The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Cove shape up for play-offs
Manager Sheran believes team better equipped than in 2016
Cove Rangers boss John Sheran feels his side are better equipped than two years ago to come through the SPFL pyramid play-offs.
When Cove were crowned Highland League champions in 2016 they lost out to Edinburgh City in the play-offs, who went on to beat East Stirling and secure their place in League 2.
Sheran’s side take on Spartans in a two-legged play-off for the right to face Cowdenbeath with the first leg taking place at Harlaw Park on Saturday. Cove will make the trip to Ainslie Park on Tuesday night.
They can draw on plenty of big-game experience this year, having won the title before losing a game, making the Highland League and Aberdeenshire Shield finals and taking on Championship side Falkirk in the Scottish Cup. Sheran hopes that stands them in good stead for two vital games in four days.
He said: “The top teams in both leagues are very close. We played East Stirling at the start of the season and Buckie played East Kilbride last year – I don’t think there’s an awful lot between the teams. I think the Highland League is slightly stronger and we certainly play more games.
“Now it comes down to a two-legged affair and who can pull it off. Any team that wins their league will give you a tough game. We feel we’re better than we were two years ago and it’s up to us to prove it now.
“We’ve got lots of reports on them. There’ll be no surprises – they’ve had us watched as well. Now it’s about getting on and making it happen. I think we’ve got a bit more experience than two years ago – the players have been through it once.
“It’s about who performs on the day and the guys can look back on a lot of big games this year when they’ve turned up, if they show the same resolve and deliver a good performance, I can’t ask for more than that.”
A much-changed Cove took to the field on Tuesday night for their final league fixture of the season, with Sheran resting nearly all of his first-team players for the 3-0 defeat to Nairn County.
However he still has a few injury doubts ahead of Saturday, with Nick Gray limping off against the Wee County to add to
“We feel we’re better than two years ago – it’s up to us to prove it”
the list that includes Ryan Strachan, Darryn Kelly and Daniel Park.
Sheran added: “We’ve got a strong squad that’s still left. Ryan, Daniel and Darryn are all pushing to be ready for Saturday. We’ll go into the game full of confidence.
“Darren and Daniel have more chance of being ready than Ryan but you never know.
“He’s getting treatment every day and doing work on his own. We’ve got a squad of 20 and Jonny Smith put a great shift in on Tuesday.
“Some of the form has picked up in the last few weeks so we’re feeling we’ve got a chance.”