Cowdenbeath .......... 1

Hearts XI ................ 3

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A YOUNG Hearts side boosted by two Austrians who are on trial with the Tynecastle club recorded a comfortable win over Cowdenbeath at Central Park last night.

One of the Austrian trialists, Markus Holemar, notched two well-taken goals in the first half to send Hearts well on the road to

victory.

Holemar showed his danger as early as the third minute, when he had a shot saved by Cowdenbeath goalkeeper Steve Hutchison.

Callum Graham had the first real opportunity for the Fifers but he fired wide with only goalkeeper Roddy McKenzie to beat.

Jack Lynch put Willie Stewart through for the home side but McKenzie pulled off a fine save and Hearts responded with a Scott Severin effort which rebounded off an upright.

However, Holemar struck with two fine goals in the thirty-first and thirty-sixth minutes. Both were opportunist efforts, shooting high into the net giving Hutchison no chance.

Cowdenbeath mounted a brave fight back in the second half and Craig Winter and then substitute Graeme Brown had shots blocked by McKenzie but in 70 minutes trialist Simone Balbo made it three for the Jambos.

Cowdenbeath pulled one back seven minutes from the end when Graeme Brown accepted a

Stewart pass to shoot past the helpless McKenzie.

Cowdenbeath - Hutchison, Hamilton, Murray, Humphreys, Bowsher, Welsh, Winter, Lynch, Stewart, Graham, M Robertson. Substitutes - G Robertson, Carson, Cuthbert, Ritchie, Moffat.

Hearts XI - McKenzie, Murie, Milne, Clyde, Goldie, Callachan, Thomas, Severin, Trialist, Holmes, Trialist. Substitutes - Trialist, Trialist, Graham, O'Neill, O'Donnell, Strang.

Referee - A Hunter (Glenrothes).