Cove Rangers vs Partick Thistle 03.12.22

MATCH REPORT

Scottish Cup Sat 26th November Balmoral Stadium

Gerry McDonagh was the four-goal hero as Cove eased through to the Fourth Round of this season’s Scottish Cup. Substitutes Leighton McIntosh and Jamie Masson were also on target, either side of a close range Fraser Fyvie finish, as the team disposed comfortably of their East of Scotland League visitors.

Having dominated the opening stages, the opening goal came in the seventeenth minute.

Yule and Logan linked-up well, Longstaff then fed in a pass to the byeline, which Blair fired low towards the near post. Goalkeeper Kane got to it first, but fumbled, and from inches out, Gerry McDonagh scrambled the ball into the net.

Fyvie, Yule and Gilmour were seeing plenty of the ball, and Longstaff and Logan were constant threats, and it was the full-back who provided the ammunition for the second goal. He found Megginson, whose shot looked like going in, but struck the inside of the post and rebounded back out off the keeper. Mitch reacted quickly and stabbed the ball goalwards again, and Gerry McDonagh slid in to make sure, nudging it over the line.

Within two minutes of the restart, it was 3-0.

Cove Rangers

(4-4-2)

McKenzie; Logan, Ross, Reynolds (Neill 56), Towler; Longstaff (Dunne 63), Yule (Masson 63), Gilmour, Fyvie; Megginson (c) (McIntosh 63), McDonagh (Scully 53)

Substitutes Gourlay, Vigurs, Leitch Goalscorers

McDonagh (17, 38, 47, 49), McIntosh (82), Fyvie (84), Masson (87) Booked Reynolds (28)

Dunipace (4-1-4-1)

D. Kane (Gilchrist 87); R. Kane, A. Grant, McCroary, Whitelaw; McNeil (Nash 61); Wright (c) (France 61), Morrison, Herron, Colley (Fleming 69); D. Grant (McGuckin 69)

Substitutes

Stevenson, McArthur Referee Matthew MacDermid

Attendance 540

The team won a free-kick twenty-five yards out. Shay Logan had to put a finger on the ball to prevent it from being blown away, Longstaff delivered it into the box, and with a glancing header, Gerry McDonagh steered it past the visiting keeper to complete his hat-trick.

The fourth goal came in short order. Longstaff was brought down just outside the box near the bye-line, and when the delivery came in, Gerry McDonagh had the freedom of the area to angle his header back across Kane and inside the far post for a superb finish.

“

The players eventually made their superiority count with three more goals…”

Fraser Fyvie caught the Dunipace defence out with a delightful, chipped pass, and Leighton McIntosh raced clear, beating the keeper with a perfectly-judged lob from twenty yards.

Leighton was at the heart of the sixth goal shortly after. Picking the ball up in midfield, he showed great skill and close control to dance away from three or four challenges, before playing in Masson. Jamie’s shot took a deflection and fell for Fraser Fyvie, who was alert enough to skip past the keeper and roll the ball into the empty net.

…a perfectlyjudged lob…”

There was no let-up in the intensity of our play, and within three minutes, it was 7-0. Connor Scully switched the focus of the attack, Logan and Fyvie got involved on the right, and when Fraser delivered, Jamie Masson climbed highest to head home his third goal of the season.

“

FRASER FYVIE

Throughout the last couple of decades, Cove Rangers have made a habit of surprising onlookers with big name signings.

In the Highland League days, three of Aberdeen’s ‘Gothenburg Greats’ – Neil Simpson, John Hewitt and Doug Rougvie – all had spells at Allan Park; former Dundee and Nancy striker, Ray Stephen, joined for a brief spell in the 1990s; and more recently, trophywinners and internationalists have also put pen to paper, with the likes of Shay Logan and Mark Reynolds in the current squad.

High on any such list of high-profile captures would have to be Fraser Fyvie.

