Cove Rangers FC Match Programme — vs. Dunipace 26.11.22

MATCH REPORT

Cove Rangers 1 Morton 2

cinch Championship Sat 19th November Balmoral Stadium

Our unbeaten run ended on a miserable afternoon at Balmoral as Morton took the honours from a game largely ruined by the strong winds which whipped across the stadium.

There was one change to the side which fought out a battling 1-1 draw with Arbroath at Gayfield, Luis Longstaff returning from injury on the right, allowing Fraser Fyvie to support Gerry McDonagh up front, in place of the suspended Mitch Megginson.

Kyle McClelland was still sidelined and Evan Towler away on Scotland under-19 duty.

It became clear right from kick-off that this was not going to be a classic ninety minutes. With the wind in their faces Morton found it hard to clear their lines, and with the gale behind them the Cove players struggled to gauge it, the ball regularly taking off and running away from what initially seemed like good passes.

The visitors went in front shortly before the interval, but the goal should never have stood. As the ball was played forward, Jaze Kabia was clearly offside when he gathered, but the linesman kept his flag down. The Morton midfielder rolled it wide, and when it was delivered into the box, Quitongo mis-kicked and it fell for KABIA who sidefooted home.

Cove Rangers

(4-4-2) McKenzie; Johnston, Sanders, Reynolds, Logan; Longstaff (Masson 60), Yule, Gilmour, Scully (Leitch 80); Fyvie (c), McDonagh (McIntosh 65)

Substitutes

Gourlay, Ross, Neill, Vigurs, Dunne Goalscorers

McIntosh (83) Booked Masson (63), Sanders (63) Morton (4-4-2) Schwake; Grimshaw, Baird, Ambrose, Strapp; Kabia (Pignatiello 77), Blues, Crawford, McGrattan (King 77); Quitongo, Muirhead Substitutes O’Connor, Hynes, McGregor, Lithgow Goalscorers Kabia (41), Crawford (87) Booked McGrattan (45), Kabia (63)

Referee Peter Stuart

Attendance 870

Robbie Leitch replaced Scully with ten minutes to go, and the equaliser finally came soon after. Fyvie and Leitch were initially at the heart of the move, Jamie Masson played the ball through for Max Johnston, but his cross was overhit. Logan gathered on the left and swung back in a dangerous delivery which cannoned off the post, and Leighton McINTOSH was first to react to head past Schwake.

Our joy was, however, to be short-lived. A Morton cross was half cleared, and poor marking allowed Robbie CRAWFORD all the freedom he needed to volley home from the edge of the box.

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CONNOR SCULLY

Long-serving Cove Rangers midfielder Connor Scully has been granted a Testimonial after spending half his life with the club.

When he initially joined in his mid-teens, it was as a left-winger, but a switch to the boiler room of midfield paid massive dividends, and Connor has been at the heart of everything Cove have achieved in recent years.

Like his close friends, Mitch Megginson, Blair Yule, Stuart McKenzie, Scott Ross and Jamie Masson, Scully has been a major factor in the rise up through the divisions, from the Highland League through to the Championship, and he has stepped up comfortably to the new demands posed at each level.

The club is delighted to support Connor, and Chairman, Keith Moorhouse, says it is well-deserved recognition for ‘one of our own’:

“I have known Connor since he was a young lad, playing youth football alongside my son, Grant, and his development over the years has been great to watch.

“Not only is he an important player; he’s a brilliant person, and it is entirely fitting that he gets the chance to celebrate what has been a fantastic career with us.

“That has been emphasised this season. At this early stage, he’s shown a real eye for goal, and he’s obviously relishing the opportunity to get into the box more often.”

Connor lived in Kincorth initially, but moved to Cove when he was young, and has developed a deep love for the club. He says the honours and medals he has racked up mean all the more because he won them playing with his mates:

“There’s a whole group of us who have been together since we were young, and it’s been brilliant having them alongside me on what has been an incredible journey.

“The club means everything to me and my family, and being awarded the Testimonial is a real honour. It is special for all of us.

“More than anything, I see the year as a celebration of what we have all achieved. It has been amazing, over a decade now since I made my senior debut, and there’s still so much to look forward to.”

