Cowdenbeath 1, Annan Athletic 1.

Ladbrokes League 2

Attendance-249

A POINT but it should have been so much more for Cowdenbeath in their first game under Gary Bollan.

Cowden had a lot of the ball and created several good chances against a changed Annan defence, at Central Park on Saturday, but the finishing was off target at times.

Literally chance after chance was squandered and Annan took advantage of one of the few openings they had to grab an all important goal.

The visitors got the gift of the goal just before the break but Cowden kept working hard and after a fantastic Kyle Miller shot levelled things the Blues continued to create chances.

New singing Blair Malcolm looked a classy addition to the midfield and worked well with Miller while a Trialist on the left hand side looked very useful and on the right Jack Whittaker created several chances with good passes and crosses.

Brad Smith was a tremendous livewire for the Blues and mopped up so much at one end and created a lot at the other and twice went close to scoring.

Cowden’s Smith made a good run into Annan territory early on and he sent over a dangerous low cross but good work by Athletic player-boss Peter Murphy defied Cammy Muirhead, then in 19 minutes a long pass from Scott Rumsby caught out the visiting defence and the young striker’s 15 yard drive hit the side net.

Smith’s raking 20 yarder crept inches wide but at the other end Ryan Sinnamon’s low 18 yarder brought a fine save from Dave McGurn.

Then an error by Cowden saw Aiden SMITH fire Annan ahead after Jamie Pyper’s header went straight to him 12 yards out, but on the interval whistle Muirhead was defied by a diving Jim Atkinson save.

Straight from the start of the second period Trialist sent Smith clean through and he drew the ‘keeper before cutting the ball back but there was no one in blue following up and the chance was lost.

Then in 58 minutes Smith got clear on the other side of the Annan defence and again drew the ‘keeper but fired his right foot shot just past.

Four minutes later Cowden had another gilt edged chance when some lovely approach play saw Muirhead get the ball only eight yards out and his shot flew wide of the left hand post.

The leveller came in 69 minutes when when a loose clearance from Annan fell to MILLER and his 25 yarder flew low past the diving Atkinson.

Both teams went for the winner and with three minutes left sub Jordan Garden got space and fired a left foot shot which Atkinson grabbed at the second attempt.

Cowdenbeath: Dave McGurn (7); Matt McInally (7), Harvey Swann (7); Jamie Pyper (6), Scott Rumsby (6), Blair Malcolm (7); Jack Whittaker (6), Kyle Miller (7), Cammy Muirhead (6) (Robbie Buchanan 72 (3)), Brad Smith (8), Trialist (7) (Jordan Garden 61 (3)). Subs not used, Shaun Rutherford, Ryan Connelly, Ali Smith, Charlie Denton and Blair Penman.

Annan Athletic: Atkinson (7); Hooper (6), Brannan (7); Moxon (7), Sonkur (6), Murphy (7); Orsi (6), Sinnamon (7), Smith (7), Henderson (6), Roberts (6) (Omar 70 (3)). Subs not used, Cunningham, Luke, Creaney, Rutkiewicz and Mitchell.

Referee-Chris Graham (6).