COVE rangers 4 rothes 1

In the Breedon Highland League Cup, Cove went ahead in 34 minutes. Stand-in Rothes goalkeeper Robert Donaldson misjudged a swirling Connor Scully cross and snatched at the feet of Paul Mcmanus. Jonathan Smith fired the penalty firmly into Donaldson’s left corner.

Sam Robertson supplied goal No. 2 a couple of minutes after the restart. His perfect cross from the right was met by a flicked header by Mcmanus to double the lead.

Six minutes on, Donaldson misjudged a Jamie Masson freekick 25 yards out, punching the ball straight at Mcmanus who knocked in the rebound from close range.

A second booking for Rothes midfielder Jack Maley midway through the half made the visitors task impossible, but, 10 minutes from time, Jaime Wilson reduced the leeway, netting after a poor Robertson passback.

The scoring was completed two minutes from the end. Substitute Mitch Megginson squared the ball from the right for Scully to net.

keeper Aaron Sherman the wrong way.

The tie was put to bed in the closing 10 minutes and, once again, it was Brindle to the fore. Having collected the ball, he drove at the defence and jinked his way into position to slot home his second to send the Cattachs through. They will travel to Keith on March 10 in the next round, a game they will start as favourites.