All good things eventually come to an end, but it was still one heck of a surprise when Peterhead’s 19-game unbeaten run was halted by bottom of the league Cowdenbeath.
The Blue Brazil arrived at Balmoor having won only once in 13 matches since the new year, while Peterhead were seeking to extend their proud unbeaten sequence which stretched back to a 4-3 loss at Stenhousemuir last October.
But match 20 proved to be a step too far the Blue Toon with Greig Spence’s first-half goal enough to give Cowdenbeath a crucial win that moved them off the foot of the table.
The result also meant Dunfermline Athletic, 3-1 winners against Brechin City, were crowned League 1 champions, having moved 13 points clear of Peterhead who only have four matches left to play.
Peterhead defender Ryan Strachan admitted his side paid the price for a poor display.
He said: “We have been on a good run and didn’t want it to end, but Cowdenbeath deserved the win.
“They showed more desire and it felt like we could have played for longer and still not scored.
“These things happen and the important thing will be how we react to this.
“Dunfermline have been the best side this season and deserve to win the title.
“If we hadn’t started so slowly you never know what could have happened.
“But we are in the play-offs and we want to finish above Ayr United.
“We need to show character after this defeat. It has been so long since we lost a game but we have a strong team so I’m sure we will react in the right way.”
Ferocious winds ruined this match as a spectacle.
A perfect example of the tough conditions arrived after only three minutes when a clearance from Peterhead goalkeeper Graeme Smith failed to make it out of his own penalty area.
Cowdenbeath knew they had to make the most of the advantage during the opening period and went close early on with Liam Callachan’s low drive superbly thwarted by Nathan Blockley.
Full back Dean Brett almost opened the scoring with an exquisite long-range effort that whistled just over before Cowdenbeath made the breakthrough after 31 minutes.
A goal kick from Smith was held up by the wind allowing Lewis Milne to send Spence through on goal and the former Alloa Athletic and Raith Rovers player showed great composure to curl the ball in.
The hosts were forced to make a change five minutes before the break when Simon Ferry hobbled off with a knee injury following a rash challenge from former Aberdeen midfielder Kieron Gibbons and was replaced by Jamie Stevenson.
After the break, the pressure on the Cowdenbeath goal was relentless, although the visitors stood up well to the challenge.
A sublime save from Grant Adam prevented Rory McAllister finding the target with a fizzing free kick that looked destined for the top corner.
But the best chance of the half fell to Peterhead substitute Andy Rodgers.
A wind-assisted kick out from goalkeeper Smith caught out the Cowdenbeath defence but Rodgers lost his composure at the vital moment, hooking the ball over the crossbar when he had plenty of time to pick his spot and earn his side a point.
A disappointing result for Peterhead who will look to return to winning ways against Forfar Athletic next weekend in their final match before the eagerly anticipated Petrofac Training Cup final against Rangers.
Strachan, named man of the match, reckoned conditions were the worst he has experienced at Balmoor.
He added: “It was shocking and they made it so difficult. That was up there with the worst the wind has ever been up here.
“I have been here seven years and I can’t remember playing in conditions as tough as that, but it was the same for both sides. We thought we had done well to get in at half-time only 1-0 down.
“We normally play well going down the hill in the second half but we made too many wrong decisions and it just wasn’t to be.”
