League new boys Cove deliver win for new boss
Cove 2 Montrose 1
On the week Cove Rangers appointed former Scotland midfielder and Dundee manager Paul Hartley as their boss, the Aberdeen side entertained Montrose. Martin Scott scored for Cove after 50 minutes as he knocked home a deflected shot.
Martin Scott doubled the lead from a penalty just after the hour mark, firing into the bottom right hand corner.
With 10 minutes to go, Cove keeper Stuart Mckenzie saved a shot from Lewis Milne, but Andrew Steeves headed home the rebound as the Gable Endies grabbed a consolation.
fraserburgh 1 peterhead 2
Peterhead made the short trip north to Fraserburgh in a testimonial match for longserving defender Ryan Christie. New signing Luke Barbour made an instant impact for the Broch, setting up Scott Barbour to drill a left-footer into the corner after just six minutes.
Derek Lyle equalised for the visitors in 36 minutes, netting a cross by Jamie Stevenson.
Midway through the half, Lyle headed home his second of the match to give Peterhead the win.
forfar ath 1 Morton 0
Morton started brightly and should have taken the lead when striker Kalvin Orsi found himself all alone inside the Forfar penalty area, but he could only divert the looping cross into the arms of the grateful Marc Mccallum.
But it was the home side who took the lead in the 14th minute when Dale Hilson hit the byline and hooked the ball back across goal for Jordan Kirkpatrick to slot home.
The Loons’ Connor Coupe was then denied by both the bar and keeper Sam Ramsbottom.
Forfar’s dominance continued into the second half, Ramsbottom pulling off a wonder save to deny Hilson in the 47th minute.
Despite Orsi failing to convert a number of chances, Forfar held on for an impressive, albeit comfortable, pre-season victory.
RAITH 2 spartans 0
Raith had a comfortable win over Spartans, but had to be content with two first-half goals.
The Fifers took control early on and got their reward in 15 minutes when Grant Anderson raced clear of the Spartans defence to slot home.
Ross Matthews came close to a second moments later after some slack defensive play, but his shot slipped inches wide.
Raith added to their lead nine minutes from the break when trialist Matthew Knox scored with an inspired 30-yard shot. The home side should have scored more after the break and goalkeeper Blair Carswell did well to save from the influential Regan Hendry and then from Anderson.
AIRDRIEONIANS 3 Cowdenbeath 0
After taking a first-half lead at the interval, a goal at the start and the end of the second half provided Airdrie with a second win over League 2 opponents in five days.
Dean Hawkshaw put the home side in front in 32 minutes. Craig Thomson on the right-wing, cut inside, then squared the ball to Hawkshaw, who curled the ball beyond keeper Kevin Dabrowski.
In 46 minutes, substitute Euan O’reilly worked well on the left to deliver an excellent cross for Dale Carrick to power his header into the net.
Cammy Russell came on late in the match and made immediate impact with a couple of efforts, before drilling a 20-yard stoppage-time third past the visiting substitute trialist keeper.
KIRRIE th 1 east fife 4
East Fife concluded their preseason schedule with a victory against Kirriemuir Thistle. The junior side posed Darren Young’s squad plenty of problems, but, in the end, it was the visitors who eased to the win.
They opened the scoring early on, Danny Denholm netting from close range.
But the hosts replied almost straightaway, Stewart Russell finishing well.
East Fife stepped up a gear, though, Lewis Hunter and Denholm again netting before the break.
The visitors were dominant after the break and Liam Watt made it 4-1 after some good work by Anton Dowds. Denholm was a constant threat for East Fife and, on another day, could have scored five or six, passing up a host of chances in the second 45.