Cowdenbeath 4, Kelty Hearts 0.

COWDEN ran out comfortable winners in their Fife Cup first round tie at Central Park on Tuesday night to set up a home semi-final with Raith Rovers, writes Andy Mullen.

Both sides fielded fringe teams with only Archie Thomas having played from the start the previous weekend out of the 22 players.

With just five minutes gone Harvey Swann sent over a corner to the back post which was headed over by Jamie Pyper.

Then a minute later Kelty’s Bridgeforth sent a shot high and wide from the edge of the box.

Swann the fed the ball to Ryan Connelly but he was blocked in the box with the ball eventually going out for a corner.

On the half hour Blues' 'keeper Mac Whyte pulled off a diving save to deny Andrew and minutes later Cowden’s assistant boss Craig Easton sent a shot over the visitors' bar.

The deadlock was eventually broken with 32 minutes gone when Graham TAYLOR fired a low shot past Jardine into the net.

A minute later Whyte pulled off a point blank save from Mitchinson but the flag had been raised for offside.

In 39 minutes Cowden doubled their advantage with a fine solo goal from Jordan ALLAN who brushed past the Kelty defenders to slot home.

Seven minutes into the second-half it was three when a cross from Matt Pollock was brought down by SWANN who fired home.

The scoring for the night was then completed in 59 minutes when sub Robbie BUCHANAN bore in on goal to fire the ball past Jardine.

Taylor then saw a shot parried by Jardine with the Kelty custodian also pulling off a good save from Allan’s 20 yard drive.

COWDENBEATH: Mac Whyte; Matt Pollock, Euan Valentine; Jamie Pyper, Jacob Gass, Craig Easton (Fraser Mullen 72); Graham Taylor, Ryan Connelly (Robbie Buchanan 46), Jordan Allan, Archie Thomas (Craig Barr 72) & Harvey Swann. Subs not used – Jamie Todd & David Cox.

KELTY HEARTS: Jardine; Watson, Bedborough (McHugh 78); Gray, Scobbie, Bembo (McMurchie 52); Bridgeforth (Dow 72), McKenzie, Andrew, Mitchinson & McBride. Subs not used – McNeill, Honeyman & Forbes.

Referee-Stuart Luke.