Various events are being planned for next year, starting with a Gala Dinner at the Douglas Hotel on March 11th, 2023. Full details of the programme for Connor’s big year can be found at: Connor Scully Testimonial Facebook Page.

Further information will be announced in the coming months.

…there’s still so much to look forward to.”

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SCOTTISH CUP HISTORY

When the game kicks-off this afternoon, it will herald the start of our sixteenth successive season competing in the Scottish Cup.

It is a much more open competition these days, with clubs at all levels able to battle their way through to the tournament proper, as evidenced by today’s opponents, FC Dunipace, who play in the second tier of the East of Scotland League, and have already negotiated three rounds to reach this stage.

For many years, it was all but a closed shop, and the only way for Highland League clubs to get in was through the Scottish Qualifying Cup (North), with just the four semi-finalists gaining entry.

Cove Rangers made their debut on Saturday, December 9th, 1989, just a few years after stepping up from the Juniors. It involved a marathon journey to Dumfries, but the club took a highly professional approach to the tie, booking an overnight stay for the squad at the Grosvenor Hotel in Glasgow to cut down the travelling time on matchday. It was to be a trip which ended in disappointment, with a narrow 2-1 defeat against Queen of the South, but the players put in an excellent performance, a fact acknowledged by Queen’s manager, Billy McLaren: “Cove were the better side, even a blind man could have seen we really struggled against them. They thoroughly deserved a draw, at the very least.”

The honour of netting the club’s first ever goal in the national knockout competition went to midfielder, Mike Cormack:

“I remember coming off feeling disappointed that we had lost and not repaid all that the club had done for us. But we had at least taken Queen of the South right to the wire, and it’s pleasing to know I’m in the history books as the first to score a Scottish Cup goal for Cove.”

“

…deserved a draw, at the very least.”

Our first win was on December 29th, 1990, a 4-1 thumping of Fraserburgh, which attracted a huge crowd, and was featured extensively on that night’s Sportscene highlights programme on BBC Scotland. Doug Baxter and Donald Smith were both on target that day at Bellslea, and Mike Megginson grabbed a double.

The victory set up a tie against Cowdenbeath at Allan Park. We lost that one 2-1, a defeat which felt even more painful when the draw two days later sent the Fifers to Ibrox for a money-spinning encounter with Rangers in the next round.

After a two-year gap, Cove returned to the competition and won through against Peterhead and Montrose, before losing narrowly to East Stirlingshire in the third round.

— Scottish Cup History

The Falkirk-based side also eliminated us in 1994, and our next three forays into the tournament all ended in heavy defeats.

In 2004-05, Keith Robertson and Colin Milne each scored doubles in a 4-1 victory over Dalbeattie Star, but the run ended abruptly in the next round with a 7-1 home defeat to Morton, and there was a similarly comprehensive loss twelve months later to a Gretna side which would go all the way to the Final in 2006, losing only on penalties to Hearts at Hampden.

Cove have played in the Scottish Cup every year since 2007, the run beginning with a 5-0 win over Brora Rangers in which Jamie Watt scored twice, and Reid, Henderson and Whelan also netted. The side went on to beat Keith and Edinburgh University to reach the fourth round for the first time in the club’s history, before falling to Ross County. 4-0 down by half-

time, Cove staged a stirring comeback with Watt again scoring a double, but the Dingwall side saw the game out.

The next few seasons featured some disappointing defeats and early exits, but also a run to the third round, ended only by a narrow 2-1 loss to Partick Thistle at Firhill in 2012-13.

In 2014-15, Cove thumped Glasgow University 9-1 and followed that with a 9-0 hammering of Hawick Royal Albert. Those wins, which featured goals from current players, Connor Scully and Blair Yule, set up a home tie against Annan Athletic. Daryll Nicoll gave Cove the lead at Allan Park, but Annan fought back to squeeze through by two goals to one.

Twelve months later, the team went one better, emulating the record of reaching the fourth round, but a Motherwell team

featuring the likes of Scott McDonald, Louis Moult and Stephen Pearson proved far too strong. There was a disappointing defeat at the hands of Bonnyrigg Rose in 2016, but the following season saw Cove Rangers hit new heights.

Mitch Megginson and Jamie Masson earned a victory at Nairn, which the team followed up with their most notable Scottish Cup win up to that point, Scott Ross and Harry Milne scoring late on to secure a 3-2 triumph over Airdrieonians at the Excelsior Stadium.