— Fraser Fyvie

Having become the Dons’ youngest ever player when he featured against Hamilton in 2009, the midfielder moved south, where he picked up an FA Cup medal with Wigan Athletic, and later became a Hibernian hero as part of their Scottish Cup winning side in 2016.

Had it not been for cruel luck – he suffered two serious cruciate injuries –there is little doubt his career at the top level would have been a lengthier one, but that has been to Cove’s benefit, and Fraser has proved an excellent signing since joining up ahead of the club’s debut in the SPFL in the summer of 2019.

“To be honest, I was wondering where my career was going to go. I’d had the second cruciate at Dundee United and they had cancelled my contract, and you’re obviously seen as a risk by every manager, every club.

“I’d had the chance of a move to Greece, I’d actually gone over, but it didn’t feel right, and there was something in Holland as well, but none of that sat well with me at the time.

“Cove was on my doorstep, I thought it was a chance to rebuild myself, and three years later I’m still here and thoroughly enjoying it. We’ve won a couple of leagues and I’m back in the Championship.”

With two Cup-winners medals in his pocket, and approaching what should be the peak years of his career, did Fraser have any qualms about taking such a major step down?

“To be totally honest, I didn’t want to. Who wants to drop down? In my opinion, I’m a Premier League player. It’s a long time since I played there, but I still think I could be. Circumstances went against me at times, some of the decisions I made weren’t the right ones, but you learn to take it on the chin and just concentrate on what you can influence.”

This has been the most settled period of Fraser’s career, and he has played considerably more games for Cove than for any of his other clubs. He has, in the main, stayed fit, although there was a frustrating lay-off earlier in this campaign, when a hamstring problem kept him out for seven matches.

But he is back now, and ready to make an impact:

“I think it takes up to five games to get going again. I’ve obviously not been as sharp as I’d like to be, but that comes with more minutes on the pitch. I am a naturally fit guy though, so hopefully I’ll be back at one hundred percent soon.”

It is a decade now since the teenage Fyvie left Pittodrie to sign for Premier League strugglers Wigan Athletic. The Lancashire club would be relegated at the end of that 2012-13 campaign, but they would go down, incredibly, as FA Cup winners, having shocked star-studded Manchester City 1-0 at Wembley.

Fraser had a pitch-side view, having been named as one of the substitutes on the big day:

“Obviously being so young, and being involved in my first season down there, it was a bit surreal at times. I probably didn’t appreciate it enough then, but working with the manager, Roberto Martinez, and some brilliant players; what an experience that was.

“I was coming on at Wembley. He told me to get stripped with about twenty minutes to go, and I was standing there ready at the side. Then Shaun Maloney whipped the corner in, Ben Watson scored, and I was told to sit back down again; it was just eleven men behind the ball for the rest of the match. But it was great to be part of that memorable day, and I’d done my bit in the earlier rounds.”

“…I’m still here and thoroughly enjoying it. We’ve won a couple of leagues and I’m back in the Championship.”

With Wigan on the slide, Fraser left in early 2015, immediately signing a shortterm deal with Hibernian. That would be extended in the summer, and twelve months later, Fyvie and his team-mates were history makers after a thrilling win over Rangers at Hampden:

“One hundred and fourteen years since Hibs had won the Scottish Cup! I still get people coming up to me getting really emotional about that day, thanking me for what that team did. The open-topped bus was incredible, there were two hundred and fifty thousand people on Leith Walk that afternoon, and I can assure you it was a great few days afterwards.”

It was next stop Tannadice, and while he put in some excellent performances with United, Fraser was again beset by injury, and ultimately landed up at Balmoral, taking the big step of moving to part-time football.

It may not be what he dreamed of as a kid, but Fyvie now feels at home with Cove Rangers, and knows he is valued, and working with good people:

“Special memories, a really good group, and a great manager in Alan Stubbs. The club had been relegated, there was a rebuild going on, and he recruited players who maybe had a point to prove, or hadn’t had a proper chance elsewhere.

