Cowdenbeath 1, Hearts 1.

Friendly Attendance-463.

COWDEN fought back well from losing a goal in the very first minute last night (Wednesday) to the Premiership side and made a real game of it The Cowdenbeath side had the same look to it as at Galashiels on Saturday with new signing Mo Yakub at left-back.

Hearts looked really good in the first 20 minutes but once Cowden got to grips with things last season's Championship Champs started to struggle to find holes in the home midfield and rearguard.

Indeed, the better chances fell at the Hearts end as Greig Spence and Trialist Luke Armstrong posed problems and midfielders Declan Hughes and Chris Kane made their presence felt.

Craig Johnston and Trialist on the wings were positive elements for the Blues and all in all it was a good performance.

Hearts took the lead after 60 seconds. The Cowden defence was sliced apart down their right hand side and Billy King ran clean through to slip the ball past Trialist.

Cowdenbeath hit back and a Dean Brett cross was met by Greg Spence and his overhead kick went just wide and then their Trialist number ten fired past the post.

In 22 minutes as Cowden started to dominate possession and Spence cleverly hoodwinked Jordan McGhee and fired a fierce shot that went close from 12 yards, then two minutes later a Yakub cross was met by the former Raith striker and the ball rolled inches wide.

On the half hour Hearts came back when King sent lover a good cross from the left and Osman Sow’s shot was deflected for a corner by Brad Donaldson but eight minutes from the break Cowden levelled.

Trialist’s cross from the right was perfect for Craig Johnston to blast a low shot past Jack Hamilton from 14 yards range.

Hearts made nine changes at the break but it was Cowden who attacked and Spence shot straight at Hamilton from 16 yards.

The Premiership side struggled to create chances but Dario Zanatta’s pace on the right gave them an 'out' and a move involving the winger saw Lewis Moore fire in a 22 yard shot which flew just over then with nine minutes left Zanatta worked space for himself 10 yards but a fine tackle by home skipper John Armstrong kept him out.

The last chance fell to the Fifers when Kyle Miller headed wide from only eight yards after a Trialist cross beat the Hearts cover.

Cowdenbeath: Trialist (Trialist 51); Brett, Yaqub; Hughes (Callaghan 51), Donaldson, Armstrong; Trialist, Kane (Scullion 51), Spence (Trialist 78), Trialist (Miller 63), Johnston (Wright 78). Subs not used, Nish.

Heart of Midlothian: Hamilton (Alexander 51); L Smith (McHattie 45), I Smith (Anderson 45); Baur, McGhee (McKirdy 45), Buchanan (Moore 45); Zanatta, Walker (Oliver 45), Sow (Paterson 45), Reilly (Jones 45), King (McLean 45).

Referee-George Salmond.

Attendance 463.