Stirling Albion:- Hogarth, Hay, Devine, McNally, Graham, Fraser, Bell, Aitken, Cramb, Shields and Forsyth
Subs:- O’Brien for McNally, Gibson for Aitken and Cashmore for Cramb. Tomana and Christie (both unused)

Cowdenbeath:- Orr, Baxter, Ellis, Gomis, Ritchie, Hughes, Fotheringham, Paatelainen, Dalziel, Clarke and Buchanan.
Subs:- K.McBride for Paatelainen, Fusco for Gomis and P.McBride for Dalziel. Guy and Allison (both unused)

Stirling Albion travelled to Central Park to play high scoring Cowdenbeath buoyed by Saturday’s win at Brechin and determined not to go out of a second cup competition within the space of 8 days. However, it was the high scorers who prevailed as the Binos were soundly beaten 4-0. Indeed, so bad was the performance many Binos’ fans had left long before the end.
Despite reports that McNally was doubtful, the Binos’ line up was unchanged from Saturday whilst Cowdenbeath made 2 changes. The main change was the absence of the experienced Gary Smith, one of 7 signings made by Cowdenbeath over the summer.
The Binos started brightly and within the first minute Devine had a shot blocked. Cowdenbeath had the ball in the net after 10 minutes but Buchanan was adjudged to be offside as the ball broke to him after Gomis’s shot had been blocked.
Cowdenbeath, however, did take the lead 5 minutes later when a volley from the corner of the box by Clarke flew into the top corner. The Binos had reason to be aggrieved as the goal came from a corner which the referee had awarded despite his linesman being better positioned to say whether the ball had gone out.
The Binos responded and Bell shot over after Shields had laid the ball into his path. Next, Orr flapped at a Forsyth cross but the Binos attack couldn’t take advantage.
Cowdenbeath doubled their lead after 25 minutes when a spectacular free kick from Fotheringham from all of 35 yards beat Hogarth to his right.
Just before the half hour mark, McNally was replaced by O’Brien which meant Forsyth moving into the centre of defence and Devine stepping back from midfield.
O’Brien was involved immediately and he beat Baxter to the ball but there was no one on hand to take advantage of his cut back.
As half time approached, Fotheringham flicked the ball into the air but his volley went over the bar. At the other end Forsyth ballooned the ball over the bar from an Aitken lay back.
Half time 2-0 to Cowdenbeath.
In an attempt to get back into the game, the Binos made a double substitution before the restart with Gibson and Cashmore replacing Aitken and Cramb. However, the second half turned into an embarrassment for Binos fans as Cowdenbeath dominated the proceedings and some of the efforts by the Binos’ players were bordering on the laughable. The Cowden fans also took great delight in ridiculing their former player Shields whilst Gibson and Fraser were also on the end of barracking. Gibson for some of his attempts to play football whilst Fraser had incurred the wrath of the Cowden fans for a strong tackle on Gomis which resulted in a booking though many of the home fans thought it should have been red.
Cowden did manage 2 further goals in the half. After 53 minutes, Fotheringham threaded the ball through the Binos’ defence and Paatelainen swept the ball past Hogarth then Fotheringham was again involved after 62 minutes when his cut back was slotted home by Dalziel.
With Cowdenbeath in total control, they took off Gomis who was their best player, Paatelainen and Dalziel.
Near the end, Fraser had a shot blocked by the keeper but, on tonight’s performance, the Binos looked unlikely to score.
AS well as the booking for Fraser, Shields and Gibson both found their way into the refeers book. Shields for speaking out of turn and Gibson. By the time the latter was booked, I had lost interest so I don’t know the reason for his booking.
Mixu Paatelainen certainly seems to have gelled his team very quickly, much quicker than the Binos, and the Blue Brazil look a better bet to be involved in the promotion hunt than the Forthbank men.
Next up is the visit of Stranraer to Forthbank and it will be very interesting to see if Moore can lift his men. Nothing less than a convincing victory will satisfy the Binos’ fans who witnessed tonight’s debacle.