Brechin City are still stranded at the foot of Ladbrokes League One after defeat at Cowdenbeath on Saturday.
And player-boss Darren Dods was left disappointed with the way his team seemed to accept defeat after losing the second goal as Cowden made it four games unbeaten.
“It was my error which led to the penalty incident, but we came back well after the spot-kick was converted and had chances to get level,” said the former St Johnstone and Dundee United defender. “However, when we were caught out for the second goal we did not respond and that was disappointing.
“In our previous two games against Forfar and Ayr we had shown the standards we could reach, but we were well below that level today and we have to get things sorted out before we play Stenhousemuir this weekend.”
The Blue Brazil took the lead in 10 minutes when Dods handled a Liam Callaghan cross, and up stepped Dean Brett to send the ball high into the net.
Brechin came back well and Isaac Layne twice went close, before early in the second period home keeper Jamie Sneddon made fine saves from David Bates and Andy Jackson.
These proved vital as on 75 minutes Ali El Zubaidi doubled the lead with a header from a Sam Orritt corner, and in the closing seconds Greig Spence tapped home number three.
Afterwards penalty hero Brett called on team-mates to show the same mean defending that Cowden have managed in recording three successive shut-outs, when they go to play Albion Rovers in tomorrow’s twice-postponed re-arranged fixture.
The former full-back, now operating in midfield, said: “After Greig Spence and Robbie Buchanan missed penalties it was my chance today and it was great to see the ball fly high into the net, although City keeper Graeme Smith made a brave effort to save it.
“That is eight points from four games and with five covering third place to ourselves, the opportunity is there to mount a challenge for a play-off spot if we can maintain this form.
“But we have two tough away games coming up within the space of four days, against Albion Rovers and Peterhead, and we have to look to keep up a similar standard of defending.”
Cowden player-boss Colin Nish, praised keeper Sneddon for ensuring the win.
“It was an excellent result but at times I felt we were a bit flat,” he said.
“We got the early lead but then let them back into the game. We needed a couple of fine saves from Jamie to keep us in front, and finished the game strongly.”
Picture by David Wardle