News

Two goals either side of half time meant the spoils were shared between the teams at Balmoral Stadium on a cold Saturday afternoon. 

Hartley made two changes from last week’s thrilling but narrow defeat to Queen of the South, although an injury to Liam Parker meant Dylan Ross would replace him in the starting 11 before kick off.  

The game would open with a three-minute stoppage after Ross and Bah came together at a corner leaving both on the deck and needing treatment.  

After the restart Cove would grow into the game. Harrington’s long ball for Oladipo saw the number nine’s cross fall into the hands of Gaston.  

East Fife’s first chance of the game would come from Andrew Munro. The centre back found time and space 30 yards from goal, but his long shot was easily caught by Mutch.  

As Cove looked to find the opener a series of chances would come their way. The first chnace saw a one-two between Barry and White which allowed Barry to drove towards the edge of the box before curling a shot towards the bottom right corner which was well saved by Gaston.  

The resulting corner was played short before Chalmers’ cross was header goalwards by Oladipo, but a fantastic reaction save kept him ruled him out along with the offside flag. 

A busy five minutes for Derek Gaston who seemed to tweak something after the previous save and was replaced on 17 minutes by Rollo.  

The visitors then had a spell of their own, Cameron Ross was busy upfront and keeping the back line on their toes. Ross managed to shrug off Mercer before the covering Harrington deflected his cross out for a corner.  

The corner was swung in by Beattie and met on the volley by Munro but Mutch did well to tip the ball round his left post.  

Munro would meet the next corner again, this time with his head but the ball was well wide.  

With all Cove’s chances it wouldn’t be long before they had the ball in the net but unfortunately the offside flag would deny them the opener.  

Dylan Ross’s cross from the left wing was met on the volley by Oladipo who hammered home but the linesman’s flag was raised.  

However, on 41 minutes Cove would find the breakthrough and it was DESTINY OLADIPO again. This time getting onto the end of the White’s cross to guide a header in off the left hand post to give the hosts the lead.  

It could’ve easily been 2-0 at the break when Maguire broke free latching onto a ball over the top. After letting the ball bounce, he unleashed a thunderous volley which was well saved by the substitute goalkeeper.  

Half Time | 1-0 

Cove started the second half on top just as they ended the first. Brilliant footwork from Dylan Ross saw him break free down the left and his cross forced the visitor’s defence to head behind for a corner.  

The visitors started creating chances of their own to let Cove know they were still just the one in front.  

Ballantyne curled a shot wide of Mutch’s post who then allowed Dow to charge forward after a poor goal kick but after beating three Cove players Dow’s shot was sliced wide from the edge of the box.  

The game changed halfway through the second half, and it was East Fife who would take a hold of the game on 70 minutes. 

Newton swung in a cross which was cleared over the bar by Mercer before the resulting corner was cleared away for the fifers throw in.  

The long throw was hurled into the Cove box and wasn’t cleared by the defenders before GAFFNEY bundled the ball home.  

A goal which gave the visitors a boost to go on and take all three points and substitute Jack Healy fired a curling effort wide just two minutes later.  

Cove would have another chance with scorer Oladipo, but his headed effort was kept out by the substitute keeper.  

The final ten minutes saw both teams have chances to win the game with Beattie finding enough space to curl a shot towards goal, but Mutch watched run past his left post for a goal kick.  

After another long stoppage in the second half Cove had enough time to create the best chance of the half to nick all three points.  

Ross fired a cross in from the left but it missed everyone in the middle and at the back post was Oppong who hit the bouncing ball into the ground past Rollo and destined for the bottom left corner. A last-ditch clearance from Andrew Munro kept the ball out and before the ball could drop out the air the referee had signalled for the end of the game.  

A game of two halves with a draw being a fair result. The team take on Formartine on Tuesday in the last KDM Evolution group match before travelling to Peterhead next Saturday.  

Cove Rangers | Mutch (GK), Bisland (Oppong 73’), Mercer, Harrington, Oladipo, Barry (Teasdale 73’), Chalmers, Darge, White (C) (Keir 88’), Parker, Maguire 

Subs | Demus (GK), Ross, Francis-Burrell, Keir, Teasdale, Oppong, Fraser 

East Fife | Gaston (GK) (Rollo 17’), Newton, Millar, Easton (C) (Saisay 45’), Ross, Beattie, Dow (Gaffney 64’), Munro, Bah (Austin 64’), McLeod, Ballantyne (Healy 64’) 

Subs | Rollo (GK), Peggie, Gaffney, Austin, Healy, Joseph, Hamilton, Milne, Seisay 

Attendance | 483

Match Gallery | East Fife (H) »