League leaders Cove put dozen past Fort William
FORT William fell to their third double-figure league defeat on Saturday as table-toppers Cove Rangers showed their championship-winning credentials at Claggan Park.
Two goals against the runaway league leaders will be scant consolation for the Lochaber side as a devastating attacking performance secured a 10-goal winning margin for visiting Cove.
Claggan Park has become a happy hunting ground for teams in the top half of the Highland League this year and Saturday was no different as Cove settled into their rhythm very early.
After just four minutes, Mitch Megginson opened the scoring for the visitors. Despite the early setback, Fort retaliated with a score of their own courtesy of an own goal from Cove defender Eric Watson on eight minutes.
That small glimmer of hope for Fort William was short-lived as Watson quickly made amends for his own goal, scoring just a few minutes later to put Cove back in front.
Daniel Park nudged Cove further in front a few minutes later before a Paul McManus brace to make it 5-1 at the half-time break.
Megginson got his second of the match on the 48th minute before Paul McManus netted another couple of goals to take hi tally for the day to four just after the hour mark.
Fort William afforded themselves some relief from the onslaught after they won a penalty. Captain Iain Foggo dispatched the spot-kick to double the Fort’s tally for the afternoon – the first time they’ve scored more than one goal in a match since December.
Rather than temper the visitors’ scoring mood, Foggo’s goal seemed to antagonise the Cove attackers who were now intent on reaching double figures by the end of the match.
Substitute Jonathan Smith came off the bench to net a quick-fire double in the last 10 minutes, while Watson got his second of the match just before Ryan Stott finished off the scoring in injury time to make it 12 for the day for Cove.
That win means that Cove move a step closer to securing the Highland League title, sitting three points clear with four games in hand.
Fort William, however, remain bottom of the league and, with Strathspey Thistle picking up several points in a recent good run, including Saturday’s victory against Lossiemouth, the Fort are now nine points adrift.
The Fort take on Nairn County on Wednesday in an evening kick-off. They are playing at home on Saturday April 7, against their nearest bottom-ofthe-table rivals Keith with a 3pm kick-off.