Bottom club Cowdenbeath edged a 12-goal thriller at Brechin, who failed to take anything from the game despite scoring five goals.

A hat-trick from Derek Riordan proved crucial for the visitors, although two-goal Chris Templeman did his best to rescue a point for Brechin.

The home side opened the scoring after nine minutes when Derek Clark fired home from the edge of the box, but Cowdenbeath equalised 11 minutes later when David White volleyed home.

The hosts regained the lead on 23 minutes when Templeman drilled home through a crowd of players, but the sides went in at the break level after Riordan headed home on 41.

Cowdenbeath took the lead for the first time a minute into the second half thanks to Riordan, but Brechin hit back almost immediately when Kevin Fotheringham squared the game from the spot.

However, Kevin Gordon (55) and Paul Hilland (63) made it 5-3 to Cowdenbeath, only for Jamie Smith to head Brechin back into contention on 70.

The visitors then pulled clear, though, via Ian Mauchlen (73) and Riordan (76), before Templeman completed the scoring with an 86th-minute consolation for Brechin.

Brechin: Hay, Skinner, Cairney, Kevin Fotheringham, Martyn Fotheringham, Black, Jackson, Clark, Boyle, Charlie King, Templeman.

Subs: Jamie Smith, Daryn Smith, Gibson, Miller, Cairns.

Cowdenbeath: Graham, Renwick, White, Wilson, Andrew Campbell, Riordan, Mauchlen, Winter, Hilland, Graeme Brown, Gordon.

Subs: A Trialist, Byle, Ian McDonald, Mowat, O'Connor.

Referee: B Winter