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COVE RANGERS 0–2 ABERDEEN XI

The curtain fell on Blair Yule’s year of celebrations with the popular midfielder’s testimonial game against Aberdeen.

Dons manager Jimmy Thelin fielded a strong starting line-up, and they maintained their blistering start to the season with a hard-fought win, but this was not a night when the result mattered; it was all about the club and the fans paying tribute to a Cove Rangers legend.

In over a decade with the club, Blair has played a major role as Cove climbed from the Highland League up into the SPFL, and he thoroughly merited his big night.

Everyone at Balmoral Stadium would like to thank him for his contribution, and we look forward to more successes in the years ahead.

As for the match, Shayden MORRIS opened the scoring with a low twenty-three yard shot which found the corner of the net just before the interval, and substitute Kevin NISBET appeared to get the final touch, looping a header over Demus with just two minutes remaining.

Cove acquitted themselves well against the Premiership high-fliers and were desperately unlucky not to level the game in the second half.

Mitch Megginson brought a fine save out of Ross Doohan with a near post flick, then soon after Liam Parker let fly from long range, the keeper juggling his effort on to the crossbar. Parker hit the woodwork again minutes later, his fifteen yard strike smashing off the bar, then shortly before the Dons’ second, Arron Darge won possession, raced into the box and beat Doohan with a low shot which struck the left post.

Overall, it was good workout and an impressive Cove display, but the main objective of the night was to recognise a club stalwart, and Blair got a deserved standing ovation when he left the pitch after an hour.

COVE RANGERS: (4-4-1-1) Demus; Harrington (Darge 46), Doyle (Gillingham 46), Parker, Ochmanski; McAllister (McGrath 66), Trialist (Fyvie 59), Yule © (Scully 61), Emslie; Marshall (Glass 59); Gaffney (Megginson 59)

Substitutes: Suman, Robertson, Donaldson, Milnes

ABERDEEN: (4-2-3-1) Doohan; Lobban, MacDonald, McKenzie (Carrol 46), McGarry; Palaversa, Stewart; Wilson (Sokler 46), Besuijen (Gueye 46), Morris; Ambrose (Nisbet 71)

Substitutes: Vitols, Hamilton, Akindileni, Mackie, Masson

Referee: Dan McFarlane

Attendance: 499

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