Archives | Dunfermline 5 Cove Rangers 0

A resounding five goal victory over League One opposition took Dunfermline to six points and set up the chance to top the Group if they could defeat St Mirren in Sunday`s final group match in Paisley.

It was a hot summer`s evening when Cove Rangers showed up to face Dunfermline in their third ties in the Premier Sports Cup Group C. Both clubs had played two and won one.

Hoping to build on their commanding victory over Dumbarton the previous Tuesday Neil Lennon made only one change with Aston Oxborough taking over in goal from Billy Terrell.

Cove Rangers manager Paul Hartley started Jordan White, Ackeme Francis-Burrell, Victor Enem, Chris Maguire and keeper Robbie Mutch. Balint Demus, Layton Bisland, Arron Darge, Max Barry and Destiny Oladipo dropped to the bench. The visitors kicked off into the evening sun and Dunfermline showed their dominance from the very start.

The match was just in its fifth minute when Andrew TOD as he had done against Dumbarton, repeated his steal off an opponent some 30 yards out. He showed great feet to weave his way through two defenders and coolly place the ball past Mutch and into the Cove net. 1-0

Tod next met an Oli Shaw cross from the left but his effort went the wrong side of the near post. The Pars link up play was sweet. John Tod swept a pass out to Robbie Fraser and A Tod was again unlucky not to get past the Cove defence.

A second Pars goal came in 15th minute after a very patient build up on the right. Shea Kearney supplied the cross. J Tod was disappointed not to convert but for SHAW was on hand for the break back to drive the ball home from 14 yards out. 2-0

Rudden had been working hard to find an opening for himself. He played the ball off Kearney but smashed his shot over the bar. In 22 minutes Kearney worked an opportunity but from the edge of box and he was denied by keeper Mutch who tipped around his left hand post. Cove defended the corner and luck was with them when A Tod`s next effort came thundering down off the crossbar.

Kearney forced Mutch into further action to take out his dangerous delivery before referee Abbie Dewar awarded the Fifers a penalty. Dunfermline bombarded the Cove goal with A Tod and Shaw have shots blocked before Enem, the visitors` right back fouled A Tod. No argument with the 33rd minute spot kick decision but SHAW only converted after Mutch went to his right to save and the close season signing from Hamilton netted the rebound. 3-0

Oxborough`s first call to action came five minutes later when he held a McAllister shot from 20 yards out. A Tod nearly made Ryan Harrington pay for a mistake setting up Rudden whose attempt was diverted for a corner that was duly held by the keeper. Amade got into the shooting gallery with a 42nd minute shot crashed high into Vertu Community Stand.

Quite a first half. Andrew Tod was really impressive in the first 45 and always hungry for possession. It could have been more but a three goal lead at the break was very satisfactory.

Half Time: Dunfermline 3 Cove Rangers 0

Cove made three substitutions before the restart, forced what would be their only corner of the night and Dylan Ross fired a shot over the bar. Dunfermline were spurred into a response with a surging run from J Tod that deserved a goal but ran out of steam on the six yard box. Cove defended two free kicks from the left before Neil Lennon made a double substitution in 65 minutes with Charlie Gilmour and Callumn Morrison replacing Alfons Amade and Zak Rudden.

Dunfermline`s fourth goal in 68 minutes was hardly unexpected. It was another Corbally assist with a pass into the left side of the opposition box missed by Harrington but perfect for A TOD to finish. 4-0

After that it was just a matter of how many could the Pars score against the tiring Aberdeenshire team. J Tod squared for his brother but his shot to the top right corner was held by Mutch. The stopper came out of top in 73 minutes when Morrison got in one on one with the keeper but man in yellow came out on top. Mutch was also out fast to beat A Tod to a through ball and next he turned a fierce Morrison shot away for corner on the left.

Josh Cooper had entered the fray after the fourth goal and despite only being on the park for just over ten minutes he scored the Pars fifth. He had pinged a 77th minute shot narrowly over target before playing the ball off Chris Kane to net three minutes later. 5-0

Cove were uncomfortable with Morrison`s bursts and finding the pace of Cooper and Macleod hard to contain but the scoring was concluded and the result elevated the Fifers into second place three points behind St Mirren who scored an added time goal to defeat East Kilbride. All that meant that Sunday`s meeting with St Mirren left Dunfermline with the chance to top the group with a win by two goals.

The Pars boss was delighted with his side`s `complete performance` claiming it one of the best under his charge. The acid test would come on Sunday he said.

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