Cowdenbeath’s new manager Jimmy Nicholl got his first look at his first-team squad in competitive action against IFA premiership side Ballymena United in a friendly match in Northern Ireland.
Cowden’s three-day trip gave the former Manchester United and Rangers player and Northern Ireland internationalist the chance to evaluate his players.
These included two possible loan signings from Hibs and Hearts, and four trialists, who all featured in the match.
Nicholl was duly impressed as the Fifers fought back to earn a 2-2 draw.
Nicholl was without defenders Dene Droudge, John Armstrong and Joe Mbu and strikers Gareth Wardlaw and John Dempster, but the match gave two young Premier League players a goalkeeper from Hibs and a central defender from Hearts the chance to show their qualities as well as four trialists, one of whom netted their opening goal.
Striker Zane Powell, who had been released by Motherwell, got Cowden back into the game and midfielder Mark Ramsay notched their equaliser in a second half fight-back after the Fifers found themselves 2-0 down at half time thanks to strikes from Ballymena’s Andy Smith and Ryan Berry.
Nicholl will now be further assessing his squad in friendlies arranged for this week at Brechin tomorrow night and then another away fixture at Stenhousemuir on Saturday.
The Cowden travelling party at the weekend comprised first team men David Hay, Mark Baxter, Craig Winter, Scott Linton, Colin Cameron, Mark Ramsay, Jon Robertson, Kenny Adamson and Brian Fairbairn, as well as under-19 players Thomas O’Brien, Dean Brett and Jamie Pyper, plus four trialists and the two players from Hibs and Hearts.