Mcgurn puts up shutters as Cowdenbeath survive barrage in tough trip to north-east

COVE RANGERS

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The second leg of the Pyramid Play-off final between Highland League winners Cove Rangers and League 2 side Cowdenbeath will be a straight shootout after a goalless draw in the first meeting at Harlaw Park in Inverurie.

The senior side were the most grateful that the scoreline finished up blank with goalkeeper David Mcgurn putting up the shutters and ensuring that everything is all square for Saturday’s meeting at Central Park.

Cove, who defeated Lowland League champions Spartans to reach this stage, looked to grab an early initiative with Paul Mcmanus and Daniel Park having openings in the first ten minutes. They failed to get efforts on the target and Mcmanus, who has served eight senior clubs, fired another shot wide with half an hour played.

Jamie Masson fired over at the start of the second half for the hosts before he forced Mcgurn into the first of a number of fine stops with a low piercing drive that was heading into the net.

The keeper then turned a Connor Scully effort on to the woodwork and Cove were again out of luck in injury time when Ryan Stott set up Megginson, but the former Aberdeen striker, who has scored 50 goals this season, blazed over afterside-steppinghismarker.

Cowdenbeath manager Gary Bollan said: “Cove put us under pressure and I expected that. However, we have come to their place and left with a reasonable score. It is all down to who performs best in the next meeting.”

Cove boss John Sheran said: “It was a combination of some really good saves and poor luck that stopped us going into the second leg with a lead. We have nothing to be disappointed about as the tie lasts 180 minutes so we can look forward to going to Central Park.”

0 Gary Bollan: Pressure.