Cowdenbeath opened the scoring in the 17th minute with the first worthwhile attack of the game. Stenhousemuir's Joe Savage made a complete hash of controlling the ball on the halfway line and the ball fell to Cowden's Paul McHale, who split the defence wide open with a pass for David Williams who slotted the ball past David Orr in the Warriors goal.
The Warriors equalised in controversial fashion in the 53rd minute from the penalty spot. Innes Ritchie was deemed to have handled a Joe Savage flick-on, and Paul McGrillen converted the resultant penalty. Cowden had reasonable cause for complaint as it looked as if ball played man rather than the other way about.
After 63 minutes Stenhousemur were reduced to 10 men with the dismissal of Steven McGregor for his second yellow card, and Cowdenbeath were also reduced in numbers when Calvin Shand received his second booking.
There was little in the way of action apart from the goals, although Innes Ritchie with a header that flashed just past the post for the Blue Brazil and a Tommy Sinclair shot for the Warriors that was well saved by Andy Carlin were the other highlights in a game that would be quickly forgotten if it was not for the performance of the referee.