Pollok 1 Cowdenbeath 1

COWDEN warmed up for their derby clash against Raith Rovers with a trip to face Pollok in a pre-season friendly.

And they were on target for a win until a goal 12 minutes from time from the home side.

It was a useful exercise for Gary Bollan ahead of the Premier Sports Cup opener and he made two changes to the side that drew with Dundee United last week.

Ross Pollock and Gavin Morrison came into the team and both performed well against a spirited home side who hadn’t played since last year when the West of Scotland League side took a year out due to Covid.

Cowden took the lead through a goal from Liam Buchanan and had plenty of chances to add to their tally.

It was Pollok who made the early running though and with just seven minutes on the clock Mark Sideserf sent a shot across the face of the Cowden goal, while minutes later Kris Renton fired a shot over the bar for the Fifers.

Longmuir held on to a Buchanan shot and five minutes later Craig Barr headed over after getting on the end of a Fraser Mullen free-kick.

Another Mullen delivery was then cleared by the home defence while Morrison had to look sharp and defended well when Forde sent a free kick into the box for Pollok.

Mullen was denied by a diving stop from Longmuir while a trialist for the home team hit the side netting.

Four minutes from the break a move involving Robbie Buchanan and Renton ended with Liam Buchanan shooting over.

As the first half drew to a close Robbie Buchanan sent a Mullen cross wide of the home goal.

Into the second-half and Liam Buchanan saw a shot held by Lumsden, who had taken over in the Pollok goal.

With 58 minutes gone the deadlock was finally broken when the striker headed home from a cross from substitute Kyle Miller..

Robbie Buchanan almost made it two when he broke through only to see his shot come off the base of the post.

Pollok equalised when sub Gary McCANN took full advantage of a defensive error to shoot home.

And in the closing stages Cowden keeper Cammy Gill had to pull off a fine save to deny them a winner.

Cowdenbeath: Gill, Mullen, Pollock; Todd (Glass 75), Barr, Morrison (Clarke 60); R Buchanan, Hutton, Renton, L Buchanan, Swann (Miller 46).

Sub not used – Kay.

Pollok: Longmuir (Lumsden 38); Evans, Sideserf (McKenzie 61); Gallacher, Bradley, McGregor (Lyon 81); Trialist, Esplin (Trialist 65), S McCann (G McCann 71), Forde (Duff 71), Fraser.

Subs not used – McWatters & Wharton.

Referee: Chris Gentles.