A late goal saw Peterhead condemn a stuffy Cowdenbeath side to the pyramid play-offs.
Cowdenbeath manager Gary Bollan was happy with the application shown by his players, but knows he now has to prepare them for an effort to preserve their league status.
“We were under pressure most of the game, which we expected, but I thought we coped with it pretty well,” he said.
“We matched them in terms of effort for long spells and managed to nullify the threat of Rory McAllister. We had a really good chance when we went a goal down and had we taken it there would have been a nervy end to the game for Peterhead but we couldn’t take it.
“We know we are in the play-offs now and we need to lift the lads and make sure they are in the right frame of mind.”
It was the Blue Toon who went for the jugular from the kick-off and after Cowdenbeath failed to clear twice from McAllister crosses, the ball eventually broke to Willie Gibson who unleashed a rocket from 25 yards that was only a fraction past the left-hand post.
Alan Smith then had a shot well saved low down by David McGurn with the keeper immediately in action again to deny Jack Leitch.
On the half hour some defensive slackness almost gave the Blue Brazil the lead. Jason Brown dithered over a through ball and it took the chest of keeper Greg Fleming to block a shot from striker Jordyn Sheerin.
Peterhead had a half-chance when Gibson slipped in McAllister but his shot was easily smothered by McGurn.
Soon after the restart Cowdenbeath had a decent chance to take the lead, Robert Buchanan dribbling into space inside the penalty area before shooting wide with the goal beckoning.
The Blue Toon made a double substitution to try to inspire some creativity and they should have scored after 70 minutes, a Willie Gibson corner from the left, a head back across goal by David McCracken only for Jason Brown to head up rather than down from six yards out.
The Blue Toon broke the deadlock in the 80th minute when substitute Jordon Brown headed home.
Cowden had a chance for an unlikely leveller in the 86th minute but Blair Malcolm blazed his shot wildly over from 12 yards.