There was little to choose between the two sides during the opening exchanges, but Cove showed their intent after 11 minutes when Scott Williamson was allowed to run through unchallenged, but his final shot rebounded off the bar.

The opener was not long delayed however as just three minutes later Rumarn Burrell chased a ball into the box before chipping it over keeper Cammy Gill and forcing it home.

The Gable Endies spurned a glorious chance to equalise on 18 minutes when Sean Dillon’s free kick found Kane Hester in the clear, but the danger was cleared for a corner.

Andrew Steeves went down injured for a second time in 21 minutes and was replaced by Graham Webster.

The Gable Endies had chances and on 24 minutes Rory McAllister shot into the arms of Balint Demus in the visitors’ goal.

Minutes later, Matheus Machado tried to chip the ball into the far corner of the goal, but his effort was too high.

Scott Williamson added a second for Cove after 38 minutes when he latched onto a pass from Jacob Jones and then fired a right-foot shot past Gill from the edge of the box.

Mitch Megginson might have added to Cove’s tally on 41 minutes, but his shot went past Gill’s right-hand post. In the final action of the half Michael Gardyne shot past from 35 yards.

Montrose made two chances at half-time with Sean Dillon and Craig Brown being replaced by Blair Lyons and Miller Thomson.

It might have been worse for the Gable Endies after two minutes of the second half when Josh Kerr’s right-footed shot rebounded off the post.

Any hopes the home side had of making a comeback were effectively extinguished in bizarre fashion on 52 minutes. Montrose substitute Graham Webster went down in the box after stretching to intercept the ball and Mitch Megginson seized the opportunity to fire a right- foot shot into the net for the visitors’ third.

Montrose pressed forward looking to get something out of the game but were unable to find the net from any of the few chances they made, and Cove might easily have added to their tally.

On the day, the difference between the two sides was that Cove took their chances and their front players, Burrell and Williamson, gave the Gable Endies’ defence a hard time.

If the Gable Endies hope to compete for promotion, they need to take their chances and be more clinical with their finishing.  

Report by Forbes Inglis

Pic by Phoenix Photography

Post Match interview https://youtu.be/wNRVJRP7s6E