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Season 2021-22 Review

The season got off to a disappointing start with no indication last summer of the excitement that lay ahead.

A last-minute goal meant Stirling Albion garnered all three points in the Premier Sports Cup opener at the Balmoral, and that was followed by defeats at Tynecastle and Balmoor. The players regrouped, and a highly impressive humbling of Championship side Caley Thistle raised spirits ahead of the league campaign.

That began with a home draw against Falkirk – Rory McAllister leaving the bench to net his first of the season late on – then a defeat against another of the likely promotion rivals; Queen’s Park taking control after Fraser Fyvie was sent off just before half time.

Mitch Megginson plundered a hat-trick as the side claimed its first league win, East Fife blown away in a 5-2 stroll, and he added another goal a week later in a 3-1 success at Dumbarton.

The momentum was halted by a 2-1 reversal against Clyde, and after a less than inspiring penalty shoot-out win over Stenhousemuir in the Challenge Cup, Montrose travelled north to claim a point in a 1-1 draw which saw Blair Yule red carded.

Three straight victories followed. McAllister’s late penalty saw off Peterhead, Morgyn Neill claimed his first for the club with an even later goal to beat Airdrieonians, and Rory bagged a treble at Alloa, an encounter which saw the home side reduced to ten men in the first minute after a shocking Niang challenge on Shay Logan.

Albion Rovers were swept aside in the Challenge Cup, but that was followed by the most disappointing result of the season, a 4-2 loss against an East Fife team which would finish bottom of the table.

That was on October 16th; it would be the last time Paul Hartley’s men would taste defeat in their League One campaign.

Clyde were beaten 3-0, there were draws against Queen’s Park and Montrose, and then Cove Rangers went into overdrive, chalking up nine successive victories to move to the top. Among the highlights of that run was a stunning winner from Stuart McKenzie whose clearance bounced over the head of keeper Brett Long to secure a 1-0 win at Balmoor.

The side had also made progress in the Challenge Cup – a 5-1 stroll against Rangers B – and the Scottish Cup, McAllister’s late equaliser securing a replay at Palmerston in which Queen of the South were humbled 3-0 thanks to a late Megginson double.

That had set up a trip to Easter Road where the team matched Hibernian all the way, losing only in extra-time to a Kevin Nisbet finish.

The next three league matches produced just three points, but included draws at home to Airdrieonians and Queen’s Park which proved important, and Megginson and Fyvie grabbed the goals which beat Falkirk to all but put an end to their promotion hopes.

Late strikes were a hallmark of the season, and Rory McAllister got another at Alloa to secure a 2-2 draw in a match in which we were two down inside the first twenty minutes.

The Challenge Cup adventure ended in disappointment, a 1-0 loss to Queen of the South in the semi-final, but the team responded in brilliant fashion, reeling off three straight league victories.

Harry Milne and Mitch each scored twice in the 5-2 thumping of Peterhead; Harry was

controversially sent off against Clyde, but the ten men strolled to a 4-1 success, Mark Reynolds netting his first for the club; and the unbeaten league run was extended to twenty matches with a crucial 2-1 win over Montrose at Links Park.

It was the start to four tough away games, and the next two were drawn, with the first of those particularly decisive. By the end of March, it was a two-way battle for the title with Cove holding a five-point advantage over Airdrieonians. The pair went head-to-head in Lanarkshire and the Diamonds looked set to snatch a massive win after taking an early lead. With the seconds ticking down, and after a quickly taken corner, Iain Vigurs swung in a cross from the right. It was headed out, bounced up perfectly, and Fraser Fyvie unleashed an unstoppable 25-yard volley over home keeper Max Currie.

The following Sunday, Leighton McIntosh snatched an even later leveller at Firhill against Queen’s Park, but the lead was down to three points as Airdrie had beaten East Fife the previous day.

The pressure was mounting, but the players responded superbly, and Milne grabbed a second half double at Falkirk as Montrose and Airdrieonians fought out a 2-2 draw. The advantage was restored with just three matches to go.

After a frustrating first half, Alloa Athletic were despatched 3-0 with Fyvie adding two more to his impressive goal tally. Airdrie had thrown away a two-goal lead over Dumbarton, and for eighteen minutes it seemed the title was about to be secured, only for the Diamonds to grab a late, late winner.

It was a long week, but on Saturday, April 16th the players had the chance to tie things up against Dumbarton. They dominated the game, but the visitors held firm until the 75th minute when Shay Logan fed a pass into the box and Megginson found himself with a yard of space. The captain controlled the ball, turned away from two defenders, and rifled a low shot across the keeper and inside the far post to spark an explosion of joy from the dugout and among the 1,645 crowd packed inside the Balmoral.

The celebrations went on long into the night and might have had an impact a week later as the team trailed 2-0 early on at East Fife, but they showed the resilience they displayed all season long, Mitch scored another double, and Mark Reynolds netted the last goal of the campaign to extend the unbeaten league run to a remarkable twenty-six matches.

Cove Rangers were heading to the Championship, Paul Hartley was named cinch League One Manager of the Year, and Mitch Megginson recognised as cinch Player of the Year, as well as ending up top league scorer across all four divisions of the SPFL.

It truly was a season to remember, and the perfect way to mark the club’s centenary.