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Manager Paul Hartley made nine changes to the side that started Tuesday’s match against Dunfermline, with midfielder Mark Gallagher and Trialist C the only two retaining their places in the starting line-up. Nick Suman replaced Balint Demus in goal, and Mikey Doyle, Connor Scully, Will Gillingham, Blair Yule and Fraser Fyvie all came in to the team, along with three Trialists. Like Tuesday night, we set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation again.

The team started on the front foot, and the early pressure paid off in the 10th minute. Number 3 (Trialist C) took on the Banks O’Dee right back and beat him well before whipping a delightful cross towards the back post. Number 11 (Trialist L) rose highest and nodded past Hoban to open the scoring.

Gallagher then went close to making it two as he took the ball well in his stride before bursting into the box, but his powerful strike was straight at Hoban.

Number 11 (Trialist L) was inches away from netting a stunner to extend our lead. The ball dropped to the trialist inside the box and he fizzed an effort with the outside of the boot towards the far top corner but it unfortunately landed on top of the net.

Half an hour into the game we went two ahead. Yule received a short corner and floated into the area. Number 5 (Trialist D) flicked on, and Hoban looked certain to gather, but Scully nicked in at the back post and poked beyond the goalkeeper, making it two in two for our number 4.

Dee’s first real chance of the game came in the 35th minute when Lachie Macleod stepped up and fired a free-kick over the Cove wall, but Suman dived to his right and held the powerful effort well.

The team continued to press for another before the break. Doyle picked out number 9 (Trialist K) inside the box, and the striker did well with his first touch to escape Anderson and looked certain to find the back of the net but he shot high and wide of the far post.

Just a minute before the break, number 11 (Trialist L) was again causing the Banks O’Dee defence problems. He picked the ball up on the edge of the box, and after a few step-overs, the winger hammered towards the near post, which Hoban saved expertly.

Five changes were made at the break with Demus, Kerr, Ochmanski, Darge and number 14 (Trialist I) coming on to replace Suman, Gillingham, Gallagher, Yule and number 3 (Trialist C).

Kerr went close to netting shortly after the break when he got on the end of a corner, but his header was cleared off the line to safety.

Josh was again involved 5 minutes later, and this time started the attack which led to goal number three. After nicking the ball from Dee’s striker, Kerr drove forward and slipped the ball wide to Scully. With players bursting into the box, Scully got his head up and fired low to the penalty spot for number 11 (Trialist L) to hammer into the net for Cove’s third and his second of the night.

Four further substitutions were made on the hour. Gaffney, Milnes, Strachan and number 22 (Trialist A) replaced Scully, Fyvie, number 9 (Trialist K) and number 11 (Trialist L).

With 5 minutes left on the clock, Banks O’Dee had their biggest chance of the game. After a mix-up in defence, Hamish Macleod latched on to the ball and only had the goalkeeper to beat but he fired his effort over the crossbar.

The team controlled the ball for the closing minutes to see the game out, 3-0 the final score.

Our next pre-season match is on Saturday afternoon with Inverurie Locos the opposition. Kick-off at Balmoral Stadium is 13:00. To buy tickets, click here.

COVE RANGERS: Suman, Doyle, Trialist C, Scully, Trialist D, Gillingham, Yule, Trialist K, Gallagher, Trialist L, Fyvie

SUBS: Demus, Strachan, Darge, Trialist I, Milnes, Kerr, Ochmanski, Gaffney, Trialist A, Robertson

BANKS O’DEE: Hoban, Davidson, Stark, Anderson, Kelly, Trialist, Osprey, Trialist, L. Macleod, Trialist, H. Macleod

SUBS: Trialist, Trialist, Antoniazzi, Trialist, Lewecki, Wood, Trialist, Gilmour, Trialist

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