“The second season there we were on for the treble. We lost the League Cup semi-final, actually to the gaffer’s Ross County, and we came up just short in the Championship, but we made up for that at Hampden.

“It’s a strong group, it really is. There’s a nucleus who have been here for years; we all knew each other when we were young lads, but there are no cliques, we’re all in this together, the local lads and the boys who travel up.

“This season is all about consolidation in the Championship and we will fight as hard as we can to achieve that.”

“

I still get people coming up to me getting really emotional about that day, thanking me for what that team did.”

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— View from The Dugout

JIM MCINTYRE

Last Saturday was a particularly enjoyable one as the team put in a strong performance to ensure we were never in danger of becoming a negative Scottish Cup headline.

I had emphasised to the players the need to show Dunipace respect, and to be totally professional in our approach, and that was exactly what they did.

The fact that I put out as close to a full strength starting line-up as I could made it clear how importantly I was treating the tie, and it was pleasing to see the side score the goals they did, while putting in a nice solid defensive display.

In games like that, it is all down to the mentality of the bigger team; ours was spot on.

It was great to see Gerry McDonagh hitting the net as often as he did, and the second half headers were excellent. I would hope that gives him a real boost, and that we see the best of the big man in the months ahead.

With the game under control, I took the opportunity to make changes, and give a few of the lads the chance to get minutes on the pitch. They all contributed, and it was nice to see two of the substitutes, Leighton McIntosh and Jamie Masson, getting among the goals.

The draw for the Fourth Round saw us paired with Championship rivals, Ayr United. I was delighted we got a home draw, that’s what you’re looking for first and foremost. It will mean we play Ayr two weeks in a row, which isn’t ideal, but when those games come round, we’ll be ready for them, and I always back us against anyone here at Balmoral.

For now, all our focus is on the league, and with Max Johnston and Jack Sanders available again this week, after having to miss the cup-tie, I have a near full strength squad to choose from. That’s a position every manager wants.

Partick Thistle have just emerged from a challenging run, losing six in a row, which is evidence of what a tight league the Championship is, and how difficult it can be to pick up points. They have bounced back with 3-0 wins over Arbroath and Kelty, in the Cup, and will be determined to get their promotion bid back on track.

We picked up what was an excellent point at Firhill a couple of months ago, Mark Reynolds’ double late in the game earning a draw from a game which had looked lost.

As we approach the halfway stage of the league season, we will be looking to go one step better this afternoon.

Enjoy the game!

Jim McIntyre

“…the second half headers were excellent..”

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 limited edition magazine is now on sale at just £7.50

Get your copy now while stocks last!

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

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.

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 Competition

26.11.22 Dunipace Scottish Cup H 7 - 0 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

HARRY MILNE

When a player returns to his former club, it can often be with a sense of foreboding as they anticipate what kind of ‘welcome’ they are likely to receive from the fans who once idolised them.

When Harry Milne steps out at Balmoral Stadium this afternoon, he should have no such concerns. Having been signed from boys’ club football by then manager, John Sheran, seven years ago, Harry became a firm favourite, and made a massive contribution to everything the club achieved in recent seasons.

That will surely be acknowledged by the Cove faithful, at least until the game kicks-off!

Harry’s departure was announced in the wake of the 1-0 win over Dumbarton which sealed the League One title and a place in this season’s cinch Championship.

Following that victory, and before the celebrations fully kicked-in, the popular wing-back gave this emotional interview:

“I loved my time at Cove, but the opportunity to play full-time for the first time in my career was too good to turn down. I will still miss playing for Cove Rangers and will always wish only the best for them. I’ve really appreciated the support the fans gave me throughout my time at the club.

“I also worked alongside some remarkable people. I’m thinking back to the likes of Eric Watson, who was a great captain, and taught me a lot about defending, as well as some of the more recent guys.