Formartine were then seen off to clinch a place in the fifth round against Falkirk on Saturday, February 10th, 2018. The visitors scored early, but Megginson equalised immediately, and it wasn’t until the second half that the Championship side ground out a 3-1 win.

Little over a year later, the then Falkirk manager, Paul Hartley, would take over at Cove and carve a place for himself in the club’s history books.

In both 2018 and 2019, our dreams were ended by Auchinleck Talbot, but the next campaign was to be more memorable. Ryan Strachan scored in the 90th minute to secure an impressive 3-2 victory over Alloa Athletic at The Indodrill, and that earned the trip to Ibrox the side had missed out on three decades previously.

As luck would have it, with COVID restrictions still in place, there was only a smattering of fans inside the stadium, so Cove once again lost out on a pay-day, and were beaten 4-0.

Last season saw the side record another notable success. Rory McAllister’s late equaliser earned a 2-2 draw with Queen of the South, and the team romped to a 3-0 win in the replay at Palmerston, Fyvie opening the scoring and Megginson adding a second half double.

That clinched a televised tie at Easter Road, and Cove pushed Hibernian all the way, the Premiership outfit relieved to sneak through thanks to Kevin Nisbet netting deep into extra-time.

And so, our twenty-fifth campaign in the Scottish Cup gets underway against Dunipace today, with everyone at the club hoping the team can create a few more historic moments.

JIM MCINTYRE

Last weekend was a hugely frustrating one as we lost out to Morton in a game we certainly deserved to take a point from.

A draw was the least we deserved, but we switched off at the edge of the box, and got punished late on. That’s all down to concentration levels; everyone is assigned a job when we’re defending, and the players have got to carry that out.

We had done well to battle back into the match, drawing level after a fine move, but we should never have been behind. Morton’s first goal was two yards offside, there was clear space between our back four and Kabia, and the linesman has got to get that right.

Overall, because of the weather, it was a real war of attrition, there wasn’t much good football played, and that was mainly down to the gale force winds which made it difficult to judge passes and crosses.

We weren’t as good in the final third, but I felt for the players. They would send balls through and watch them take off, being carried away as another gust blew across the pitch. That made them reluctant to try things because they didn’t know where the ball was going to go.

I certainly hope it’s much calmer this afternoon!

We have a bit of a breather from the intensity of the Championship today as we set off on what we all hope will be a long run in the Scottish Cup.

I know the club has pulled off some notable results in the competition in recent years, and we hope to add to those this season.

Dunipace have done so well to reach this stage, they have already had to negotiate three rounds, and I can guarantee you we will be taking nothing for granted. We have approached this game in the same professional manner we always apply.

We have had them watched the last couple of weeks and we know what we’re up against. As ever, in the cup competitions, there is only one objective, and that is to be in the draw for the next round.

Most seasons in the Scottish Cup there is a big giant-killing act, a shock that no-one saw coming. What we have to do is ensure that it’s not going to be us on the receiving end this year.

Finally, I would like to place on record my thanks to all the fans for your backing this season. Given the economic situation right now, I know that families are having to make difficult choices, and your support, both here and on the road, is greatly appreciated.

Enjoy the game!

Jim McIntyre

“…the gale force winds which made it difficult to judge passes and crosses.”

12.07.22 Albion Rovers PSC A 1 - 2 16.07.22 Livingston PSC H 1 - 2 19.07.22 Kelty Hearts PSC H 2 - 3 23.07.22 Inverness CT PSC A 1 - 1 30.07.22 Raith Rovers SPFL Champ H 2 - 0 06.08.22 Morton SPFL Champ A 1 - 0 13.08.22 Inverness CT SPFL Champ A 4 - 1 20.08.22 Ayr SPFL Champ H 1 - 2 27.08.22 Queen’s Park SPFL Champ A 2 - 1 03.09.22 Hamilton SPFL Champ H 2 - 2 17.09.22 Partick Thistle SPFL Champ A 2 - 2 24.09.22 Raith Rovers SPFL Trust Trophy H 0 - 1 01.10.22 Arbroath SPFL Champ H 2 - 0 04.10.22 Dundee SPFL Champ H 3 - 1 08.10.22 Raith Rovers SPFL Champ A 3 - 0 15.10.22 Inverness CT SPFL Champ H 0 - 1 22.10.22 Ayr SPFL Champ A 2 - 2 29.10.22 Hamilton SPFL Champ A 4 - 4 05.11.22 Queen’s Park SPFL Champ H 2 - 0 12.11.22 Arbroath SPFL Champ A 1 - 1 19.11.22 Morton SPFL Champ H 1 - 2

