Match Report: Hearts B 1-1 Cowdenbeath

B Team boss, Steven Naismith made five changes from the weekend’s defeat to East Kilbride. Liam McFarlane made his first start of the season in goal and there were welcome returns to the XI for Connor Smith, Finlay Pollock, Harry Gordon, and Lewis Neilson.
 
The Wee Jambos were struggling to create too many chances in the opening 15 minutes against a compact Cowdenbeath side. Pollock was the first to go close after being slipped in by Macaulay Tait, he got his shot away, but a last-ditch block from Robinson diverted it away from goal.
 
Just three minutes later Hearts came even closer. Luke Rathie rose highest to connect with Smith’s corner and with the goalkeeper beaten, the post saved the visitors.
 
The Blue Brazil were growing in confidence by this point and a rare foray forward was almost rewarded with the opening goal. A long throw-in was flicked on at the front post and Trialist saw his effort come back off the crossbar.
 
The men in maroon continued to dominate possession in search of the opening goal and it almost arrived 11 minutes before the interval. Lewis Neilson picked out Tait’s late run into the box, but he was denied by the feet of Danny Farrell in the Cowdenbeath goal.
 
Five minutes into the second half and the visitors got their noses in front. An in swinging freekick was flicked on by Trialist to give the Blue Brazil a shock lead.
 
The Wee Jambos weren’t behind for long, however. Just two minutes later, Makenzie Kirk beat Farrell to an aerial challenge and when the referee pointed to the spot, Smith stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way to level the scores.
 
Before the game could restart, Naismith was shown a straight a red card for voicing some complaints in the direction of the officials.
 
It was one-way traffic as the game entered the final 15 minutes as the Wee Jambos peppered the Cowdenbeath goal. Substitute Callum Sandilands was first to go close, but his header was well held by Farrell before Pollock was denied at the back post.
 
Try as they might, the men in maroon could not find a second goal, as Cowdenbeath held on for their first point of the season.
 
Hearts: McFarlane, Smith, Darge, Tait, Pollock, Denholm, Kirk (Sandilands, 77), Gordon (Thomas, 55), Neilson, Rathie, McLuckie (Ferguson, 62)
 
Subs: Stone, Ferguson, Thomas, Dall, Sandilands, Chisholm
 
Cowdenbeath: Farrell, Robinson, Newman, Armstrong, Lemon, Garrad (Gilmartin, 64), Thomson, Struthers, Sinclair (Donaldson, 80), Trialist (Graham, 71) , Love
 
Subs: Graham, Jarron, Gilmartin, Osborne, Donaldson, McCready, Berry