Spartans 2-1 Cove Rangers (agg 2-5)

Image source, SNS

Image caption, Mitch Megginson had opened the scoring in the first leg with his 50th goal of the season

Highland League champions Cove Rangers will face Cowdenbeath in the Pyramid Play-off final after completing an aggregate win over Spartans.

The Lowland League title winners won 2-1 at Ainslie Park, but the Aberdeenshire outfit eased through thanks to their 4-0 first-leg lead.

Paul McManus fired Cove into the lead in Edinburgh after 67 minutes.

A Jamie Dishington header drew Spartans level and, with four minutes remaining, Blair Atkinson fired the winner.

But it is Cove who progressed to the final for the first time in front of 655 fans.

Former Aberdeen, Dumbarton, Raith Rovers and Alloa Athletic striker Mitch Megginson had given Cove the lead in the first leg, heading his 50th goal of the season.

McManus then scored twice from the penalty spot, with Eric Watson heading the fourth.

Cowdenbeath are facing a play-off for a second year running to retain their Scottish Professional Football League status after finishing bottom of League Two.

Last season, the Blue Brazil defeated Lowland League champions East Kilbride, who had qualified by beating Highland League champions Buckie Thistle, after a penalty shoot-out following two draws.

Cowden finished this season eight points below Edinburgh City, the only team to so far win promotion to League Two.

It was the capital side who ended Cove's hopes the last time they qualified for the play-offs, beating the Toonsers in their semi-final before relegating East Stirlingshire in 2016.

Cove, who are presently sharing a ground with Inverurie Loco Works while their new stadium is being built in Nigg, were runaway winners of the Highland League this season, finishing 11 points ahead of Formartine United.

Cowdenbeath have lost four straight games and have won only won one in their last eight.

Cove host the first leg on Saturday, with the second leg at Central Park a week later.

Spartans: Carswell, Herd, Cennerazzo, Tolmie, Corbett, Brown, Atkinson, Stevenson (Greenhill 76), Lamarca (Stevens 76), Dishington, Bremner (Maxwell 60).

Unused substitutes: Stobie, Thomson, McFarland, Allum.

Cove Rangers: McKenzie, Redford, Milne, Ross, Watson, Kelly, Park (Robertson 76), Scully, Megginson, McManus (Stott 70), Masson.

Unused substitutes: McCafferty, Milne, Gray.

Referee: Steven Reid.