Cowdenbeath 4 Kilmarnock B 2
LOWLAND League Cowden were just too strong for the Killie youngsters in this SPFL Trophy first round tie last night, with the visitors fading the longer the game went on.
The victory earned the club £5,000 and a second round tie away to Albion Rovers, who beat Hibs B on penalties.
There was a scare at the start when Killie winger Kian Leslie broke through after only 14 seconds of this tie and looked odds on to score.
As he bore down on home goalie Josh Blair he clipped the ball inches wide.
The visitors kept up their good start with Grant Marchant firing just wide, but within a minute at the other end, Daryl Healy latched on to an Aiden McLaughlin pass and saw his effort blocked by central defender Ethan Brown.
It was the Fifers who took the lead in 11 minutes through a fine header from Paul McLean - who was sent off in the weekend draw with Tranent - after a pin-point cross from McLaughlin.
As Cowden started to create openings McLaughlin brought out a fine save from Killie ‘keeper Aidan Glavin with a fierce drive.
The Ayrshire men were looking for a break and it came in 37 minutes when Leslie’s cross flew off McLean and over Blair.
The ‘keeper came to Cowden’s rescue with saves from Zander Craik and Reuben Cooper, but in 41 minutes Cooper hit the net with a 12 yard drive as the visitors stepped up their game, to give them a half-time lead.
Three minutes into the second-half Jamie Docherty came close to an equaliser. His drive hit Ruari Ellis on the edge of the six yard box but the ball stayed out.
With 24 minutes to go Glavin made another fine save from Cowden skipper Robbie McNab but the equaliser came in 72 minutes when Mattie McDonald fired home after a sharp move.
And three minutes later McLean struck again for the Blues with a close-in finish as the Killie defence failed to pick him up.
Then in the 90th minute the game was tied up when Ethan Kerr headed in a Docherty corner.
Cowdenbeath: Blair, Dunsmore, Kerr, McLean, Denham, McNab, White, McLaughlin (Jordan 67), Healy (Sutherland 62), Docherty, McDonald.
Subs not used, Hill and Guiney.
Kilmarnock B: Glavin, Mackle, Bowie, Ellis, Brown, Brannan, Leslie, Traynor (Allan 82), Craik (Duruh 82, Burgess 87), Marchant (Burke 74), Cooper.
Subs not used, Miller, Brown, Gilmour and Barlow.
Referee: Andrew Craven.
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