The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
MERCILESS COVE PUT SPARTANS TO SWORD
She ran’ sm en take huge stride to play-off final after dominant Har law display
Cove Rangers took a giant stride towards the SPFL pyramid play-off final after sweeping Spartans aside with a 4-0 victory at Harlaw Park.
A double from Paul McManus and headed goals from Mitch Megginson and Eric Watson make Cove the overwhelming favourites to progress to face Cowdenbeath ahead of tomorrow’s second leg at Ainslie Park.
Spartans offered next to nothing in attack, with the Lowland League champions failing to register a single shot on target throughout a one-sided contest.
Cove captain Eric Watson, who produced a man of the match display, said: “It went well. I’m just glad that I was in the right place at the right time for the goal and I’m absolutely delighted with that performance from the boys.
“In the first half we battled away and put them under pressure to try to grind out that first goal. When it came it was a great header from Mitch Megginson.
“That opener gave us the lift we needed to push on in the second half. At times this season we haven’t put opposing teams to the sword having made chance after chance but we were superb on this occasion. Paul McManus and Mitch Megginson were superb in attack.”
Cove were almost at full strength for one of the biggest games in their history while Spartans’s top scorer Jamie Dishington missed out through suspension.
The early stages, as expected with so much
“It went well. I’m just glad that I was in the right place at the right time for the goal”
at stake, were very tentative.
Jason Stevens had a half-chance for the visitors in the 13th minute but the striker volleyed weakly past from eight yards.
In the 21st minute it took a fabulous save from Blair Carswell in the Spartans goal to stop McManus converting from a Megginson cross.
Connor Scully fired just over from 30 yards in the 32nd minute as Cove pressed.
Five minutes later Megginson was brought down right on the edge of the box by Ian McFarland, who was booked for the challenge.
The striker took the resultant free kick but his effort was a foot wide of the target.
The Cove forward, however, would not be denied three minutes before the break.
Jamie Masson’s cross from the right wing was perfect for the former Aberdeen and Alloa forward to nod home from six yards.
It was Megginson’s 50th goal of the season. He was booked just before half-time for a challenge on Alan Brown but it did not take John Sheran’s men long after the half-time interval to double their advantage.
Barely three minutes of the second half had elapsed when Harry Milne was bundled over in the penalty area by Adam Corbett and McManus fired home from the spot to put Cove 2-0 ahead.
The Highland League champions made it three
only four minutes later when Jonny Smith, who was about to be replaced due to a groin injury, crossed with the outside of his boot to the back post for Watson to head past Carswell to spark wild celebrations from the hosts.
Spartans were toiling and Cove netted a fourth after 68 minutes when Daniel Park’s cross was turned home by McManus from close range.
The home side almost grabbed a fifth but Carswell produced a fine diving save to keep out Megginson’s dipping 30yard drive.