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| Cove are five alive at Nairn |
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Five-star Cove Rangers remain the top team in the Highland League after the dismantled Nairn County at Station Park to make it a miserable return to action for the home side after a month in cold storage. The hosts started in buoyant mood though and a great searching ball by Steven Mackay released the alert Robbie Duncanson on 10 minutes the debutant's shot was well wide of the target. Nairn were playing with the wind behind their backs and Callum Donaldson's long ball again released the dangerous Duncanson but Cove goalkeeper Stuart McKenzie was faster to the ball on this occasion. Mackintosh then fed Barron for Nairn on 14 minutes. The winger's first time cross found its way to the other side of 18-yard box where Dale Gillespie met it first time but the midfielder's first time effort was blocked by McKenzie's legs. A mix up in home defence let in Martin Johnston but he uncharacteristically shot weakly and wide. The Cove attacker almost made amends moments later when his superb pass fed the on-running Dean Lawrie but the wide midfielder completely missed the target when it looked easier to score. Shaun Kerr then latched onto a through ball and his header took him and the ball round the goalkeeper but the striker was unable to apply the finish. The defending league champions then had a great chance to take the lead when Danny Milne stepped inside his marker but Donaldson did well to pull off a solid save. A complete fumble by the goalkeeper nearly led to the opening goal though. The shotstopper came out for a long cross but saw the ball drop from his hands and luckily trickle behind for a corner. Donaldson was involved again on 32 minutes when Johnston stole a yard on his former team mate Martin Sanderson but his front post ball was well gathered on the goal line by the County number one. There was nothing he could do just two minutes later though as Cove broke the deadlock. Danny Milne was all on his own on the box to rise above the Nairn defender and he headed diagonally past Donaldson from 12 yards. Duncanson had a chance to immediately draw Nairn level but his shot was deflected wide by a Cove defender. The resulting corner fell to Kerr who hit a screamer of a shot that was well saved by McKenzie but Tony Low was quickest to react to the loose ball and levelled for Nairn. The hosts were not in the ascendancy and Low saw his goal-bound shot kept out by a fine diving save from McKenzie at full stretch. Kerr then wriggled his way free at the edge of the 18-yards box only to be fouled by Jordan Heads, who was booked for his troubles. Mackay stepped up to curl a trademark free kick goalwards with his left foot but he was denied by the woodwork as the ball smacked back off the crossbar. Just a minute after they were the width of the bar away from falling behind, Cove were back in front. Nice footwork in the middle of the park saw Clark Bain played through on goal and he slid the ball under the diving Donaldson to put the visitors 2-1 up at the interval. Half time: Nairn County 1 Cove Rangers 2 Cove almost added a third shortly after the restart when Johnston latched onto a long ball from defence and managed to out-muscle Sanderson but his lob landed just the wrong side of the bar with Donaldson stranded. At the other end, a great cross from Barron on 53 minutes was met by the returning Duncanson but his volley flew just wide of the target. Then, a searching ball by Mackintosh found Low in space but his first time cross was headed over by Barron as Nairn went in search of an equaliser. A Johnston header from a free kick was well saved by the diving Donaldson on the hour mark before Cove grabbed the crucial third goal on 63 minutes. Dean Lawrie seemed to be going away from goal when Donaldson dived at his feet and got nothing of the ball but caught the Cove player resulting in a penalty kick. Danny Milne stepped up and sent the Nairn keeper the wrong way. McCulloch was the next Cove player to test the Nairn keeper but his effort was saved on 67 minutes before a bad mistake by Sanderson on 74 minutes let in Martin Johnston and the Cove striker had no problems netting from 16 yards. After a flurry of subs by both teams, Cove replacement Kevin Webster sent in a teasing ball which Barrie Stephen - who had only been on the park for 12 minutes - side-footed into the home net as the defence stood static. By now, the final whistle couldn't come quick enough for Les Fridge and his team but Cove were in the mood for more goals and only a fine save from Donaldson off a Stephen shot prevented an even larger score line. Full time: Nairn County 1 Cove Rangers 5 Reporter: Kenny Macleod |
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