Cove Thistle 6 - Postal ALC 0 - North of Scotland Cup - Sat 19th Oct 2024

TEAM - 1.  David Finch 2. Kieran Dowbekin 3. Neil MacDonald 4. Steven Carter 5. Andy Baxter 6. Duncan Mackenzie 7. Lee Scott  8. Martin Maciver 9. Duncan Paterson  10. Bruce Webster 11. Euan Brechin 12. Ross Michie 14. Sergiu Cotovici  15.  Tomas Traca  16. Alli Macrae.  17.  Harry MCCauley 18.  Grant Cormack

OPPOSITION MOTM – N/A

Following last weeks damp squib against Alford in the league, Postal travelled to Catto Park to take on familiar opponents Cove in the North of Scotland cup. 

With half the squad unavailable due to a multitude of reasons Postal again had to carry out major surgery on the starting 11. 

Cove kicked off and immediately put Postal under pressure.  On the 4th minute Dowbekin miss timed a header and with number 10 advancing on the byline Baxter was on hand to divert the ball for a corner.

Postal were sitting very deep and struggling to get out their own half however on 10 min a strong run from Dowbekin led to the full back crossing the ball to Duncan Paterson who seen his header comfortably saved.  Straight from this chance a long ball from the Cove keeper seen number 10 through on goal however his shot was well saved by Finch.

Cove were camped out in the Postal half, any time Postal did advance Cove would play the ball long looking to hit on the counter and on 18 minutes the home side would take the lead.  A long ball from Cove seen them advance on the Postal right, Baxter diverting for a corner.  The corner was played into the front post and number 10 stole a march on Captain Carter and the ball crashing into the postal top right hand corner. 

1 – 0

Almost straight away Cove would double their lead.  On 20 min another long ball up the Cove right was diverted out for a throw in, taken quickly number 11 drove infield un-challenged drawing out Carter from the Postal defence and slipping in number 9 who wasn’t marked closely enough.  The diminutive forward controlled the ball and stroked it past Finch in goal.

2 – 0

One way traffic now with Postal struggling to get out their own half with the home team first to every ball across the field.  On 30 min, on a rare breakaway, another good cross from Dowbekin fell to Duncan Paterson who twice seen his shots blocked.  The ball eventually falling to Mackenzie who kicked the grass and didn’t get a true contact as the danger was cleared by Cove. 

On 40 min a cross field ball to the Postal right was missed by Dowbekin in the air landing to the feet of number 2.  The Cove left back cut infield and released a shot that beat Finch and rebounded off the post.  Number 10 on hand to tap the ball home.

3 – 0

Half Time

On 65 min Neil McDonald played the ball back to Finch.  Finch took a touch and the Cove forward 11 took it off him and rolled the ball into the net.

4 – 0

Postal put on all the substitutes replacing Brechin, Webster, Paterson, MacKenzie with Michie, McCauley, Cotovici and Macrae.

On 80 minutes Postal cleared the ball long, which came back with interest.  Macrae in a footrace with number 11 seen Finch race out from his goal however 11 slide the ball through his legs and into the empty net. 

5 – 0

Sixth and final goal would follow shortly after with a ball crossed in from the Postal right to find number 12 free in the box to roll it home.

FT 6 – 0

Cove match report described the match as an easy afternoon for the hosts.  Cove were dominant against a very passive and timid Postal.  Cove won the majority of the individual battles and the outcome was a 6 – 0 thrashing for Postal.  Early season standards have certainly slipped and Postal will be looking to put that right in the coming weeks.