Birthday boy Lewis Milne lit up the Fife derby with a dazzling goal that left his team-mates comparing him to Paul Gascoigne.
The Cowdenbeath midfielder celebrated turning 20 with a match-winning strike reminiscent of Gazza’s famous Wembley effort against Scotland at Euro 96 as he chipped the ball over Raith defender Reece Donaldson before drilling a low shot past goalkeeper Lee Robinson.
“The boys are saying it was like Gazza but I don’t know about that.” Milne said.
“I’ve never done that in my life. I’ve seen the defender out the corner of my eye so I’ve just dinked it over him and it’s sat up perfectly to hit it.
“It was the best birthday present I could have asked for.”
Milne’s strike could prove crucial for the Central Park side as the three points, combined with Alloa’s defeat to Dundee, takes the battle to avoid the relegation play-off into the final game of the season.
“We’re looking forward to next week, but Queen of the South at home is going to be a tough game,” Milne added.
“They might rest players for the play-offs, but we’ll just be going into the game looking to win, and hopefully Falkirk do us a favour against Alloa.
“It would mean so much. This division is going to be massive next year it’s going to be up there with the SPL so hopefully we can stay in it.”
Raith’s Ramsdens Cup heroes were hoping to for a victorious send-off in their final home match of the season but their lacklustre performance summed up their woeful league campaign since Christmas.
Cowdenbeath took the lead in the 17th minute when Kane Hemmings played a ball through a giant hole in the Raith defence and full back Rory McKeown raced through to send a delicate chip beyond the out-rushing Robinson.
Rovers enjoyed a good period of pressure before half-time but their opportunities were limited to long range efforts.
Liam Fox went close with a left-footed strike from 18 yards before Calum Elliot forced Thomas Flynn into a full-stretch diving save from similar distance.
Rovers failed to build any momentum after the break and Milne deservedly doubled the visitors’ lead with nine minutes left following a determined break forward by defender John Armstrong.
Substitute Greig Spence pulled a goal back for the hosts with two minutes left, latching on to an Elliot flick-on to steer the ball through the legs of Flynn from close range.
But it was too little, too late for Raith, leaving boss Grant Murray frustrated.
“It’s disappointing all round losing a derby, especially when it’s the last home game and you want to send the fans away with a win,” he said.
“We had plenty of the ball but we weren’t ruthless enough.”