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We kick-off our SPFL Trust Trophy campaign this weekend with a trip to a stadium which brings back happy memories.

In April 2019, Harry Milne and Scott Ross got the goals as we beat East Kilbride 2-1 in the Pryamid Play-Off Semi-Final at K-Park. The team followed that up with a 3-0 win in the home leg, Mitch Megginson bagging a double and Jamie Masson the other, setting up the victorious final against Berwick Rangers, the tie which sent the club up into the SPFL.

Since then, Cove have been as high as the Championship while East Kilbride have been regular Lowland League title challengers, agonisingly losing out to Stranraer in extra-time in last season’s Pyramid Play-Off Final.

Paul Hartley knows his side are likely to face a stern challenge:

“They’ve been unfortunate not to come up. Mick Kennedy has built a good squad there, he’s got an experienced team, and they’re ambitious. We’ve watched the videos, so we know what we’re up against, and we want to go through.

“The cups will be important to us this season, and it would be nice to get a run going. We got to the semis a couple of years ago and were unlucky not to win that one against Queen of the South, so we would like to repeat that. First of all, we need to take care of this tie and we’re fully focused on that.”

The manager says the team goes into this one in a confident frame of mind after what has been a good week:

“I was really pleased with the win over Montrose, we matched them, and played well, and of course got the three points, then we had Blair’s match on Tuesday. Aberdeen came with a strong team, it wasn’t played like a testimonial, and I thought we were excellent in the game.

“It was a good experience for the boys, some of them haven’t come up against that kind of quality before. It was a real test both in and out of possession, and I thought they handled it really well. Now, we want to continue that against East Kilbride.”

He will however be heading south with a depleted squad. Having been able to name a full bench for the first time this season last week against Montrose, Paul will be without the four loan players – Findlay Marshall, Adam Emslie, Reuben McAllister and Liam Parker – who are all cup-tied:

“We knew that was going to be the case, they’ve all played already in the competition, so we will be down in numbers. We’ve also got a few injuries, Finlay Murray has been out and there are a couple carrying knocks, so it will be a late decision.”

Fans travelling down to support the team can find all the information they need HERE

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