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COVE RANGERS 1-2 PETERHEAD

A second-half strike from Cammy Smith sealed victory for Peterhead at Balmoral Stadium, as the team were left to rue missed chances in a close-fought encounter. After falling behind early on, the side responded well and drew level through Lewis O’Donnell, but a series of missed opportunities proved costly before Smith’s finish midway through the second half ensured the Blue Toon made the short trip back north with all three points.

With Fraser Fyvie, Mikey Doyle, Declan Glass and Mitch Megginson still sidelined, the manager named an unchanged starting eleven from last weekend’s convincing victory at Links Park. Mikey Milnes returned to the bench following a short period on the sidelines.

Looking to build on the momentum from that victory over Montrose, Cove got off to the worst possible start. A McGuffie free-kick from around 30 yards wasn’t dealt with, and after a few ricochets inside the box, skipper Jason BROWN lashed the ball past Mutch to open the scoring for the visitors.

Moments later, Peterhead almost doubled their lead. With confidence high, the visitors won the second ball from a corner and Max Barry whipped in a dangerous cross. Harrington rose highest, but his looping header clipped the crossbar on its way over.

After a spell of pressure from the Blue Toon, Cove began to settle into the game. Parker went close to levelling, meeting O’Donnell’s cross well but glancing his header just over the bar.

David Eguaibor then came within inches of scoring the equaliser. After skipping beyond a couple of challenges and playing a neat one-two with O’Donnell, the striker curled an effort narrowly wide of the far post.

As the half-hour mark approached, Cove finally found the breakthrough. Parker hooked a long ball over the Peterhead defence for Eguaibor to chase, and the striker did brilliantly to drive the ball across goal. His low delivery beat goalkeeper Newman and found Lewis O’DONNELL, who tapped in from close range to make it 1–1.

Five minutes later, Cove almost turned the game around. Parker again sent a pinpoint long pass over the top, and although Newman raced off his line to clear, Eguaibor’s pace saw him reach it first. With the keeper stranded, it looked certain he would score, but Jason Brown recovered superbly to block before the line.

Eguaibor continued to cause problems for the Peterhead defence, this time collecting a pass from Harrington inside the box. As he got goal side of his marker, he looked set to poke beyond Newman, but the visiting goalkeeper did excellently to smother the danger with his boot.

Just before half-time, Peterhead went close with a couple of efforts of their own. First, McGuffie’s strike from the edge of the box was bravely blocked by captain Darge, before Barry’s low drive flashed narrowly past Mutch’s far post.

We looked to kick-off the second half on the front foot, continuing the strong performance from the opening 45. McAllister went close to netting his first goal for the club since his return, but Newman came out on top to palm his curling shot behind for a corner. A moment later and Emslie drilled just wide from the other wing after doing well to drive in off the flank.

Jason Brown went close to netting a second, but his dipping free-kick from right on the edge of the box got a deflection to send it wide of the goal.

The chances kept coming as both teams looked to find the goal that would put them ahead. With 20 minutes to go, Newman was called into action again to deny Emslie’s low powerful strike.

But straight from the next attack, Peterhead regained the lead. Smart link-up play between Shanks and SMITH on the edge of the area ended with the latter firing a precise shot into the bottom corner, leaving Mutch with no chance.

Chasing the game once more, Cove pushed for an equaliser. On 82 minutes, O’Donnell’s teasing free-kick caused panic in the Peterhead box, but Newman reacted well to deny the deft flick of Darge.

In the dying moments, O’Donnell tried his luck from distance as space opened up on the edge of the area, but his shot was dragged wide — the final action of the afternoon and another frustrating result for the team.

PETERHEAD: (4-2-3-1) Newman; Goldie (D. Strachan 90′), Jason Brown (C), Steele, Duffy; Forrest, Jack Brown (Ross 75′); McGuffie (McGinn 79′), Smith, Barry; Shanks

Substitutes: Oluyemi, R. Strachan, Mackie, Horn

Scorers: Jason Brown (7′), Smith (71′)

Bookings: Jason Brown (63′), Barry (79′), Goldie (81′)

COVE RANGERS: (4-1-3-2) Mutch; Bisland, Darge (c), Parker, Harrington; Yule; Strachan (Mylchreest 86′), O’Donnell, McAllister; Emslie, D. Eguaibor

Substitutes: Demus, J. Eguaibor, Donaldson

Scorers: O’Donnell (30′)

Bookings: Yule (65′), Parker (90′)

Referee: Cameron Stirling

Attendance: 621

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