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COVE RANGERS 1–0 INVERURIE LOCOS

An outstanding strike from our trialist striker settled the latest of the warm-up matches, the number nine curling a twenty yard effort around the visiting keeper for the only goal of the game just past the hour mark.

The manager continued to give the players as many minutes as possible in this one, switching around the starting line-up, but sticking with the 4-2-3-1 formation which served him well in the two previous friendlies.

There were two trialists in the front line and another at right back, with Arron Darge and captain for the day, Connor Scully, anchoring the midfield.

Mark Gallagher was first to threaten, weaving into the Locos box to create space, but his low shot was easily gathered by keeper Louis Amann.

It was to be the only opportunity of the opening twenty minutes, both sides enjoying possession, but unable to carve out a sight of goal, the final pass all too often failing to find its target.

Midway through the half, there was a chance for Cove, Trialist L firing in an inviting cross from the right but Luke Strachan failed to connect with an attempted diving header. The winger sent in another delivery soon after, but the keeper grabbed it comfortably.

Two minutes later, Gallagher gathered the ball twenty yards out but shot high over.

The midfielder was a danger driving from midfield, and caused more problems for Locos as he raced in from the left, his progress halted by Souter just outside the box. Josh Kerr’s shot from the resultant free-kick was charged down by the wall.

Darge then linked up with Trialist C to force a corner which was taken short, and when the ball arrived at the back post Trialist K looked certain to score only for Amann to pull off a superb save. The keeper was in action again soon after, diving to make a fine stop after Trialist L had wriggled free and fired goalwards from the edge of the area.

Locos came close just before the interval when, after a break down the right, Anderson let fly from twenty yards, his shot curling just wide of Balint Demus’s right post.

Paul Hartley made two changes at the interval, Nick Suman and Mikey Doyle coming on for Demus and Kerr. Doyle took over at right back with Trialist C moving to the left and Milosz Ochmanski moving in alongside Will Gillingham.

The trialist was involved right away, setting off on a forty yard run before threading a pass through towards Gallagher, but Souter made an outstanding interception to deny the midfielder a clear run into the penalty area.

Trialist C then made an important tackle of his own, preventing Meres from getting in behind to threaten the Cove back line.

The only goal came in the 61^st minute when Ochmanski strode out and delivered a pinpoint pass upfield. TRIALIST K controlled the ball, turned away from his marker, then curled an accurate shot around Amann and into the bottom corner.

It was to be his last act as Paul Hartley immediately made a handful of substitutions with Myles Gaffney, Mikey Milnes, Blair Yule and Trialists I and M entering the fray. Scully, Strachan, Gallagher and Trialist L also made way.

Gaffney might have doubled the advantage soon after, only narrowly failing to reach Doyle’s cross.

The youngsters put on a decent showing in the final quarter, constructing some attractive passing moves, and Trialist M came close twice, shooting just over after a fine move then having a last minute effort held by the keeper.

In between, Locos sub Bednarowski wriggled free in the box, but Suman was alert and made a good save from his angled shot.

Paul Hartley declared himself happy with the afternoon, the manager pleased to have seen all the players get some time on the pitch, and said he will continue to rotate his squad in Tuesday night’s encounter with Formartine United.

COVE RANGERS (4-2-3-1): Demus (Suman 46); Trialist C, Gillingham, Kerr (Doyle 46), Ochmanski; Darge, Scully (c) (Yule 62); Trialist L (Trialist I 62), Gallagher (Milnes 62), Strachan (Trialist M 62); Trialist K (Gaffney62)

Substitutes:

Goalscorers: Trialist K (61)

INVERURIE LOCOS (3-5-2): Amann; Reid (Buchan 64), Souter, Dingwall; Mitchell, Robertson (Duncan 64), Halliday, Anderson, Trialist (Gray 73); Trialist (Bednarowski 55), Meres (Smith 73)

Substitutes: Chauvin

Goalscorers:

Referee: Dan McFarlane

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