Cove gaffer Sheran wants killer touch

By Ross McTavish

Published:

GOAL NUMBER THREE: Cove’s Jamie Watt goes past Shetland keeper Craig Dinwoodie.

COVE boss John Sheran has warned his players against letting complacency creep into their play following the scare they received from Shetland.

The hosts were three goals up before the half hour mark and cruising to victory against the islanders.

But Shetland’s amateur select struck twice before the break to give hope to their sizeable travelling support that a cup shock could be on the cards.

Cove’s firepower in the second period ensured the Allan Park team comfortably advance to a North Challenge Cup semi-final at Deveronvale.

Nevertheless, Sheran, pictured below, was concerned at how his side allowed the Shelties to get back into contention.

He said: “When you are 3-0 up you should just pull away from the opposition at that point, but we relaxed too much.

“We have to make sure we keep pushing forward and concentrating irrespective of the score in the game.

“We were creating a lot of chances and sometimes that does make it difficult in a game in a sense that players relax.

“That’s what brought them back into the game, but in the second half we looked more solid.”

Cove took the lead after just six minutes when Robbie HENDERSON scored a back post header from Barrie Stephen’s corner.

The home side’s second also arrived from a corner, this time when Kevin Webster’s set-piece found its way to Martin JOHNSTON, who supplied a superb curled finish.

Soon afterwards the in-form Jamie WATT pounced on a fumble by Shetland keeper Craig Dinwoodie to hand Cove a healthy advantage.

But Shetland were given a lifeline when former Dons youngster Karl WILLIAMSON spun neatly to turn a close-range shot into the net.

Then when Kenny McKenzie was adjudged to have fouled Ross McDougal, Shetland were awarded a contentious penalty, which was confidently converted by James JOHNSTON.

But any hopes of a Shetland comeback were foiled in the 61st minute when WEBSTER’S cross come shot from the left wing carried over a stranded Dinwoodie.

The win was sealed by headers from JOHNSTON and substitute David SMITH, the latter doing well to latch on to another accurate corner from Webster.