedly asking for the ball could hardly have been more obvious for the away side’s opener, and Aaron Doran’s strike, while impressive, was made possible due to the acres of space he was left in at the edge of the penalty area. That said, Falkirk remain unbeaten in January – though so do Partick Thistle – and Alloa, after some fantastic form, have lost their last two, including surrendering a two-goal lead in their cup exit the previous week. There have been small signs of improvement, though beset by several setbacks, since McKinnon arrived and he has reinvigorated his attack this month with some new recruits.

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Zak Rudden has been retained and is providing goals, and the likes of Mark Waddington and Ross MacLean have added support alongside Deimantas Petravicius, but they will struggle to stay in the league if they continue to ship goals as easily.