Cove Rangers’ bid for a fifth Highland League title continued at pace with a comfortable 5-0 victory against Strathspey Thistle at Harlaw Park last night.
Harry Milne netted twice within the opening eight minutes before Daryl Nicol converted a penalty three minutes before half-time to put Cove 3-0 up at the break.
Further goals from Nicol and Jamie Watt after the restart completed the scoring as Cove recorded a sixth successive victory.
The win moves Cove up to second in the table above Formartine United who did not play last night.
Prior to kick off there was a minute’s applause in memory of Cove Rangers supporter David Mitchell, who died at the weekend.
It took Cove only six minutes to break the deadlock with Milne displaying great determination to poke home an in-swinging Connor Scully cross.
Cove doubled their advantage only two minutes later and again it was Milne who provided the finishing touch after a Watt drive was spilled by Jags goalkeeper Daniel Hoban.
Cove went close to adding a third soon after when former Aberdeen midfielder Stuart Duff released Nicol, but Hoban displayed excellent reflexes to thwart the Cove attacker.
The overworked Strathspey goalkeeper prevented his side falling further behind with another fine stop to deny Watt before Nicol curled over as the hosts surged forward at will.
Strathspey registered a first attempt on goal after 30 minutes but Roddy MacPhee’s long-range effort fizzed just over.
Watt was denied by a brave Jordan Wardrope block before the visitors were forced into a change five minutes before the break when right back Mark McKernie hobbled off and was replaced by Fraser Munro.
Cove had a chance to add to the tally three minutes before the break when Grant Campbell was tripped in the box by Kenneth Mair. Nicol calmly slotted home the penalty to make it 3-0.
There was no sign of Cove easing up after the break with Blair Yule storming through the heart of the Strathspey midfield before unleashing a powerful drive that narrowly missed the target.
It was only a matter of time before the hosts added a fourth and it arrived after of a well-worked move with Milne crossing for Nicol to score his second with a clinical finish beyond Hoban.
Watt was handily positioned to add the fifth goal on 63 minutes after Cove substitute Jonathan Smith was denied by Hoban and the Cove forward had plenty of time to roll the ball into an unguarded net.