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COVE RANGERS 2–0 FORFAR ATHLETIC

We reached the Fifth Round of the Scottish Cup for the second successive season with a deserved victory over Jim Weir’s battling Forfar side. A clever finish from Adam Emslie settled any nerves just before half-time, the win confirmed by Myles Gaffney who slotted his fourth goal of the campaign ten minutes from the end.

With Liam Parker and Will Gillingham still injured, and Blair Yule missing through illness, Paul Hartley had named an unchanged line-up for the third successive game.

It was a notable day for Declan Glass who celebrated his fiftieth appearance for the club.

Before the kick-off there was a minute’s applause to pay tribute to Scottish football legend Denis Law who had passed away at the age of 84.

Cove started on top, Mitch Megginson setting Connor Scully down the left, but his cross was scrambled clear. Our next attack came down the other flank, Dylan Lobban flashing in a superb delivery which found no takers.

Lobban was again the provider in the fourteenth minute after fastening on to a driven pass from Arron Darge. His cross found Adam Emslie in the middle, but the forward was closed down.

Findlay Marshall was next to have a go, his angled shot straight at McCallum after a decent cross from Ryan Harrington. Then Megginson then found space wide right and fed the ball into the path of Emslie whose effort was deflected over by Morrison.

A Marshall header was saved just past the half hour mark before the visitors came close to opening the scoring in a rare attack. Cannon held the ball up at the edge of the box and laid it off for Rodden whose well-struck angled drive beat Suman but cannoned out off the back upright.

Findlay Marshall had another effort blocked and Fraser Fyvie came agonisingly close with a low twenty-yard drive pushed past by McCallum at the near post before we finally made the breakthrough.

After a scramble in the centre circle, the ball broke for Mitch Megginson who controlled it then slid an inviting pass beyond the Forfar back line. Adam EMSLIE raced clear and although the keeper looked favourite to get there first, the nineteen year-old got his foot to it, diverting the ball between McCallum’s legs and into the net.

The second half followed a similar pattern to the first with Cove dominating possession and coming close to adding to their lead.

They should have done so in the fifty-fourth minute. Fyvie took control in midfield and rolled a pass down the left wing for Emslie, who raced past Logan to the bye-line. His cutback was perfect for Declan Glass to run on to, but the midfielder’s first time shot hit the left post.

There was another swift attack soon after, Adam Emslie taking a touch before finding Megginson, but the striker’s shot was deflected wide.

Mitch had another opportunity when Scully’s corner fell at his feet in a crowded penalty area. He did well to make space, but his shot on the turn flew just over the crossbar.

There was a scare in the seventy-fourth minute when Forfar attempted to apply some pressure and the ball ran free for Kieran Inglis, his effort blasted high over the bar.

The manager had by then thrown on McGrath and Gaffney, and the latter in particular had shown up well. He was to have the decisive say in the tie.

From a throw-in on the right, McGrath attempted to control the ball inside the area, but it rolled into the path of Mitch Megginson, who shot goalwards. McCallum beat away his effort, but as it ran free, Myles GAFFNEY was first to react, and he lashed home our second goal.

It was to be the last major action of the match and we saw out a second successive 2-0 win in the competition, moving on into the last sixteen.

The draw for the Fifth Round will be made at Dens Park on Monday night following the final tie of this stage, the Dundee derby.

COVE RANGERS (4-4-2): Suman; Lobban, Doyle, Darge, Harrington; Fyvie (c), Marshall (Gaffney 64), Glass (McGrath 64), Scully; Emslie, Megginson

Substitutes: Demus, Murray

Goalscorers: Emslie (43), Gaffney (80)

Booked:

FORFAR ATHLETIC (3-5-2): McCallum; Morrison (c), Hutchinson, M. Allan; Logan, Inglis (Taylor 76), Whatley (F. Allan 67), Robson, Rodden (MacLean 46); Cannon, Skelly (Malcolm 67)

Substitutes: Paris

Goalscorers:

Booked: M. Allan (60), McCallum (81), Morrison (89)

Referee: Duncan Williams

Attendance: 578

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