Kelty Hearts 2, Cowdenbeath 1.

Friendly

Attendance 250

COWDENBEATH concluded their short series of pre-season warm up games with a narrow defeat at New Central Park, on Saturday, in a derby game with Lowland League newcomers Kelty, writes Andy Mullen.

Once again Cowden boss Gary Bollan rotated his squad with David Marsh returning in a midfield role replacing Martin Scott.

On a roasting hot summer's day the temperature meant that there had to be a number of water stops.

It was a highly entertaining game with both teams creating chances and some good goalkeeping keeping the teams out but a late goal gave Hearts the narrowest of wins.

With just two minutes gone Hearts' Lumsden sent over across into the Cowden box but the danger was cleared by Fraser Mullen at the expense of a corner.

Four minutes later, at the other end, a Robbie Buchanan shot from the edge of the box went over the bar.

However, it was the home side who broke the deadlock in 13 minutes when Brian RITCHIE fired home and angled shot from just inside the box.

Two minutes later visiting 'keeper Ryan Goodfellow had to be alert diving at the feet of the advancing Stuart Cargill.

Kris Renton then saw a close range effort blocked by Scott Christie and second later the striker was played through by Kyle Miller but was once again denied by the home 'keeper. Then from a Mullen corner Renton saw his header saved by the 'keeper.

At the other end a Ritchie effort was cleared off the line by Jason Talbot before the scores were levelled with 28 minutes gone.

A Mullen free kick was chested on by Renton to David COX who cleverly blasted the ball high into the net.

Former Central Parker Stephen Husband then saw an effort from the edge of the box drift wide and a minute later saw a free-kick from the edge of the box deflected after Bryan Gilfillan had fouled another former Cowden man Scott Dalziel.

Two minutes into the second-half Cammy Muirhead, who had come on at the interval, saw a close range shot saved by Christie with the ball going out for a corner which saw another half-time replacement, Pat Scullion, playing as a trialist head over.

Mullen then saw a long range free-kick saved by Christie while on the hour mark Husband lost possession to Muirhead who bore in on goal but was once again denied by the keeper.

The winning goal for the home side came with 15 minutes to go when sub Matthew GAY got on the end of a long ball from Nimmo to slot the ball past the advancing Goodfellow.

Cowden had a free kick on the edge of the box a minute later when Renton was fouled but Buchanan’s effort was blocked by a defender and in the closing stages another free kick from Mark Fotheringham was held by Christie.

Kelty Hearts: Christie; Lumsden, MacKenzie; Carstairs, Douglas, Husband (Roue 77); Nimmo, C Gay (MacAulay 71), Dalziel (Mutch 75), Cargill (M Gay 57) & Ritchie (Hare 57). Subs not used – Leighton & Gibb.

Cowdenbeath: Goodfellow (Trialist 77); Mullen, Talbot; Gilfillan (Trialist 46), Pyper (Swann 63), Miller (Muirhead 46); Cox, Marsh, Renton (Fotheringham 77), Malcolm & Buchanan. Subs not used – McMurchie & Smith.

REFEREE: Colin Whyte.