Arbroath 0, Cowdenbeath 0.

Ladbrokes League 2

Attendance-558

A VERY useful away point but it was hard work for Cowden at windswept Gayfield on Saturday.

The Red Lichties had most of the play and in the first period especially Dave McGurn produced an expert goalkeeping display.

The former Raith last line might have made a bad error in Berwick Rangers’ second goal last week but here he was faultless.

He produced a string of excellent saves to keep the busy hosts at bay.

He was well backed up by the returning Craig Sives, back in the team after two games on the bench, and Gerry McLauchlan who defended superbly along with Dean Brett and James Creaney.

Sives was not the only man returning with Chris Turner coming back into the midfield and he worked hard alongside Brian Ross and Fraser Mullen to keep the Blue Brazil knocking on the door of picking up all three points.

Lewis Moore provided some good width while Nickolay Todorov and Kris Renton always posed a threat to the Lichties.

The opening period saw Arbroath come out of the traps fast and they buzzed around the Cowdenbeath box and McGurn had to to deal with an Omar Kader effort before home midfielder Martin Scott tried a spectacular overhead kick which just cleared the bar.

As the Lichties continued to look dangerous Josh Skelly’s effort hit a post with McGurn struggling but Cowden started to get into the picture and an effort from Todorov brought out a fine save from home ‘keeper Robbie Mutch.

Next to have a go was Mullen with a fierce drive which the ‘keeper blocked but at the other end McGurn pulled off a fine save from midfielder Bobby Linn.

As the interval approached the impetus started to drift out of the Arbroath play and the visiting defence was able to keep close tabs on the home side’s dangermen.

The second period saw Cowden managed to have more of the midfield possession and Renton got away from his marker and Mutch dealt well with his snapshot.

Still McGurn had to be on the alert as Ryan McCord tested him and then Skelly’s effort was well covered by the Cowden ‘keeper.

The Lichties threw on former Forfar attacker Omar Kadar to try and pep up their challenge but some good work by Sives and McLauchlan kept him out before he got away from the cover and a diving header was parried by McGurn.

Cowden’s Moore sent over a fine cross which Renton met but Mutch was equal to the task.

Arbroath kept at it but Cowden defended solidly to ensure their first draw of the season.

Arbroath: Mutch (7); Brown (6), Suker (7); Little (7), Hamilton (7), Whatley (6) (Doris 85 (2)); Callaghan (6) (Kader 75 (3)), McCord (7), Skelly (7) (Hester 75 (3)), Scott (7), Linn (7). Subs not used, Phillips, Gold, Prunty and Gomes.

Cowdenbeath: Dave McGurn (9); Dean Brett (7), James Creaney (7); Craig Sives (7), Gerry McLauchlan (8), Chris Turner (7); Lewis Moore (6), Fraser Mullen (6), Nikolay Todorov (6) (Gary Glen 80 (2)), Kris Renton (6), Brian Ross (7). Subs not used, Kyle Miller, Jamie Pyper, Shaun Rutherford, Aaron Murrell and Jamie Sneddon.

Referee- Mike Taylor (6).