Civil Service Strollers, 0 Cowdenbeath 1.

A FIRST-HALF goal from Jordyn Sheerin proved to be enough to give Cowden a win over Lowland League Strollers in this friendly at Christie Gillies Park on Saturday, writes Andy Mullen.

Gary Bollan took an 18 man squad, including two trialists, to the capital with all of his close season signings taking part in the game.

With just 17 minutes gone the Blues opened the scoring when SHEERIN fired a 20 yard shot past keeper Kyle Rankin.

Then just three minutes later the 'keeper did well to turn a shot from David Cox at the edge of the box around the post.

Just short of the half hour Matthew Cunningham broke through for the home side but sent his shot over the bar.

Soon after Ryan Goodfellow was called into action when he parried a long range effort from Ian Ballantyne and minutes later he denied fellow striker Jack Downie.

Three minutes into the second-half Fraser Mullen sent over across to Kris Renton at the back post but his header across the face of goal went wide.

A minute later a three man move involving Sheerin, Renton and Martin Scott the midfielder's shot blocked.

In 53 minutes Scott was once again denied with the keeper blocking another shot and three minutes later Goodfellow came to the edge of his box to clear the ball from the advancing Ballantyne.

With 18 minutes remaining Renton got on the end of a Cox cross at the back post but his shot was saved by Rankin and a minute later a Scott effort went wide of the post.

Cowdenbeath: Goodfellow (Trialist 71); Mullen, Trialist; Gilfillan, Marsh, Malcolm; Cox (Fotheringham 84), Buchanan (McMurchie 71), Sheerin (Kay 57), Muirhead (Renton 46), Swann (46). Sub not used – Miller.

CS Strollers: Rankin, Newall, Fee, Turnbull, Laird, Cunningham, Stewart, Clapperton, Ballantyne, Dowie & Churchill. Subs –Haney, Boyle, Deevers, Scott, Fase & MacNamara.

Referee: Duncan Smith.