Preview: Cowdenbeath v East Fife

Central Park hosts a Fife derby special on Saturday afternoon when John Robertson's East Fife side makes the short trip for the 2nd Division game of the day.

It's the first derby match of the season and it promises to be a cracker with both sides harbouring realistic promotion aspirations.

After a couple of weeks to recover from the disappointing loss against Stenhousemuir, Colin Cameron and his side will be fired up for a derby win and the manager can call on new additions David Cowan and Kal Naismith. Cameron and Dean Brett are fit again after missing the Stenhousemuir game but Mark Ramsay misses out. 'Mini' was injured against Brechin and has made a quicker than expected recovery but is still a couple of weeks away from returning to full fitness. Thomas O'Brien returns to the squad for the first time this season after injury but Dene Droudge and Danny Mackay remain sidelined.

"Saturday is a big game for us and I hope the town turns out in good numbers to support the team", commented Cameron.

"The fixture can't come quck enough after the disappointing performance at Ochilview. The players know they let themselves down against Stenhousemuir and are eager to pay the supporters back with a derby win.

"East Fife have had a mixed start to the season but have shown, particularly in cup games, that they have the quality to make a challenge this season.

"It will be an eagerly contested game and hopefully a spectacle for the fans."

Visit Kick Talk radio to listen to more pre-match chat with Colin Cameron.

East Fife have had some indifferent results lately including a 6-0 loss at home to Dumbarton right after a 2-1 win over Dunfermline Athletic in the cup.

It's been nearly 18 years since Cowden lost to East Fife at Central Park on league business.  Since then we've won 9 of the 10 games so it appears that we are something of a bogey side to them.  Our last meeting  saw us cruise to a 6-2 win through goals from Jay Stein (x2), Gareth Wardlaw, Paul McQude, Darren McGregor and Mark Ramsay. 

However on this date we lost our last game against Berwick Rangers (1-0 in 2005). Before that saw Montrose lose 3-2 at Central Park in the league cup with second half goals from Hamish French, Graeme Brown and Keith Wilson. The last game on this date
was in 1994 where we defeated Queens Park 3-0.

Match of the day fact of the week - Cowden, just like last season, are struggling to keep clean sheets.  Our last clean sheet at Central Park came on the 30th April against Stirling Albion. However, finding the back of the net has not been a problem with a return of 11 goals from the opening 4 league games.