Cowdenbeath lost 1-0 for the sixth time this season, this time heading out of the William Hill Scottish Cup.
The Blues had plenty of chances against East Kilbride at Central Park but, as so often this season, they could not get a goal.
The visitors hit the woodwork a couple of times but had their keeper Jacob Kean to thank for making a tie with Albion Rovers in the next round.
The first 45 minutes saw Craig Howie hit the Cowdenbeath bar with a header and on the interval whistle Ross McNeill saw David Syme clear his shot off the line.
At the other end Kean had good saves from Cammy Muirhead and Jordan Garden.
McNeill hit Cowden’s bar with an 18-yarder three minutes into the second period.
At the other end Kean made good saves from a Garden header and a Syme drive.
The only goal came five minutes from time when two defenders were caught napping and McNeill took the ball into the box. His low pass allowed Sean Winter to score from seven yards out.
Cowden boss Billy Brown said: “I do not think we can have any complaints about the result at the end of the day.
“Yes we were in the game right until the last kick, but we gave away a needless goal and squandered a couple of really good chances and that has been happening too often this season.”
He added: “The negativity of the past three seasons (which has seen two relegations and finishing bottom of League 2) seems to be weighing heavy just now and we are desperately needing a break to turn things around”.
East Kilbride manager Bill Stark said: “Our strong defensive work was the base upon which the win was built and we always looked dangerous in the last third of the pitch with some compact leading-up work.”