Date Fixture

26.11.22 Dunipace Scottish Cup H 03.12.22 Partick Thistle SPFL Champ H 17.12.22 Dundee SPFL Champ A 23.12.22 Hamilton SPFL Champ H 02.01.23 Inverness CT SPFL Champ A 07.01.23 Queen’s Park SPFL Champ A 14.01.23 Raith Rovers SPFL Champ H 28.01.23 Ayr SPFL Champ H 04.02.23 Partick Thistle SPFL Champ A 18.02.23 Arbroath SPFL Champ H 25.02.23 Morton SPFL Champ A 04.03.23 Dundee SPFL Champ H 11.03.23 Queen’s Park SPFL Champ H 18.03.23 Raith Rovers SPFL Champ A 25.03.23 Ayr SPFL Champ A 01.04.23 Partick Thistle SPFL Champ H 08.04.23 Hamilton SPFL Champ A 15.04.23 Inverness CT SPFL Champ H 22.04.23 Arbroath SPFL Champ A 29.04.23 Dundee SPFL Champ A 05.05.23 Morton SPFL Champ H

CHAMPIONS MAGAZINE

With Christmas just around the corner, we have the ideal stocking filler for the Cove Rangers fan in your life.

The rise of the club in recent years has been phenomenal, from the play-offs victory in 2019, we have established ourselves in the cinch SPFL, securing a place in the Championship for this season with the thrilling League One title win in 2021-22.

This is a chance to relive that memorable campaign with our glossy 48-page Champions Magazine.

The book is packed with exclusive photographs, many of which have never previously been published, and interviews with all the of the main players who contributed to securing the biggest prize in Cove’s first one hundred years.

Among those featured are Mitch Megginson, Stuart McKenzie, Mark Reynolds and Shay Logan, with further contributions from Fraser Fyvie, Jamie Masson, Morgyn Neill, Rory McAllister, Connor Scully, Blair Yule and Iain Vigurs.

Chairman Keith Moorhouse reflects on the title success, as does the manager who guided the team, Paul Hartley; there is a full statistical analysis of the campaign, and a look back at some of the key matches which shaped the season.

The Cove Rangers Champions Magazine is available to purchase at the club shop and online at the Cove Rangers FC website.

The limited edition magazine is now on sale at just £7.50.

Get your copy now while stocks last!

Look out for more exciting news from the club which will also help with your Christmas shopping. Details will be released in the coming days.

DIFFERENT LEAGUE

Official Ball Supplier of the

CASH FOR KIDS

Cove Rangers FC is happy to support the Northsound Cash For Kids Coat Appeal, a project that helped more than 2,700 children across the north-east in 2021.

Given the cost of living crisis, and rising energy costs, more families are likely to face the agonising choice of ‘heating or eating’ this winter. The Appeal is doing what it can to help alleviate the despair felt by many.

It offers £50 Primark vouchers to disadvantaged families, allowing parents the opportunity to buy warm coats, or clothing generally, helping to ease the burden a little.

We have taken delivery of a stock of special branded cups which highlight the Appeal, and have a QR code which will allow supporters to make donations directly from their mobile phones.

Please look out for the cups as you buy your hot drinks from the McGinty’s kiosks around the stadium over the next few weeks.

CAPTAIN’S VIEW

It was extremely frustrating to not come away from last weekend’s match against Morton with at least a point.

We started the game on the front foot, and we looked to use the conditions to get an early lead. You always feel when you’ve got the wind behind you in the first half that you have got to take your chances and at least get a goal before half-time, but unfortunately, we didn’t do that.

With their first real chance of the match, they scored. What made going behind even more disappointing was the fact that the assistant referee failed to see that their player was two yards offside in the build-up.

