A first-half strike from in-form Russell McLean and a stoppage-time goal from trialist Karim Belmokhtar secured three vital League 2 points for Peterhead at struggling Cowdenbeath on Saturday.
The victory ensured that Jim McInally’s Blue Toon continue to pressurise league leaders Montrose, who drew away to Berwick Rangers.
The Balmoor side will take over at the top of the table should they defeat Clyde at home tomorrow night.
“It was a professional performance, a hard-fought game,” said McInally.
Having returned north with a 4-0 win the last time the teams met at Central Park, Peterhead, even without injured top scorer Rory McAllister, began the game with confidence, Alan Smith seeing his third-minute shot saved by Cowdenbeath keeper David McGurn followed shortly afterwards by a goal-bound effort from Scott Brown which was cleared off the line by Jamie Pyper.
Smith was causing problems for the home defence with his probing right-wing runs and accurate crosses and it was from such an attack that Peterhead’s opener was carved. Jordan Hornby impeded the Blue Toon winger as he advanced goalwards, resulting in a free kick on the edge of the box which was swung in by Willie Gibson to McLean, who headed past McGurn.
Cowdenbeath had not troubled Peterhead keeper Greig Fleming before half-time and their first serious attempt on goal came midway through the second half when Fleming held on to a long-range effort from Hornby.
Smith twice went close to increasing Peterhead’s lead in a largely forgettable second half before substitute Belmokhtar secured victory, driving a low angular shot past McGurn with the last kick of the game.