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COVE RANGERS 3–1 ANNAN ATHLETIC

The team moved back up into second place in the table with a hard-fought win, the victory secured by a Findlay Marshall double, which included another wonder strike, to clinch the points.

The sides had swapped early own goals, but we went into the break ahead thanks to Marshall’s well-judged header. He lashed home the third, his seventh goal of the season, with time running out, to break Annan hearts.

Having largely had continuity for the last seven games, the only alteration during that time being the reintroduction of Blair Yule for the departed Adam Emslie, Paul Hartley was forced into making two changes.

Mitch Megginson and Fraser Fyvie were both ruled out as a result of midweek injuries, joining Will Gillingham on the casualty list. Grady McGrath was drafted in up front alongside Quinn Coulson, who made his first start for the club. Mikey Doyle captained the side on his 50^th league appearance for Cove Rangers.

On a bitterly cold afternoon, we mounted the first attack when Coulson found McGrath in the area. The striker took a step to his left to shoot, but Hooper was alert, and made the block.

There was a big scare in the third minute when Annan ventured forward. Aidan Smith crossed from the left and the ball ran all the way through to Dixon whose first time shot bounced back out off the base of the post.

Doyle played a searching long ball for Quinn Coulson to run on to, but he was crowded out, and the ball cleared. The opening goal did however come soon after.

Coulson played a pass wide and Declan Glass gathered and raced to the bye-line before flashing in a low delivery. His cross beat keeper Smith and flew into the net off Rhys BREEN.

The lead did not last long, and it was another own goal which brought the visitors level. Aidan Smith took possession inside the area before knocking the ball inside where it hit Arron Darge then bounced off the unfortunate Connor SCULLY and rolled beyond Nick Suman, going in off the far post.

There was a major scramble in our box in the wake of that, Lobban eventually clearing as Annan put the pressure on following a Gibson free-kick.

Dixon then threatened for Annan, finding space inside the area to shoot, but Doyle was on hand to make an important block.

We might have restored our lead in the 28^th minute when Marshall gathered and fed the ball out wide to Quinn Coulson. His delivery was headed out to the edge of the box where Declan Glass took a touch then rifled a well-struck shot goalwards, Smith leaping to tip it over for a corner.

Connor Scully took that, swinging it high into the box, and Findlay MARSHALL wriggled clear of his marker to head the ball down beyond the keeper and into the net.

Having regained the advantage, we were still in front with the interval approaching, but it took another outstanding save from Nick Suman to keep it that way. Annan player-manager Willie Gibson bought himself a yard of space then fired towards goal from twenty yards. The ball flew through a ruck of players, but the big Aussie was down quickly, getting a strong left hand on the ball to divert it over.

Unhappy with the first half showing, Paul Hartley threw on Liam Parker and Myles Gaffney for Coulson and McGrath, and changed to a 4-2-3-1 formation. Parker slipped in beside Doyle, Darge moved up into midfield to partner Blair Yule, and Marshall, Glass and Scully were tasked with supporting Gaffney.

We almost snatched a third in the fiftieth minute when Dylan Lobban crossed for Connor Scully, his long range header bouncing just wide of the left upright. And there was another opportunity for the midfielder soon after when Arron Darge found him with a long pass, but rather than shoot, Connor attempted the cutback, and the ball ran behind Glass and Gaffney.

Our next attack saw Yule link up with Marshall, who battled into the box and laid the ball off for Glass. Declan jinked around the Annan defence, but his angled shot was deflected into the side-netting.

The visitors then had a spell of good possession, but were unable to make the breakthrough, our restructured back-line looking solid and organised.

We remained a threat, and Ryan Harrington was unlucky when his driven delivery took a nick, and flew just over the bar, landing on the top of the net. Darge then surged forward, beating three players and setting-up Gaffney, but the striker was thwarted when the assistant raised his flag for offside.

Any nerves we had were settled with just twelve minutes remaining. Attempting to clear his lines, Breen sliced the ball high into the air, and when it dropped, Findlay MARSHALL controlled it on his chest, steadied himself, then unleashed a twenty-yard rocket into the top corner. It was another outstanding and unstoppable effort from the teenager, following his point-saver against Montrose in midweek.

In the closing stages Gaffney was again denied by the offside flag, and Glass shot over, and the team, much improved in the second half, saw the game out comfortably.

COVE RANGERS (4-4-2): Suman; Lobban, Darge, Doyle (c), Harrington; Yule, Marshall, Glass, Scully; McGrath (Parker 46), Coulson (Gaffney 46)

Substitutes: Demus, Murray

Goalscorers: Breen (og 8), Marshall (28), (78)

Booked: Scully (78), Darge (80)

ANNAN ATHLETIC (4-4-2): J. Smith; Bisland (58), Kilsby,, Hooper, Breen (Maxwell 82), Gibson; Dixon (Brown 72), McGowan, P. Smith, A. Smith; Todd (Ross 72), T. Muir (c),

Substitutes: G. Fleming, R. Muir, K. Fleming, Trialist, Stevenson

Goalscorers: Scully (og 15)

Booked:

Referee: Dan McFarlane

Attendance: 331

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