In the second half, again, we contained Morton, and limited them to few chances. The boys worked extremely hard to find an equaliser, and with five minutes to go, Leighton managed to do just that, nodding into an empty net after Shay’s cross caused all sorts of problems for the Morton goalkeeper and defence. But not for the first time this season, we switched off momentarily, and conceded a poor goal late on.

The boys worked extremely hard to find an equaliser...”

It’s a real problem for us at the minute, as several times already this campaign we have controlled fixtures, but have failed to come away with any points for our work. We really need to start winning those matches, and we need to be more streetwise and clever, in order to see games out, and that is something we will look to improve.

“

This afternoon, we get a break from the pressures of the Championship. The Scottish Cup is a competition that every player looks forward to competing in, as you get the opportunity to play new sides, and test yourself against some of the best players in the country.

Despite Dunipace being in the First Division of the East of Scotland league, we will certainly not be taking

anything for granted. They have done well in this year’s competition so far, and in addition, we have played teams from lower divisions in this tournament in the past and have faced problems, so all the boys know we will need to be at it from the very first whistle.

We have done well in the Scottish Cup in previous years, and we have been rewarded with glamour ties against the likes of Hibs and Rangers. As long as we play our own game and keep the intensity levels high throughout this afternoon’s clash, I am confident we can progress into the fourth round, and begin what we hope will be a good run in this competition.

Mitch Megginson

“

We really need to start winning those matches, and we need to be more streetwise and clever, in order to see games out, and that is something we will look to improve.”

COYCR!

Scottish League 1

Winners

‘21-’22

Highland League Winners ‘00-’01, ‘07-’08, ‘08-’09, ‘12-’13, ‘15-’16, ‘17-’18, ‘18-’19

Runners-up ‘89-’90, ‘92-’93, ‘94-’95, ‘95-’96, ‘09-’10, ‘11-’12, ‘16-’17

Highland League Cup Winners

‘94-’95, ‘99-’00, ‘04-’05, ‘14-1’5, ‘16-17, ‘18-’19 Runners-up ‘90-’91, ‘92-’93, ‘95-’96, ‘97-’98, ‘05-’06, ‘07-’08, ‘11-’12

Aberdeenshire Shield Winners ‘90-’91, ‘00-’01, ‘08-’09, ‘17-’18.

Runners-up ‘94-’95, ‘12-’13, ‘15-’16

Aberdeenshire Centenary Cup Runners-up ‘86-’87

Scottish League 2 Winners ‘19-’20

Scottish Qualifying Cup (North) Winners ‘90-’91, ‘00-’01 Runners-up ‘88-’89, ‘91-’92, ‘01-’02, ‘03-’04

Aberdeenshire Cup Winners

‘01-’02, ‘10-’11, ‘18-’19 Runners-up ‘92-’93, ‘94-’95, ‘16-’17, ‘17-’18

Aberdeenshire & District League Winners ‘00-’01, ‘08-’09, ‘10-’11, ‘11-’12, ‘12-’13, ‘14-’15 Runners-up ‘06-’07

Inter-League Trophy Winners ‘01-’02

Cove Rangers

Manager - Jim McIntyre

1 Stuart McKenzie

2 Shay Logan 3 Evan Towler

4 Connor Scully 5 Scott Ross 6 Morgyn Neill 7 Gerry McDonagh 8 Blair Yule 9 Mitchel Megginson (C) 10 Jamie Masson 11 Leighton McIntosh 14 Charlie Gilmour 15 Kyle McClelland 16 Iain Vigurs 17 Luis Longstaff 18 Jack Sanders 19 Rhys Thomas 20 Robbie Leitch 21 Balint Demus 22 Cieran Dunne 23 Kyle Gourlay 24 Fraser Fyvie 26 Mark Reynolds 27 Max Johnston

Dunipace

Manager - Danny Smith

Danny Ashe (C)

Sam Colley Lee Davidson Ryan Fleming Martin France Morgan Galloway Alexander Gilchrist (C) Andy Grant David Grant Jordon Herron David Kane (GK) Ryan Kane Conor Langton Tristan McArthur Liam McCroary Joseph McGuckin Caleb McNeil David Morrison Paul Nash Keir Stevenson Aaron Whitelaw Marty Wright

Today’s referee - Matthew MacDermid

Today’s assistant referees - Andy Milne & Ross Nelson