The Season So Far

As Jim began to assemble the squad he wanted, the Premier Sports Cup campaign kicked-off with a win over Albion Rovers, Connor Scully scoring a spectacular winner. It wouldn’t be his last eye-catching moment of the season. Defeats to Livingston and Kelty Hearts ended hopes of qualifying from the group, but a draw in Inverness was a satisfactory way to end.

“…maintained the league run with two outstanding wins in the space of four days. ”

The League One flag was unfurled before the Championship opener, a 2-0 victory over Raith Rovers in which Mitch Megginson netted a double, but operating at the second tier of Scottish football was always going to be a challenge, and so it was to prove over the next month with four successive defeats.

Jamie Masson scored with a magnificent strike and Leighton McIntosh was also on target as we twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with Hamilton, and there was an even more notable comeback the following Saturday when Mark Reynolds struck twice late on to secure another 2-2, against Partick Thistle in Glasgow.

We fell at the first hurdle in the SPFL Trust Trophy, but maintained the league run with two outstanding wins in the space of four days. Scully scored a double to see off Arbroath, then repeated the feat in memorable fashion against Dundee, his acrobatic overhead kick clinching the SPFL Goal of the Month award. Mitch was also on target against the Dens Parkers, the team shrugging off the loss of the first goal to notch up a convincing 3-1 success.

Losses to Raith and Caley Thistle followed, then another comeback 2-2 draw in which Scully and Gerry McDonagh claimed equalisers against Ayr United. We seemed set for our first away win the next week, but let a 4-1 lead slip at Hamilton in a match in which Mitch Megginson scored his 200th goal for the club.

It was Scully at the double again at the start of November, as the team beat Queen’s Park 2-0 in our first ever live televised TV match, and we backed that up by snatching what could prove to be a crucial point, Blair Yule netting in the last minute against Arbroath at Gayfield.

A defeat against promotion chasing Morton was a disappointment, but the players shrugged that off by cruising through to the Fourth Round of the Scottish Cup, McDonagh helping himself to four goals as Dunipace were swept aside 7-0. What should have been our penultimate game in the first half of the league campaign was at home to Partick Thistle, and it was one which ended in heartbreak. With the side holding on for what would have been a massive win, the away goalkeeper, Jamie Sneddon, headed an equaliser in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

With the postponement of the return against Dundee, tonight’s encounter with Hamilton sees us reach the midway stage, and if the first half of the season is anything to go by, it certainly won’t be boring as 2022/23 draws to what is likely to be a dramatic conclusion.

SCULLY NEW CONTRACT

The season of Connor Scully’s dreams has got even better, with the midfielder agreeing a new contract which will keep him at Balmoral Stadium until at least the summer of 2025.

Having already spent half his life with Cove Rangers, Connor quickly agreed terms with Director of Football, John Sheran, and says he is absolutely delighted to have extended his stay with the club he loves:

“Another two years to add on to the many I’ve already been here, I’m pleased to get it over the line, and I can’t wait. “It’s a great club, and to be honest, I couldn’t imagine playing anywhere else. As soon as they said they wanted me to sign on for another couple of years I was dying to get it done. It was an easy decision in the end.”

Currently sitting as top scorer, Connor has had plenty to celebrate, the new deal following the announcement of his Testimonial, and him being awarded SPFL goal of the month for his spectacular overhead kick against Dundee in October:

“I just want to keep it going. I’d set myself a target of ten goals, but now that I’m already on eight, I’m looking at fifteen or twenty. I’m just delighted with the way it’s all been going. I try to stay consistent, to keep the levels up, and I’ll be doing that again tonight against Hamilton.”

With at least two and a half years to go now, how long does Connor believe he can keep going with Cove?

“I’m thirty now, so we’ll see how long I’ve got left, but I live just across the road, and as long as they need me, I’ll be here. That’s what the club means to me.”