Super sub Christian Nade blasted Raith Rovers to derby victory and set his sights on a starting place in Grant Murray’s side.
The big striker made his mark with only seconds of a tight game remaining on Saturday to boost Raith’s hopes of getting back in the race for a Championship play-off place.
Rovers keeper David McGurn had top-notch stops from Jon Robertson and sub Craig Sutherland, while at the other end Robbie Thomson denied Rory McKeown and Dougie Hill before making a spectacular stop from his own defender Nat Wedderburn, who had miscued a clearance towards his own net.
Then, with 90 seconds left, the home defence failed to react to a ball pushed up the Rovers left by Ross Callachan.
Mark Stewart was alert to the possibilities, and his cross was perfect for Nade to head home.
The big striker, who has twice scored the winner against Cowdenbeath this season, said that adding the three Central Park points to the win last week at Falkirk was crucial if the Rovers are to get back into the race for a play-off spot.
“It is always brilliant to get a derby winner, but really it did not matter who scored as long as we got the three points.
“The six points we have collected over the past two weeks have given us a real chance to get back into the race for a top-four finish, and it makes this weekend’s game with fourth-top Queen of the South at Kirkcaldy a really big match.
“I felt good getting out there, and my aim is to impress the manager and encourage him to give me a starting spot.”
Rovers boss Grant Murray was delighted that his substitution paid-off.
“It was a typical derby with not a lot between the sides or many clear chances.
“After Robbie Thomson had made some good saves for Cowden, especially in the first-half, we needed David McGurn to do similar later on and it was clear that one goal could win it for us.
“I asked Christian to get into the box whenever he could because we were getting over some good crosses but not converting them, and with only seconds to go he got on the end of one and his header won it for us.”
He added: “For the second successive game we defended really effectively as a team and earned full points, and it gives us plenty to build on.”
Rovers are eight points behind Queens, so a win over the Dumfries side this weekend could greatly help get them back into the play-off picture.
Cowden boss Jimmy Nicholl lamented another game that got away from his side by a piece of slackness, leaving them eighth but only a point above Alloa Athletic.
“It was not a classic for sure, but there were chances at both ends and the keepers made some fine saves,” said Nicholl.
“It looked a certain goalless draw, then we failed to deal with the ball being poked up our right-hand side and it cost us,” he added.
“That late goal has seen us lose three home games within a space of less than two weeks, and that is hard to take.
“I could not fault the lads for effort, it was there in barrowloads, but we have to stop making the errors which are costing us results.”
The Cowden boss hopes to have two strikers recruited to his staff over the next few days.
“The lads are keen to come to us but it is a case of finalising things although it could be that the Livingston game this weekend, which is a massive fixture for us, could come too early for the moves to be completed.”
* Three of Cowdenbeath’s long-term injured are scheduled to play their first match in months tonight in a friendly at Broxburn juniors.
Central defender John Armstrong and full-backs Kenny Adamson and Dean Brett have been sidelined with achilles, foot and knee injuries, and tonight’s game represents an important stage in their battle to return to full fitness.