"The Blue Brazil" have recently appointed Jimmy Nicholl as manager but it was Roy Walker's Sky Blues that were first to threaten in the 3rd minute when Archie Stewart had his shot well blocked by the defence.

Andy Smith had already stung David Hay's hands from a free kick but in the 12th minute the United front man delivered a strike that was too hot for the keeper to handle. New signing Gary McCutcheon was fouled 25 yards out and Smith stepped up to find the back of the net.

Another new signing was to make his mark just before the half hour when the Braidmen extended their lead. Ryan Berry scored with a superb diving header which gave Hay no chance. Lee Colligan supplied the service for Berry which was at the end of an excellent move.

Just four minutes later and Cowdenbeath supplied their first threat of the game when in the 33rd minute new United custodian Ryan Brown made a smart save from John Robertson. Shortly after Brown was to do even better, making a breathtaking double save from Robertson and Brian Fairbairn.

Three minutes before the break, local lad Mo McDowell who has joined from Carniny Rangers came close to grabbing a goal. Played through by McCutcheon he was unable to exploit the chance as Hay beat the effort away. McDowell did impress though with his quick feet and trickery prominent throughout.

The second half was to see a number of substitutions by both teams which broke the flow of the game although Andy Smith nearly added to his tally in the 52nd minute when he chipped just over with only Hay to beat.

Fairbairn came close to reducing the arrears on the hour mark but it was a Cowdenbeath trialist who would do so in the 81st minute. The trialist was able to bundle the ball just over the line despite the efforts of new boy Denver Gage to clear. This goal gave "The Blue Brazil" a major boost and Fairbairn nearly levelled a minute later, his header just clearing the crossbar.

As Cowdenbeath pushed forward and with United tiring and disrupted by substitutions the equaliser came in the 85th minute. Substitute Mark Ramsay scoring with a low drive from 20 yards.

Despite this, the Sky Blues almost won it in the last minute but Albert Watson's connection from a corner wasn't pure and his header bounced down and then over.

An entertaining affair that provided an useful exercise for both teams; Ballymena will now look forward to their next game at Limavady on 15th July when they visit for former player Lee Patrick's testimonial.

Teams:

BALLYMENA UNITED	COWDENBEATH
1: BROWN, Ryan	1: HAY
2: SMITH, Michael (I)	2: BAXTER
3: COLLIGAN, Lee	3: LINTON
4: HAVERON, Gary (c)	4: WINTER
5: WATSON, Albert	5: McGOWAN
6: STEWART, Aaron	6: TOLMI
7: BERRY, Ryan	7: ROBERTSON
8: CARSON, Rory	8: CAMERON, Colin
9: SMITH, Andy	9: STEWART
10: McCUTCHEON, Gary	10: FAIRBAIRN
11: McDOWELL, Maurice	11: ADAMSON
Substitutes	-
12: BALLARD, Paul	12: RAMSEY, Mark
Replaced Michael Smith (I) (62 mins)
13: GAGE, Denver	13: O'BRIEN
Replaced Lee Colligan (54 mins)
14: EMMANUEL	15: BRETT
Replaced Gary Haveron (62 mins)
15: SURGENOR, Mark	15: McKENZIE
Replaced Gary McCutcheon (72 mins)
16: SMITH, Michael (II)	16: PYPER
Replaced Maurice McDowell (54 mins)
17: BRADLEY, Chris	17: POWELL
Not Used
	18: FLYNN
Yellow Cards:	-
None	None
Red Cards:	-
None	None