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COVE RANGERS 0-2 DUNFERMLINE Lewis McCann (32), Kevin O’Hara (80)

In the north-east sunshine, the two sides emerged from the tunnel and lined up to form a guard of honour as Stuart took to the pitch with his children, Belle and Ben, and acknowledged the applause which rang around the stadium.

It was, of course, Jim McIntyre’s first game in charge of the team and his players took the match to Dunfermline in the early stages, forcing a corner which was cleared comfortably by the visiting defence.

The Fifers then mounted their first attack of the match, and after O’Hara had found McCann, the big striker unleashed a 20-yard effort which Morgyn Neill deflected wide for a corner.

Fraser Fyvie and Iain Vigurs looked to gain control of the midfield and were prominent in the early stages, but it was a more direct route which almost brought the opening goal. McKenzie pinged a long diagonal, Scully headed it on, and Rory McAllister’s effort was bundled wide for a corner.

Cove were showing patience as they searched for the opener and Jamie Masson was becoming more prominent, but it was Dunfermline who created the next big opportunity. Josh Edwards made a driving run into the box and his angled shot was well saved by McKenzie, Mark Reynolds completing the clearance to avert the danger.

Seconds later, Neill was adjudged to have committed a foul as the Pars attacked down their left. Allan whipped in a dangerous set piece which McCann met with a glancing header, directing the ball wide of the far post.

Fraser Fyvie broke down the right as Cove attempted to offer their own threat, but he was snuffed out as Wighton backtracked to make a challenge.

On the half-hour mark, Stuart McKenzie was again called into action, sprinting from his line to thwart O’Hara after the number seven broke free behind the home defence. The visitors were looking more dangerous, and Craig Wighton was next to threaten, wriggling away from Neill and firing in a low 20-yard strike which forced McKenzie into a fine save, showing a strong right hand to divert the ball for a corner.

The opening goal was delayed only momentarily.

A delivery from the left was nodded back across the penalty area, and LEWIS McCANN headed it beyond McKenzie and just inside the keeper’s left post.

Blair Yule led the comeback, but his chipped pass only just failed to find Mitch Megginson.

With the interval looming, Cove came close to equalising when Rory McAllister was wrestled to the ground outside the box to earn a free-kick. Jamie Masson whipped it in, and the ball skidded off Edwards’ head before flashing just wide of the back post.

Fyvie and Vigurs then linked up and from the resultant cross ball, Neill headed just wide.

Half time: (0-1)

Within seconds of the restart Dunfermline came close to doubling their lead. Kevin O’Hara broke down the right and cut the ball back for Lewis McCann, but Scott Ross was alert to the danger and forced it out for a corner.

Cove’s best moment of the game arrived soon after. Yule and Masson linked up well before Connor Scully picked the ball up and drove at the Dunfermline defence. He laid it off to Mitch Megginson and the captain’s angled drive flashed just over the bar.

Jamie Masson then had a go, but couldn’t quite connect with Megginson and the ball was cleared.

Jim McIntyre then switched things up, changing to a back four with Ross moving to right back and Yule briefly into midfield.

There followed the first raft of substitutions – Dunfermline would eventually put on nine replacements – as Leighton McIntosh and Robbie Leitch took over from Mitch and Blair.

Cove were now looking more likely to score. Vigurs rolled a short free-kick to Fyvie, whose 30-yard shot was deflected for a corner; Scott Ross had a long range effort which went wide; and the full back then swung in a cross which almost deceived Mehmet, landing on the roof of the net.

Then came the biggest cheer of the day as Stuart McKenzie left the pitch to a huge round of applause, allowing Kyle Gourlay a brief appearance. Within seconds, the replacement was picking the ball out of his net. Todorov’s pass set KEVIN O’HARA clear, and he fired a low finish into the bottom corner.

The game petered out after that, but the result was largely immaterial; today was all about recognising the achievements of a Cove Rangers legend, and Stuart deserved all the accolades he received.

COVE RANGERS (3-5-2): McKenzie; Ross, Neill, Reynolds; Yule, Masson, Vigurs, Fyvie, Scully; McAllister, Megginson. Substitutes: Gourlay, Thomas, Leitch, McIntosh

DUNFERMLINE (4-2-3-1): Mehmet; Comrie, Breen, Benedictus, Edwards; Allan, Hamilton; O’Hara, Todd, Wighton; McCann. Substitutes: Archibald, MacDonald, Chalmers, Todorov, Fenton, Rennie, Beagley, Young, Tod, Reilly

Referee: Mike Roncone

Attendance: 464

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