Cove Rangers 1 - 5 Dundee: Survival of the fittest as Dundee rout Highland outfit

Published on 22/07/2012 03:10

Dundee eventually made their superior fitness tell as they defeated Highland League Cove in their first match since being promoted to the SPL in place of Rangers.

Striker John Baird bagged a double, with further strikes from Graham Webster, Ryan Conroy and Nicky Riley, while Jordan Leydon replied for the home side.

Cove had the first real chance when Leydon slid an effort past the upright after cutting in from the right.

Just moments later, former Aberdeen man Stirling Smith struck the stanchion following a Martin Johnston flick-on. Dundee worked their way into the game, though, and Cove keeper Stuart McKenzie was sharply off his line to deny Dee trialist Mark Stewart on the quarter-hour mark. The SPL new boys opened the scoring after 20 minutes as Conroy pounced on hesitant defending to play in Baird, who rounded McKenzie before turning home from close range. They doubled their lead eight minutes later when Webster rose highest to steer Nicky Riley’s cross from the right past McKenzie from 12 yards.

Cove came out brightly at the start of the second half and pulled a goal back just five minutes after the restart. Johnston flicked a ball on for Leydon, who slipped a low effort past former Scotland international Rab Douglas.

But Dundee began to impose themselves once more and Conroy found the net with a sweet 25-yard free-kick after Lee Smith had brought down Baird. Just two minutes later Conroy turned provider, his cross flicked on by Leighton McIntosh before the unmarked Riley fired home.

Baird capped the win with a deft lob over Cove substitute keeper Timmy Capstick in injury time after a through ball from Riley.