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ARBROATH 1-0 COVE RANGERS

The league leaders took the points from a game spoiled by the wind, the victory secured courtesy of poor marking at a set-piece which led to the only goal in the opening minutes. To make matters worse, Mitch Megginson was sent off at the death and will now be missing for part of the run-in.

Paul Hartley made one change for this one from the goalless draw against Stenhousemuir, Liam Parker replacing Findlay Marshall. Will Gillingham remained out through injury, joined on the sidelines by Declan Glass, while Quinn Coulson was ineligible to play against his parent club.

The game got underway with a gale howling down the pitch, the conditions such that home keeper Aidan McAdams struggled to reach the centre circle with a couple of early goal-kicks, and both teams failed to find any rhythm.

But it was the home side who made the breakthrough in the eighth minute. Having won a free-kick wide on the right, Taylor curled in his delivery and found Aaron MUIRHEAD unmarked to sweep home from eight yards.

Adam Emslie and Dylan Lobban linked up well as we went in search of a quick leveller, but were unable to find a way through. Emslie then fed the ball wide for Fraser Fyvie whose cross almost deceived the goalkeeper, McAdams clawing it over the bar, but the corner was wasted.

Winter had a chance for Arbroath midway through the half, getting in behind Mikey Doyle, but sliced his shot wide of the near post.

Having the wind behind us was proving no advantage, the players finding it difficult to gauge its effect, and the ball regularly running away from them. Arron Darge forced a corner on the half hour mark, but when it eventually fell to Emslie on the edge of the area, he dragged his effort wide.

Megginson won a free-kick in our next attack, brought crashing to the ground by O’Brien, but Fyvie’s attempt from forty yards flew high over the bar.

Lobban then sent in a searching delivery which Connor Scully nodded down, but Fraser Fyvie was crowded out in the box, and the ball hammered clear.

The wind continued to cause havoc during what was a scrappy start to the second half, neither side able to make any headway. Dylan Lobban attempted to set Scully free, firing over the top of the home defence, and the midfielder got to the ball, but his pass aimed for Megginson was cut out.

Arbroath were having the same issues as we had in the first half, while we were struggling to get any passing moves going, and as a result, chances were at a premium.

Scully and Yule combined to find Ryan Harrington and the full-back raced to the bye-line, but his cross took a double deflection and bounced behind for a goal-kick.

The manager then made a couple of changes, throwing on Myles Gaffney and Findlay Marshall for Connor Scully and Adam Emslie. Mitch Megginson almost bundled his way into the box soon after, the ball running towards Gaffney, but he was closed down before getting his shot away.

Arbroath substitute Ryan Dow had an opening almost immediately after coming on but lifted his attempt over the bar as he tried to chip Nick Suman. Dow had another chance in the closing stages, shooting straight at the keeper, as did McKechnie within seconds of his arrival.

In stoppage time, Megginson picked up a second yellow for a foul on Ryan Dow, and was red-carded, and the home side saw the game out comfortably to claim three valuable points.

ARBROATH (4-2-3-1): McAdams; Penman (Watson 80), Muirhead, O’Brien (c), Wilkie; Stanton, Flynn; Stewart, Taylor, King (Dow 73); Winter (McKechnie 90)

Substitutes: McConnell, Steele, Gallagher, Murray, Thomson, Spalding

Goalscorers: Muirhead (8)

Booked: O’Brien (34), Stanton (90)

COVE RANGERS (4-2-3-1): Suman; Lobban, Doyle, Parker, Harrington; Darge (McGrath 84), Yule; Emslie (Gaffney 68), Fyvie (c), Scully (Marshall 68); Megginson

Substitutes: Demus, Murray

Goalscorers:

Booked: Megginson (22)

Sent off: Megginson (90)

Referee: Lloyd Wilson

Attendance: 1,432

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