Cove Rangers advanced to the Breedon Highland League Cup semi-finals with what was in the end a comfortable victory against hard-working Forres Mechanics.
After Jonathon Smith’s opener early in the second half Forres quickly equalised through Andy MacRae but Mitch Megginson added a second for the Aberdonians before a late strike from substitute Daniel Park set up a mouthwatering last-four tie at Fraserburgh.
Cove manager John Sheran was delighted with the win during this stop-start part of the season due to the weather making pitches unplayable.
He said: “We were worthy winners due to chances created and we should have been in a better position at the end of the first half as we missed good opportunities in hitting the woodwork twice.
“Forres tried to hit us on the break in what was a good hard-fought cup tie, with Forres’ younger players who came in on the day doing really well.
“Our first goal came from a mistake but we could have reacted better when we lost the equaliser and in the end we could have scored more than three.”
Forres manager Charlie Rowley felt that the game turned in the early minutes of the second half as his side missed a great opportunity to grab the opener before gifting Cove a goal two minutes later.
He said: “Scott Moore missed one before we helped them score at the other end and we did level but Cove showed their class. We competed well as and put in a performance that I was really pleased with as fine margins cost us the game.”
Forres keeper Stuart Knight was in commanding form as he produced a fine double stop to deny Ryan Stott and Grant Campbell, while Cove hit the post twice during the goalless first half that could easily have seen both teams score as visiting keeper Stuart MacKenzie also denied Forres strikers Stuart Soane and Andy MacRae an opener for the home side.
The deadlock should have been broken a minute into the second half as Moore shot wide from six yards with only McKenzie to beat but 60 seconds later Smith showed how it should be done as slack play from Stuart Knight and Graham Fraser was punished by the striker who scored from 14 yards.
Allan MacPhee set up MacRae to net from close range as Forres equalised after 54 minutes but Megginson restored the visitors lead seven minutes later as he showed composure to collect a fine ball from Darryn Kelly to fire into the bottom corner from 10 yards.
Park ensured Cove’s passage into the semi-final as he fired home from the edge of the box with three minutes remaining.