Saturday 11 February
Cove Rangers 1 Huntly 3
Photos courtesy of Dave Moore

In the 40th league meeting between Cove Rangers and Huntly, both teams went into this game on the back of a five game winning streak the fans of both sides were hoping to see their favourites close the gap on leaders Deveronvale who saw their trip to Fort William called off in the late morning writes Grant Turner.

Huntly welcomed back Neil Reid in midfield as goalkeeper Michael Rae was called up to the subs bench in place of striker Darren Shallicker. Cove brought in Gary Clark for injured skipper John Brown who was injured last week at Lossiemouth while Kevin Steele dropped down to the bench.

Cove threatened straight from kick-off as Colin Milne and Bob Duncan lined up to set Graham Cadger through on goal only for Ryszard Gorski to save low.

The visitors forced the opener with only five minutes gone. From twenty yards out Richie Taylor played a ball into the path of Richard Craig who got in behind the home defence to sidefoot past the advancing Ivor Pirie.

On the quarter hour Kevin Tindal's free kick was headed goalwards by Scott Fraser but Ryszard Gorski parried the ball behind for a corner.

Cove midfielder Gary Clark went into today's game as the Highland League's worst offender was very fortunate not to add to his tally of 9 cards following a lunge at Richie Taylor in 24 minutes.
Four minutes later, good play by Craig picked out Taylor who forced Pirie to dive low to claim the strikers shot.

Just after the half hour, it was Cove on the attack again and Richie Livingstone's cross from the left saw Graeme Cadger rise well to head goalwards but it was tipped over the bar by Gorski once more.

Two minutes before half time a Russell Guild through-ball to Richard Craig sent him through on goal but the former Toonser's shot was saved by the legs of Ivor Pirie.

Right on the stroke of half time the title holders doubled their advantage. Richie Taylor's neat pass was well-timed as Richard Craig got in behind his marker to drill a shot wide of Pirie for his 11th of the season.

Half Time: Cove Rangers 0 Huntly 2

The home side started the second half strongly with centre half Scott Fraser coming close off Ritchie Livingstone's corner.

Just seven minutes into the second half Cove pulled a goal back when a Richie Livingston corner from the left (which came from another fine Gorski tip over) was met at the back post by Colin Milne who bulleted a header in just under the crossbar to set up an exciting second period.

Huntly's cause was not helped when Neil Reid, just back from a suspension and already booked, was shown a straight red for retaliation. Graeme Cadger had been penalised for a foul on the former Locos player when Reid was adjudged to have pushed the experienced striker.

Both teams rang the changes with Cove looking to take advantage of the man extra while Huntly altered their formation to adapt to playing the remainder of the match with 10 men.

Cove came very close to levelling with 12 minutes left as Kevin Steele's cross from the left was met by a glancing header from fellow sub Michael Ord whose header went narrowly over.

Huntly secured all three points in the 87th minute when Gary McGowan's through-ball on the left set Jerry O'Driscoll free just in the centre circle and he continued his run, rounded the goalkeeper then slotted it into the empty net to tie with Richard Craig as the clubs top scorer.