Beagrie sets Cove on their way to Highland triumph

COVE Rangers chairman Keith Moorhouse told how an intensive round of North Sea negotiations helped land Highland League glory.

Formartine United were left all at sea as Cove won 2-0, ruthlessly claiming the away victory they needed for the fourth north crown in their history.

Jamie Beagrie sank an early opener for the Aberdeen men before Ryan Stott sparked wild celebrations at rain-battered North Lodge Park. But Beagrie, who will step up to the Scottish League with Peterhead this summer, came close to missing the clash through work commitments. The 21-year-old production operator was scheduled for an offshore trip but Moorhouse made a frantic round of calls to delay the trip.

Moorhouse said: “We pulled out all the stops to make sure Jamie played. We managed to get the trip delayed and it paid off for us.”

Formartine needed only a draw to clinch the title but in monsoon conditions, Cove looked a class apart. Away nerves were settled in the ninth minute when Connor Scully crossed to the back post where Beagrie blasted a header past Andy Shearer.

The second came on the hour following a mazy run by Scully which ended with him being brought down in the box by Stephen Jeffrey. Jeffrey was then red-carded and Ryan Stott netted the rebound after his spot kick had been saved.

Elsewhere, Wick Academy capped a superb season in third place with a 100 per cent home record after hammering Deveronvale 4-1. Brora secured a club record 12-2 triumph over whipping boys Fort William while Turriff snatched a surprise 2-1 victory at Clach.

Buckie Thistle were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Inverurie, while Fraserburgh won 3-0 at Keith and Rothes triumphed 2-1 at Lossiemouth in the basement battle.