Report: Cowdenbeath 1 Hibernian 2

Simon Brown’s long awaited debut for Hibernian finally arrived last night as Hibs turned in a good performance at Central Park, overcoming Keith Wright’s Cowdenbeath side. The match also gave the Hibs manager Tony Mowbray a chance to run the rule over a left back trialist Jesper Mikkelsen from the Danish Superligaen outfit Midtjylland.

Hibernian F.C. Match Reports
21 July 2004
Pre-Season Friendly
Cowdenbeath 1 Hibernian 2

Simon Brown was welcomed to the Scottish game when in the first minute Cowdenbeath played a ball over the top of the Hibs defence, it dropped in between the Hibs keeper and a Cowdenbeath forward but Brown won the race rushing from his box and providing an early test for his foot injury by making a side footed clearance upfield.

Hibs won their first of many corners of the night in the second minute, a pass from Reid to Brown on the right was caught in between two Cowdenbeath defenders and their keeper, Scott Brown caused a little panic in the home defence but the ball went out for the corner. Brebner delivered that into the box and McCluskey was quickest to react his initial shot cannoned off a defender before he then put the rebound high over the bar.

Three minutes later McCluskey who was causing the Cowdenbeath defence difficulties with his quick feet and skill, producing another great effort on goal. Brown won the ball inside the box and layed it to Fletcher whose cross went to the feet of McCluskey, he only had the keeper to beat but he ended up shooting straight at the keeper.

Ten minutes Hibs took the lead. A Gary Caldwell pass found Fletcher who volleyed from just inside the area - sending the ball past Carlin to put Hibernian ahead. Grant Brebner was controlling the midfield, spraying impressive passes to feet all over the pitch and constantly cajoling his team mates, at times he looked one move ahead of everyone else.

Hibs almost had a second when Reid picked up the ball in midfield and his cross found the head of Fletcher, his header however went just past the post. Hibs were causing Cowdenbeath no end of problems, passing and movement from Hibs was at times excellent and they seemed to be playing with a new found confidence. That was underlined when Hibs doubled their lead after 17 minutes. This time it was a cross into the box which Scott Brown slid into, sending his shot past the ‘keepers right hand side and into the net. Carlin did get a hand to the ball, but Brown's effort was too strong and Hibs were two up.

The home side rallied a bit after that, and had a couple of good chances to get back into the game, the first coming on 20 minutes when a through ball to Burns saw him one on one with Brown. As the Hibs goalkeeper rushed out to meet him the striker, in his third spell at Central Park, elected to chip the ball but succeeded only in sending the ball over the bar.

Cowdenbeath’s next chance came when Gilfillan tried a shot from distance, but he too sent the ball high and over although in any case it appeared that Brown had that effort covered. Hibs almost made it three when a long ball by Caldwell again found Fletcher just outside the box, under pressure the striker still managed a shot on goal that flew across the face of the goal beating the keeper, but unfortunately also the outside of the post.

Fletcher was looking the most dangerous of the Hibs strikers, benefiting most from Hibs slick passing from defence through the midfield – and on 38 minutes he again had another shot at goal but this well wide of the mark. As the first half grew to a close, Cowdenbeath were stepping up their game in an effort to pull a goal back. A Caldwell header almost had his own defence in trouble, Shields nipping in but sending the resulting shot wide of Brown and the post.

Then a minute before half time Cowdenbeath won a free kick on the Hibs left, 30 yards from goal. The ball was floated into a packed penalty area – and the referee spotted a push and immediately pointed to the spot. Mauchlen stepped up to take the penalty and sent Brown the wrong way to put the Blue Brazil right back into the game.

Half-Time: Cowdenbeath 1 Hibernian 2

There were no changes to the Hibs line up at the start of the second half, and before Tony Mowbray could take his place on the bench Cowdenbeath were on the attack, Gilfillan's shot though was comfortably dealt with by Brown whose handling on the night had been excellent.

Hibs quickly got back into the passing and movement game and a neat ball between the two Hibs strikers saw Fletcher’s shot go wide. The pass and move was working well for Hibs and within the next minute they had another three shots on target, these provided by the impressive McCluskey and Brown.

On 57 minutes the game had a bit of controversy. McHale had been off the pitch receiving treatment, and as Simon Brown threw the ball out to the Hibs Left wing the referee waved the player back on, McHale quickly intercepted and passed the ball to his striker who chipped the ball over Brown and into the back of the net! As the Cowdenbeath players celebrated the Hibs players surrounded the referee, who after a discussion with Cowdenbeath boss Keith Wright, disallowed the goal.

Hibs came close to restoring a two-goal advantage on the hour mark when a Caldwell through ball found Fletcher who did really well to control the ball, he slid the ball to Brown whose shot beat the keeper but hit the post. Tony Mowbray then decided to put on a double substitution when Pow and Shields came on for McCluskey and Baillie. This substitution saw Caldwell move into the centre of defence with Shields taking over in the midfield.

Trialist Mikkelsen at left back was having a good game and had settled well into the game-plan Hibs were playing, he was always looking comfortable on the ball and his passing was finding Hibs players. Hibs were again growing in confidence and that was demonstrated as they again were passing the ball well, denying any sort of quality possession to their hosts. Indeed had it not been from some great work in the Cowdenbeath defence, there would have been more goals for the Easter Road side.

Ryan Pow was keen to Impress and he picked up a header from Mikkelsen, running at the Cowdenbeath box and unleashing a shot from 20 yards only to see it go just wide of the post. Hibs made another double substitution on seventy five minutes, Cruickshank coming on for Fenwick who had a steady game at the back and Kevin Mcdonald on for Alan Reid who had also put a good shift in.

McDonald immediately picked up a ball in midfield and with good control he found Fletcher out on the right wing, His cross into the box towards Brown and Pow saw the latter strike a volley which just went over the bar.

In the final minute of the game Cowdenbeath looked to have snatched the draw. A free kick was headed onto Shields who's shot looked to have beaten Brown – however the Hibs goalkeeper reached out a long arm and caught the ball with one hand on the line. That save earned Hibs a deserved win in what was a entertaining match, with Hibs fans notably impressed by the passing game and constant cajoling from the side-lines from both Tony Mowbray and Mark Venus.

Hibernian: S.Brown, Whittaker, Mikkelsen, Fenwick, Baillie, Caldwell, Reid, Brebner(c), Fletcher, Scott brown, McCluskey. Subs: Andy Reid, Shields, McDonald, Cruickshank, Kane, Pow.

Cowdenbeath: Carlin, Shand, Campbell, Gilfillan, McKeown, Ritchie, Mauchlen, McHale, Shields, Fusco, Burns. Subs: Buchanan, Black, McGregor, Scott, Fleming.

Referee: Ian Frickleton