Mitch pitches in with his 48th goal

BRORA RANGERS COVERANGERS 0 1

A Mitch Megginson strike in the 29th minute, his 48th of the season, was all that separated the two sides in a surprisingly low-key Dudgeon Park encounter.

In the process Cove extended their remarkable unbeaten league record, their last defeat coming at the hands of Buckie Thistle on Christmas Eve, 2016.

Cove assistant-manager Graeme Mathieson said: “The build-up play to Megginson’s winning goal was quite good, Dean Lawrie cut right along the byeline and Mitch put it in the back of the net.

“The game was very much of a typical end of season encounter, both teams kind of just went through the motions.

“Joe Malin in the Brora goal did make two or three really good saves though to keep us out and at the other end Stuart McKenzie cut out a couple of crosses, that was about it, but I think we just shaded it on the day.

“The pitch wasn’t bad to be fair.

“It was still a little bit soft and a couple of players, Steven Mackay, of Brora, and our own Ryan Strachan, rolled their ankles.

“We again shuffled the pack by making six changes to the side which won at Fraserburgh in midweek too to help fresh.”

The only goal of the game came in the 29th minute when Cove full back Lawrie’s cut-back from the byeline eventually picked out Megginson and the Highland League’s top goal-scorer made no mistake.

Although Cove have three league games still to play but they now know that Spartans will provide their opposition in the pyramid play-offs keep the lads Cove Rangers will face Spartans in the SPFL play-offs later this month after the Ainslie Park side clinched the Lowland League title.

A 0-0 draw against East Stirlingshire was enough to secure the championship after title rivals East Kilbride slumped to a shock 2-0 loss against Stirling University.

John Sheran’s Cove will take on Spartans on Saturday, April 28 and Tuesday, May 1. Cove will have home advantage for the first leg.

Cowdenbeath lie in wait for the team that makes it through that tie after the Blue Brazil were confirmed as finishing bottom of League 2 after being defeated 1-0 by Peterhead on Saturday.

The winners of the tie between Cove and Spartans will take on Cowdenbeath on May 5 and 12.