Obstacles on Cove title path

Manager Sheran urges team to keep focus for final five

The destination of the Highland League title is in their own hands but champions Cove Rangers have been warned not to get carried away.

Cove can go top of the league with a win against Clach at Harlaw Park, Inverurie, tonight.

Manager John Sheran knows five wins will secure the title but he has told his side to look no further than tonight’s game against the Lilywhites.

He said: “We’ve tried to work on the basis that it’s just another three points up for grabs, just like Saturday atWick, which was a big win for us. We have five games left – against Clach and then, unusually, a couple of back-to-back matches against firstly Turriff United and then Lossiemouth to end the season. Those four games are as tough as we could ask for.

“Every time we play Clach it seems to be tough. We never seem to have an easy game against them. “We n e e d to maintain the level of performance we’ve had for the last five or six games and hopefully that will be good enough.”

Clach manager Iain Polworth has a depleted squad and said: “We have eight or nine first-team players out for the Harlaw Park trip.

“Goalkeeper JohnCampbell, midfielders Martin Callum and Blair Lawrie and forward pair Ian Penwright and Dan MacLennan are all out and I can’t even draft in lads from our under-17 side as they are trying to win their league and are playing Alness. I said at the start of the season anyone who finishes above Cove would win the title. They have been grinding out results and deserve to be where they are.

“They do things the right way, score goals and defend well, so they have a great chance of retaining the title. We’d love to turnthem over but our squad has been hit hard.” central midfield role for the past two months and is happy to continue there.

He said: “I’m just pleased to play regularly. Gary McGowan has been doing well up top and Robbie Duncansonhasbangedin a few goals, too.”

Co- manager Tommy Wilson believes Wyness, who has scored eight goals in 34 appearances this season, still has much to offer.

He said: “Dennis is a brilliant football player. He has just turned40andthe positon we’re asking him to play now is midfield. With his football brains and knowledge you don’t have to do that much running in there.

“He’s brought a lot of experience to the team, which w i l l help the younger players, and we’re delighted to keep him.”