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A hat-trick for Edimond Oppong and a goal from Joseph Teasdale secured all three points on Saturday afternoon at Balmoral. 

Chalmers and Mutch came back into the squad following Tuesday’s progression in the KDM Evolution Trophy with a 2-0 win over Formartine United to set up a last 16 tie against today’s opponents.  

The visitors started on the front foot with a couple of crosses which didn’t trouble the Cove defence.  

Keir and Teasdale linked up well in the third minute when the former made his way down the left wing, but his low cross couldn’t quite find Oppong in the middle. 

The first real chance would come the way of the visitors when Andrew Ryan’s cross fell to Kyle MacDonald but after taking the ball down his shot was well saved by Mutch and behind for a corner.  

Mutch was called into action just minutes later, a brilliant through ball for McKinstry allowed for a low cross to Comrie but his powerful first-time strike was kept out by the keeper’s feet.  

Good work from Oppong on the right-hand side would present Cove with their first chance, his teasing cross was headed away from White who would’ve only needed to head in from two yards out. 

Oppong was causing problems again on 26 minutes when he beat two men out wide before cutting inside, but his shot was easily gathered by Lyness.  

We would take the lead on 31 minutes. An Accies corner was met by Mutch who could only punch the ball as far as the edge of the box, Teasdale would pick it up and drive up the field before releasing EDIMOND OPPONG on the halfway line, he managed to beat two men out wide before driving into the box, beating another man and then slotting home underneath Lyness.

The last action of the half would see Stuart McKinstry in the referee’s book after tripping Bisland as the defender looked to drive his team up the pitch.  

Half Time 1-0 

Cove would start the second half looking to double their advantage. A foul on Teasdale allowed for a free kick halfway inside the Accies half, Dylan Ross’s delivery was met by the head of Parker but he couldn’t direct the ball on target.  

Ross would have a chance of his own just a minute later. Teasdale latched onto Chalmers’ ball over the top before laying off Ross, but his low driven effort was whiskers wide of the far-right post.  

It wouldn’t take many more chances before Cove doubled their lead. A swift counterattack ended with Keir finding EDIMOND OPPONG out wide who composed himself with a touch before unleashing a rocket into the top left corner. 2-0 

Cove were to be wary of the visitor’s attacking strength despite holding the advantage, MacDonald’s shot from the edge of the box forced Mutch into a brilliant save down to his left. 

Oppong could’ve completed his hattrick on 75 minutes when Parker’s overhead cross was headed away to the edge of the box, but Eddi’s first time strike was well wide.  

With 78 minutes on the clock Cove put the game to bed. Another rapid counter attack set up an almost identical goal to the second. Teasdale picked the ball up 25 yards out before cutting inside and playing the ball across to EDIMOND OPPONG who took a touch before rifling a shot this time past the keeper at his near post into the top of the net. 3-0 

The home side were still pushing for more with ten minutes to go, Bisland beating four Accies defenders before being tripped by Blues two yards from the box. A yellow card for Blues and the resulting free kick from Dylan Ross was over the bar.  

As the home fans couldn’t believe what they’d seen, with 84 minutes gone another goal would put the cherry on top of the afternoon. Ross did well on the left wing to produce a cross which was only cleared as far as JOSEPH TEASDALE who got the ball out his feet and from 20 yards his low shot found its way into the bottom left corner.  

An all-round brilliant performance from the team. 4 goals, 3 points and a clean sheet with Eddi Oppong collecting the match ball and the man of the match award.

We welcome Montrose to Balmoral next Saturday. 

Cove Rangers | Mutch (GK), Bisland, Ross, Harrington, Keir (Maguire 72′), Chalmers, Darge (Francis-Burrell 85′), Teasdale, Oppong (Milnes 87′), White (C) (Oladipo 85′), Parker 

Subs– Demus (GK), Lindo

Hamilton Accies- Lyness (GK), Comrie (Morgan 82′), Gallacher, Blues, Thomas, MacDonald (Crawford 82′), Smutek, Bannigan (Orsi 61′), McKinstry (Crookston 61′), Ryan, Hendrie (C) 

Subs- Lane (GK), McGowan, Shiels, Eadie

Attendance – 437 

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