Champions Cove Rangers kept on the heels of leaders Buckie Thistle and Brora Rangers with a comfortable victory against Deveronvale at Harlaw Park in Inverurie.
Second-half free kicks from forwards Jonny Smith and Mitch Megginson were the difference between the two teams but had Cove converted any of a number of first half chances created the points would have been decided before the interval.
Deveronvale goalkeeper Grant Pennet was the reason Vale were still in the game at the break as he produced a number of superb blocks, but saved his best until the final minute when he showed superb reflexes to palm a close-range Matthew McDonald effort round the post.
Cove manager John Sheran was full of praise for the effort shown by his players and said: ” In the first half we created a lot of opportunities and should have scored more than the two goals.
“We are just happy to get another win. Vale stuck to their task very well with a lot of their young players putting in a very good shift. They made it hard for us but we got there in the end.”
Deveronvale manager Steve Dolan was full of praise for his defence and also goalkeeper Pennet, whose late save he described as the best he has seen this season.
He said: “In the first half we had a lot of possession.
“We were under the cosh but that happens against the best teams and we had to buckle down and try to get we could.”
Pennet brilliantly palmed a Smith 25-yard free kick over his bar after 16 minutes and, from the resultant corner, Smith was again denied as Pennet got down low at his post to block the attacker’s header.
Megginson was next to be denied by the Vale custodian as bravely dived at his feet eight yards from goal before Cove blew a golden opportunity to take the lead as Chris Blackhall fouled Megginson in the box but he sent the spot kick high over the bar in the 29th minute.
Vale almost surprised Cove as Grant Noble hit the post with a 33rd minute volley but any goal for Vale at that point would have been against the run of play. Cove opened the scoring four minutes into the second half as Smith’s 25-yard free kick beat the diving Pennet and the points were sealed after 64 minutes as Megginson curled an angled free kick from wide on the left in.
Vale finished with 10 men as Scott Begg, who was shown a yellow card in the 68th minute, then picked up a second yellow three minutes later for an altercation with Daniel Park who was booked.
