Annan Athletic 4-1 Cowdenbeath: Devastating debut for Annan

Cowdenbeath 1

McQuade 16

Annan Athletic 4

Jack 30 pen; 46; Archibald 58; Johnstone 90

ANNAN Athletic had been waiting a long time for this. They waited a while longer on the Forth Road Bridge. Their delayed four-hour journey got them to Central Park half-an-hour before kick-off. "They were starting to panic a bit," said the team bus driver.

Upstairs in the Cowdenbeath FC social club, the Annan fans were scoffing sandwiches with their beer. A presentation took place between the two sets of supporters. Annan fans Jimmy and Neil were impressed by the warm welcome they received. "We'll do the same for them when they come down to Annan," they said.

On the way up, Jimmy and Neil had been in phone contact with the team stuck on the bridge. "Got your boots, boys?" they'd been asked. There was no need. The 2pm kick-off was delayed by a mere 15 minutes. Any longer and it might have affected that night's stock-car racing. That's just how they do things in Cowdenbeath.

Now Annan had arrived they were determined to get off to a good start. Next weekend, there's their gala day at Galabank with their new stand and new turnstiles – another occasion – but, for now, they were in Fife for their first three points of the season, their first ever three points, or so they hoped against hope.

Plenty of Annan fans were on this opening day adventure. One supporter rose to his feet in the main stand and made a speech about the occasion ("here's to our first appearance in the league") and was applauded by his brethren. A plastic dugout fell over and was placed upright again. Then Annan's chairman, Henry McClelland, led his team proudly across the race track, past the piles of tyres and onto the pitch. He punched the air. The teams lined up like it was the Champions League.

Among the Annan support were two English converts who had driven six hours from Oxfordshire to see this. Lawrence and Chris were both smitten and these football enthusiasts were welcomed into the fold.

They had shown their commitment – and then some. A Saltire with Annan in gold lettering was pinned up onto the mesh fence.

Of course, Cowdenbeath went ahead after quarter-of-an-hour. The Annan defence was caught out and striker Paul McQuade slotted past keeper Craig Summersgill from 12 yards. The celebratory mood of the visitors was punctured. But they soon recovered.

So did their team. Kevin Neilson was felled in Cowdenbeath's box with half-an-hour gone. Midfielder Mike Jack picked up the ball. "Take your time," shouted one Annan supporter. He did take his time and sent keeper David Hay the wrong way with a solid strike. There was a tremendous roar, and dancing.

Derek Townsley had an attempt cleared off the line and he and the rest of the Annan players were cheered off the park at half-time with cries of 'easy easy' ringing in their ears. Annan were adapting well to their new environment. The fans debated what they wanted from their team in the second-half. "A draw would be a good result." "But we've had more chances than them. We can win this."

Annan took the lead moments after the break and it was Jack again who scored. His fiercely-struck shot left Hay with no chance. The ball flew across the keeper and smashed the back of the net.

With the sun shining on Annan they increased their lead when Steven Archibald's header was fumbled by Hay and Archibald squeezed his second effort inside the post. He ran until his team-mates caught up with him. They rolled on the grass happier than might have seemed possible when they were cooped up on that bus and wondering how their league debut would go.

Annan were having their day in the sun, even if their fans were sitting in the shade of a gloomy wooden stand, but their mood was bright, and now they were feeling cocky. "We are top of the league! We are top of the league!" "Blue Brazil … you're having a laugh." "Are you Gretna in disguise?" Cowdenbeath had humiliated Hibs, less than a week ago. Now they were being annihilated by Annan. That couldn't have felt good.

Injury time saw more pain for Cowdebeath and extra joy for Annan. Darren Johnstone took his time and shaped a super effort low into the corner: time to start that party and bring it all the way back to Dumfriesshire.

The animated Annan chairman reflected on a winning debut and declared himself satisfied. "That was brilliant and it was deserved. We knew we'd do it. There's been a lot of euphoria lately and the players have been waiting for this. But they treated it like any game we've had in the past – and that is the right result. We've laid down a marker for those who doubted us."

McClelland smiled. "That'll put an extra few hundred on the gate next weekend."

Annan manager Harry Cairney had not expected such an emphatic triumph.

"I was surprised. But the players were full of adrenaline and really up for it. We've got a wee surprise factor in this league."

The deafening noise of the stock cars filled Central Park as the racing started up. You wouldn't have thought there had been a game of football played here. But there was. And these Annan players will be talking about it for a long, long time; that day they got stuck on the Fourth Road Bridge and then thumped Cowdenbeath.

Boarding the team bus, veteran defender Townsley reflected on a satisfying afternoon. "It's very pleasing," he said. "We did very well. We never expected to come here and win 4-1. But we won't be getting carried away. All that we ask is that the players are honest and work hard for the club." They did that. Annan are off to a flier.

Cowdenbeath: Hay, Cennerazzo, Mbu, Hodge, Adamson, Ramsay, McGregor, Tomana, Shields, Fairbairn, McQuade

Annan Athletic: Summersgill, Brown, Neilson, Townsley, Inglis, Sloan, Jardine, Jack, Hutchin, Johnstone, Archibald

Referee: Neil Watters