After a week’s break a young Cowden side got back into league action with a narrow win over the Shire at Bannockburn High School on Monday night.

The hosts had the best of the early chances with Curruthers, Donaldson and Kay all sending efforts wide of the Cowden goals.

However with our first shot on goal we opened the scoring when Kyle SCOTT picked up a loose ball 30 yards out and volleyed past Dolan in the Shire goal.

Minutes later Scott went close with another long range effort while Muirhead was denied by Dolan.

Shire crept back into the game as the first half came to a close and Kay sent a shot over the bar while Hunter held a McBrearty shot.

However on the stroke of half time they levelled the score when a Kay corner was headed home by Kyle CURRUTHERS.

Five minutes into the second half Muirhead saw a shot blocked by the keeper as we looked to restore our lead while at the other end a header by Grant was blocked on the line with the ball eventually falling to McBrearty at the near post but his effort was once again cleared,

The winning goal came with 11 minutes to go and it was another good solo effort with Cameron MUIRHEAD collecting a pass from Swann before firing home a 25 yard shot in off the underside of the crossbar.

Shire then had one last chance with the last kick of the game but Curruthers dragged his shot wide of the post.

TEAM: Shaun Hunter (Shaun Donoghue 65),Ryan McDonald, Harvey Swann, Matty Graham, Josh Thomson, Jordan Leslie, Callum Watt (Lyle Kellichan 55), Kyle Scott, Cameron Muirhead, Kyle Mitchell & Josh Wilson.

EAST STIRLINGSHIRE: Darren Dolan, Adam Murray, Simon White (Lewis Peddie 72), Reece Donaldson, Alan Deans, David Grant, Andrew Kay, Kyle Curruthers, Mark Hansen, Gavin McMillan & Ciaran McBrearty (Andrew McNeee 79). Subs not used – Jamie Crawford, Craig Tully & Michael Fairbanks.