A controversial goal seconds into the second half cost the Blue Brazil a point in last night’s clash at Central Park.
Rovers’ Scott McBride looked well offside when he netted what proved to be the winner.
It’s a result that dents the Fifers’ hopes of mounting a promotion play-off challenge.
Cowden forced the first corner of the game in 30 seconds and Rovers managed to keep it out thanks to strong work by Michael Dunlop.
Rovers got going on 11 minutes when Ross Davidson found Paul Archibald, but the outrushing keeper smothered the ball at the striker’s feet.
However, two minutes later the visitors went ahead. Brad Donaldson failed to clear a simple pass into the Cowdenbeath box, the ball broke to Scott McBride and the former Blue Brazilian fired a 12-yard shot high into the net.
Rovers went on to enjoy spells of pressure but Cowden got back into the game.
On 25 minutes a Kieran Gibbons shot hit Dunlop and the ball went inches wide. Then, from Declan McDaid’s corner, Pat Scullion headed just past Ross Stewart’s right-hand post.
Two minutes later Scullion met Dean Brett’s free kick and his header fell perfectly for Greig Spence who scored from six yards.
On 32 minutes the Fifers threatened again when Spence laid the ball back to McDaid and his 25-yarder was saved by Stewart.
The sides were level at the break but two minutes into the second period Albion went ahead with a hotly disputed goal. McBride looked to be at least two yards offside when he received the ball from Gary Fisher but wasted no time in blasting a 10-yarder high into the net.
Home players surrounded the linesman but he was not for turning.
Cowden had a spell of pressure without really working Stewart in Rovers’ goal and as the game started to get very scrappy on the heavy surface the nearest to a goal came from Albion substitute Andy Barrowman with a header which just cleared the bar.
Cowden manager Colin Nish was bitterly disappointed with the result. “Conditions were not easy but we just did not create enough good chances. We have to do better,” he said.