Cove Rangers manager Paul Hartley was delighted to see his side’s dominant display pay dividends with a comfortable victory against Airdrie.
Cove warmed up for their Scottish Cup trip to face Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday with an excellent 2-0 win at Balmoral Stadium with substitute Jamie Masson scoring both goals.
A delighted Hartley said: “I thought we were good tonight, really good. I said to the lads with the amount of games we’ve got in the next couple of weeks that we will have to change things about and will need the whole squad.
“I’m pleased for Masson and it’s the reaction you are looking for. He scored two good goals and I thought we were worth it.
“It’s nice to get the three points. Some of our play was magnificent and the two goals were terrific. It was a good night’s work ahead of a tough game at Ibrox on Sunday where a lot of energy will be used.”
Hartley’s side dominated from start to finish in an impressive display and the only frustration for the Cove boss will be that his side did not win by more.
Airdrie goalkeeper Max Currie was forced into an early save to tip Fraser Fyvie’s 20-yard strike over the crossbar and, from the resulting corner, Scott Ross saw his header come back off the post.
The visitors were forced to play on the counter and they came close to an opener through Kyle Connell but his shot was blocked by Ross Graham.
Cove were finding success in the wide areas and Seb Ross did well to fire in a powerful effort but again Currie did well to save the shot.
The pressure towards Airdrie was unrelenting and Cove hit the woodwork again when Fyvie struck the crossbar from 25 yards with a free kick after captain Mitch Megginson had been fouled.
Fyvie then had an appeal for a goal denied on the stroke of half-time when Currie saved his close range effort from a Megginson cross on the line.
It looked close, but Fyvie would have avoided any doubt had he connected properly with the ball.
The Cove pressure continued after the break and Seb Ross wasted a great chance to open the scoring when he turned away from his marker, but with Currie to beat he fired straight at the goalkeeper.
The fear was the home side would come to rue not taking their chances and it took a fine save from goalkeeper Stuart McKenzie to prevent Airdrie from taking the lead on the hour mark as he blocked a close range effort from Connell.
Hartley sent on Masson in the hope of making a breakthrough and he duly delivered within a minute of his arrival when turned Scott Ross’s cross home from close range in the 65th minute.
Masson was clearly a man keen to make an impression and he duly doubled his side’s lead five minutes later with another close range effort from Fyvie’s cross.