No goals at Central Park

Posted Wednesday, May 12, 2010 by PA

Cowdenbeath and Brechin could not be separated as the first leg of their First Division play-off final finished 0-0.

A largely tense encounter provided little in the way of clear-cut chances and the two sides will resume on level terms in Sunday's second leg at Glebe Park.

There was barely any goalmouth action early on as both sides made a nervy start.

When a chance did finally arrive in the 23rd minute, Cowdenbeath's Kenny Adamson lifted his left-footed shot over from inside the area.

Charlie King was similarly profligate when presented with a opportunity for Brechin moments later.

But the deadlock was almost broken in first-half injury time when Paul McQuade's shot forced Craig Nelson into a fine save.

The Blue Brazil threatened again seven minutes into the second half as Gareth Wardlaw headed wide.

Wardlaw also missed the target with a right-footed shot from the edge of the area before Brechin's Stevie Canning brought a save out of David Hay with an ambitious long-range effort.

Hay was called upon again in the 61st minute to keep out a drilled effort from Rory McAllister.

Brechin keeper Nelson was then forced off with an injury and his replacement David Scott had to be alert to keep out Darren McGregor's 76th-minute header.

Wardlaw saw another chance go begging as the hosts finished the stronger, but there was to be no breakthrough.