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MONTROSE 0-2 COVE RANGERS

We moved to the top of the League One table after becoming the first team to win three successive matches in what has been the tightest campaign imaginable.

The defence was again solid, recording a third successive clean sheet, and one of the back line also made a crucial impact at the other end of the pitch. Mikey Doyle was the unlikely source of the opening goal, driving home into the bottom corner just after the break, while a much more regular scorer, Mitch Megginson, settled things after excellent build-up play by Arron Darge.

Following the victories over Alloa Athletic and Queen of the South, Paul Hartley named an unchanged line-up for the third game in a row. There was good news with the return to the bench of midfielder Declan Glass, leaving Nick Suman as the only absentee.

Cove kicked-off on a blustery afternoon, but it was Montrose who threatened first, Liam Parker conceding a corner under pressure from Kane Hester. Gardyne’s inswinging delivery was comfortably dealt with by Balint Demus, the keeper commanding as he punched the ball to safety.

It was not until the eight minute that we got properly up the pitch, Arron Darge and Adam Emslie linking to try to find a way through, but the home defence held firm, and cleared the danger. Yule then found Emslie in space on the right, but his cross was deflected, and Gill gathered.

Fraser Fyvie then broke away midway inside the Montrose half, playing in Connor Scully, but after running free from his marker, the midfielder’s shot was straight at the goalkeeper.

Having been on the back foot, the home side countered in the sixteenth minute, Gardyne flashing in an inviting cross, but Hester was unable to make contact in the middle. Montrose then won successive corners, both cleared, but after the second, Mitch Megginson went down with a knee injury in the centre circle. Thankfully, he was able to resume after treatment.

The match was anything but a classic, not helped by the swirling wind, but we might have gone behind midway through the half. Masson let fly from thirty yards and when the ball bounced in front of Demus, he was unable to hold it. With Hester attempting to pounce on the rebound, the keeper recovered quickly enough to avert the danger.

Adam Emslie then won a corner, which was headed out, and when the ball was recycled, Scully backheeled to put Emslie in down the right. Adam’s cross initially looked dangerous, but caught on the wind, and Will Gillingham was unable to get a decisive touch at the back post.

Fyvie found some space to set up our next attack, and after a one-two with Scully, Ryan Harrington raced to the bye-line, but his low cross was cut out by Dillon. Emslie then fired in a delivery from the other flank, Dillon again getting there just ahead of Megginson, before Yule shot well over from twenty yards.

Just before the interval, Brown turned away from Doyle and played a clever pass in for Kane Hester to run on to, behind the Cove defence. Balint Demus was quickly off his line, and when the striker shot, the keeper spread himself to make a vital save.

We went straight up the park, and after Yule took a knock while attempting to shoot, the ball ran for Megginson. Mitch took control before flashing it across the area, Emslie inches from diverting his delivery into the net.

It was to be the last action of a first half full of endeavour, but low on quality.

We were the better side upon the resumption, Scully to the fore with a driving run, but were unable to make the final pass. That changed in the forty-eighth minute when Parker found Megginson with an excellent long ball forward, and after taking a touch, Mitch rolled it into the path of Mikey DOYLE. The full-back took a touch, steadied himself, then drove a superb strike beyond Gill and low into the bottom corner.

Doyle nearly turned provider soon after, curling in a dangerous cross from the right which Megginson got a flick on, but could only divert over the bar.

The defender was again involved when the home side attacked for the first time in the half, making a vital challenge to block Lyons’ powerful shot from the edge of the box.

Montrose then made a triple substitution and reverted to a back three, but it was Cove who looked the more threatening, Scully having a long range shot saved before Gill clutched a dangerous Doyle cross.

We came close in the seventy-fourth minute when after good link-up between Megginson and Fyvie, Fraser played in an excellent low cross. With Scully trying to make contact, Williamson slid in to clear.

Doyle and Emslie played a neat one-two in our next attack, and when the full-back delivered from the bye-line, Mitch Megginson met the ball flush with his forehead forcing Gill into a great save, the keeper tipping the ball over. From the resultant corner Yule’s header was just a foot too high.

Dylan Lobban replaced Emslie for the last ten minutes and was immediately involved, sending in an inviting cross which was scrambled clear.

We did double our advantage soon after, the goal down to the determination of Arron Darge. The midfielder was alert, robbing Gardyne in the centre circle, and after driving forward thirty yards, he played an inch-perfect pass into the path of Mitch MEGGINSON. The striker was his usual composed self as he smashed the ball low into the net.

Montrose tried to pile on the pressure and after Demus had punched out a dangerous cross, substitute Findlay Marshall made a vital block to deflect Gardyne’s well-struck effort over.

A much improved second half showing meant we thoroughly deserved the win, becoming the seventh team to top the League One table this season; only Arbroath, Caley Thistle and Dumbarton have failed to do so.

MONTROSE (4-1-3-2): Gill; Williamson, Dillon, McKenzie (Webster 64), Steeves; Gardyne; Machado (Bertie 64), Brown (Shrive 81), Masson (c) (Watson 81); Lyons, Hester (MacIver-Redwood 64)

Substitutes: Matthews, Hannah, Smith, Balfour

Goalscorers:

Booked: Dillon (45), Hester (55), McKenzie (60), Steeves (68)

COVE RANGERS (4-2-3-1): Demus; Doyle, Gillingham, Parker, Harrington; Yule, Darge; Emslie (Lobban 81), Fyvie (c) (Marshall 87), Scully; Megginson

Substitutes: Robertson, Murray, Glass, McGrath, McAllister, Gaffney

Goalscorers: Doyle (48), Megginson (86)

Booked: Fyvie (59), Yule (67)

Referee: Duncan Nicolson

Attendance: 691

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