| Cove hold on for a crucial home win |
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It took very little to separate the teams at Rainbow Taxis Park with Cove edging out Darren Still's Keith side thanks to a first-half strike. The visitors were unsuccessful in their numerous attempts to equalise but can take confidence from a good showing in their first match since a 3-0 reverse at home to Formartine on 13th February. Cove dictated the early ascendancy and created the first chance of the match just 30 seconds from kick-off. Murray McCulloch's long ball picked out the run of Robbie Henderson but the forward's angled shot towards the near post was beaten away by Andy Shearer. Just two minutes later, Jamie Buchan hit a powerful 30-yard free-kick but Shearer was once again alert to collect. Keith broke for the first time in the match on five minutes as Jamie Lennox hit a snapshot at goal from 20 yards but his effort wasn't powerful enough to test Stuart McKenzie. A swift counterattack on fourteen minutes saw the home side threaten once again as McCulloch's diagonal ball was picked up by Dean Lawrie on the left. The versatile youngster ghosted into the box before unleashing an effort destined for the top corner before Shearer stretched to palm behind once again. The game was moving from end-to-end and the visitors squandered two golden chances to take the lead. Firstly, on seventeen minutes, Cammy Keith rounded ‘keeper McKenzie but the striker was then unable to direct his shot on target from a tight angle. Four minutes later, Stuart Walker found an unmarked Jamie Lennox inside the box but the striker glanced his header harmlessly wide. Shearer again had to be at his sharpest to deny Cove the breakthrough on the half-hour mark. Danny Milne swivelled before unleashing a lobbed shot that appeared goal-bound but Shearer got up to make a superb save. However, the Toonsers broke the deadlock seven minutes later. Roddy Black's fierce shot from the left was parried by Shearer but only as far as the hovering Robbie Henderson who slotted into an empty net from six yards. Keith looked to respond to this blow and a minute before the interval, Wayne McKay tried his luck from 30 yards. His fizzing drive looked to be heading for Row Z, however McKenzie got a slight touch on the shot to tip it over. Half time: Cove Rangers 1 Keith 0 Keith came out after the break in a very positive manner and created a couple of decent chances to equalise. On 52 minutes, Kris Niddrie was unfortunate to see a goal-bound header blocked by Jordan Heads following a Lennox corner. On the hour mark, Lennox found himself with space inside the box, but he shot straight at McKenzie. On 64 minutes, the home side broke up-field and were unfortunate not to add to their lead. Lawrie's ball in from the left went through a crowded penalty box and all the way to McCulloch, who was unable to direct his far post effort on target. As time wore on, Keith began to set the tempo and looked the more likely to score the second goal of the match. On 66 minutes, Dean Donaldson engineered a shooting opportunity but was unable to beat McKenzie from 18 yards. Four minutes later, Cammy Keith got on the end of Watt's delivery but his header was deflected over the bar by Eric Watson. The visitors had the ball in the net on 77 minutes as substitute Sean Keith - on the park for just over a minute - fired the ball beyond McKenzie. However, he was flagged up for offside. Keith threw everything at Cove in their pursuit of the equaliser and McKay's free-kick was glanced over the bar by the head of Walker when he could have done better. In a rare second half attack, Cove almost had Phillip McCall to thank for netting them the decisive goal. A ball into the box by Bain bobbled off the midfielder's shin and went narrowly wide with Shearer deceived. From the resultant corner, the ball fell kindly for Danny Milne to have an effort and his venomous strike from 12 yards rattled the crossbar before going over. Substitute Kevin Webster was unlucky to see his audacious overhead kick go past the post three minutes from time, however Cove held on for the three points in spite of Keith's second-half onslaught. Full time: Cove Rangers 1 Keith 0 Reporter: Andrew Skinner |
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