Cove lose focus late but Hartley happy with win

Champions elect Cove Rangers defeated bottom side Brechin City 3-2 to record a 14th consecutive home League 2 win and maintain a ten-point lead.

Balmoral Stadium skipper Mitch Megginson netted an early penalty and added the second just after the interval when he tapped home a Daniel Higgins pass. Jamie Masson drilled in to make the score 3-0 on 54 minutes.

Former Cove striker Martin Scott pulled a goal back and then slotted in a late penalty for the Glebe Park men.

Cove boss Paul Hartley said: “It was a good win but we lost focus and I was not expecting that.”

Edinburgh City remain unchallenged in second after a 3-0 home win over Albion Rovers, who had Nicky Mcallister dismissed for handball after 13 minutes. Blair Henderson converted the resulting spotkick and the win was completed thanks to quickfire second-half goals by Danny Handling and Alex Harris.

Cowdenbeath remain in third place after their 0-0 draw at Annan where the Blue Brazil’s David Cox went close in the first half and the hosts’ Lewis Mclear fired just over in the second.

Elgin City jumped back into fourth when they secured a 3-1 home victory over play-off rivals Stirling Albion, Smart Osadolor opening the scoring and Albion’s David Wilson quickly replying.

Kane Hester restored Elgin’s lead and Archie Macphee added a penalty before the break, with Stirling’s Dylan Bikey missing from the spot after the interval.

Queen’s Park played out a goallessdrawat Stenhousemuir where Spiders goalkeeper Willie Muir denied the Warriors a win with a fantastic double stop from Greig Spence and David Hopkirk.

In injury time the visiting Craig Slater was hit in the face with a ball, however referee Lloyd Wilson awarded a free-kick to the hosts, with Slater dismissed for his protests.