Cowdenbeath 1 Kilmarnock B 2

Kilmarnock B picked up their first ever victory in the KDM Trophy last night by defeating Cowdenbeath 2-1 on the road.

Young Under-19s prospect Noah Simpson came off the bench to score the winner for Kris Doolan’s side, who lead at half-time thanks to an own goal.

It was Killie who started the game on the front-foot, and looked the more likely to score before the first eventually came. Ieuan Owen was close to getting on the end of a cross flashed in front of goal. And it was the striker’s work ethic and pace which would force the own goal, with his pressure forcing a mistake in the Cowdenbeath backline.

Killie – kitted out in the yellow away strip – were pegged back in the second half when Jack Denham netted at the right end. The game the hosts the ascendency in the game, which meant Doolan was required to tweak his team’s shape, and substitutes were required to lift the energy of the game to turn the tide back in Killie’s favour.

Simpson – who also scored during last week’s CAS Elite League victory over Motherwell for the U19s, linked well with strike partner and fellow sub Remo Margiaotta, and ultimately either one of them could’ve got on the end of a brilliant delivery to score the winning goal inside the box.

It was a good run out for the first team players in need of minutes in the legs, all of whom applied themselves well, with the younger academy players gaining more vital experience against senior opposition.

Starting XI: Ferrie, McMurray, Yfeko, Bowie, Brannan, Foster, Trajlic-Fraser, Spence, Mathurin, Burke, Owen.

Subs: Margiotta, Morrison, Law, Simpson, Bickerton, Feeney.