“You also have John Sheran, who gave me the opportunity to sign for Cove Rangers. There are so many who have been a big influence on me, and that has led to me getting a move to a full-time club.

“It’s not something I pushed for; I was at the end of my contract, so it was an opportunity to try something different.”

Harry was one of seven Cove Rangers players to make last season’s League One Team of the Year, and scooped both the players’ and fans’ annual awards, and he has maintained that impressive form following his move to Firhill.

He has comfortably made the transition to full-time football, has featured in all but one of the club’s games in 2022/23, and was voted their top performer during his first month there, in July.

The defender has already come up against his old mates, when Cove pulled off their late stunning comeback in Maryhill in September, but this will be his first appearance back at Balmoral.

While everyone at the club wishes Harry all the best for his future career beyond this afternoon, the likely warmth of his reception will hopefully be the only happy memories he takes south with him this evening.

“I will still miss playing for Cove Rangers and will always wish only the best for them.

I’ve really appreciated the support the fans gave me throughout my time at the club.”

CAPTAIN’S VIEW

It was great to score seven goals and advance into the Fourth Round of the Scottish Cup last weekend. Unfortunately, for the second week in a row, the wind spoiled the game again, as it prevented both teams from playing any nice football. But from our point of view, it was all about getting unto the hat for the next round, and I felt it was a thoroughly professional job from the boys to do just that.

It was also brilliant to see big Gerry scoring four goals. He’s taken one off me on the line, but I must admit I would do the exact same to him if it was the other way around! Gerry has worked hard to get himself into the side, and he has looked a threat when he has played, so for him to score four goals it will give him a confidence boost going into this afternoon’s match.

It was also good to see our substitutes making an impact when they came on. It’s a team game, you need a squad for the whole season. The guys coming on will be disappointed not to be playing, but it’s important they react when they come on, which is exactly what they did.

We now face Ayr United in the Fourth round at the start of next year. It’s pleasing that we are at home, as our form at Balmoral Stadium is particularly strong. We have played them twice already in this campaign, so we know what to expect from them. It will be tough, but we hope we will be able to come out on top on the day and progress into the next round of the cup.

That is a while away yet, however, and for now we must concentrate on getting results in the league. We’ve got a big couple of games coming up to finish the second quarter of the season, starting with Partick Thistle this afternoon.

We know what Partick are about, they are a top-quality side. They are quite a physical, fast team that will attack you from the start. We saw that down at Firhill earlier in the season - The first 45 minutes they had us pinned back, and to be honest they should have been out of sight by the break with the number of chances that they created. “

We’ve got a big couple of games coming up to finish the second quarter of the season…”

On the flip side, we know we can get at them with the attacking quality that we have in our team. We have changed our formation since our last meeting with them, we’ve now got a bit more stability and it seems to be working for us, so I think it will be a different game to that first one. We know we will have to be at our best both in defence and attack if we are to be successful, but we are more than capable of doing that.

We are looking to catch the teams above us, and they are one of them. The only way we can reduce the gap is by making sure we pick up as many points as we can. Coming into this fixture off the back of that 7-0 win against Dunipace gives the squad a good boostWe are going into the match full of confidence.

Mitch Megginson

COYCR!

DIFFERENT LEAGUE

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

Partick Thistle

Manager - Ian McCall

1 Jamie Sneddon 2 Jack McMillan 3 Harry Milne 4 Kevin Holt 5 Darren Brownlie 6 Kyle Turner 7 Scott Tiffoney 8 Stuart Bannigan 9 Brian Graham 10 Anton Dowds 11 Steven Lawless 14 Cammy Smith 15 Cole McKinnon 16 Lee Hodson 17 Tony Weston 18 Tunji Akinola 19 Danny Mullen 21 Aidan Fitzpatrick 22 Aaron Muirhead 23 Ross Docherty (C) 31 David Mitchell

Today’s referee - Steven McLean Today’s assistant referees - David Roome & Scott Leslie