LATE COMEBACK SEALS WIN

In the heat of the Angus sun, the team turned it around late on to secure all three points against Brechin City in our second Viaplay Cup Group C fixture.

Last season’s Highland League champions took the lead in the match on two separate occasions, but summer signing Kyle Connell ensured there would be no upset, scoring twice late on to seal the win.

The manager made one change to the side that defeated Clyde 5-2 midweek. Aussie goalkeeper Nick Suman came into the starting line-up to make his competitive debut for the club, replacing Balint Demus.

The side dominated play for the majority of the first half, and created a number of good chances, the first of which fell to Mark Reynolds. A Connell corner dropped to the defender in the box, and after his first attempt was blocked, he rose

Brechin City 2 Cove Rangers 3

Scottish League Cup

Sat 22 July ‘23

Glebe Park highest to win a header which looped just over the crossbar.

We continued to keep up the early pressure, and went within inches to taking the lead in the 25th minute. Mykyta whipped a cross into the box, and Gallagher got on the end of it, bulleting a header towards goal, but was unfortunate to see his effort crash off the bar. Reynolds was there on the follow-up, but he fired his effort high and wide.

Despite our early chances, it was the hosts who scored the opening goal of the game. The ball was slipped in behind the Cove defence, and MCGRATH got on the end of it, hitting low and hard past Suman.

Their lead didn’t last long, as Reynolds got us back on level terms within 5 minutes. Mykyta floated a cross into the packed penalty area, and despite Thomson initially heading away, REYNOLDS picked up the loose ball and poked into the far corner to get us back on level terms.

The side continued to push for the next goal, but it was Brechin who would go in ahead at the break.

The Cove defence was caught out again by a through ball in behind the defence. Suman came rushing out to stop Louden, but when diving to reach the ball wiped out the midfielder, leaving the referee no choice but to point to the spot. LOUDEN stepped up and sent Suman the wrong way from the spot.

The second half continued in a similar way to the first. The team had the majority of the possession, and continued to look for a way back into the game, which we did in the 74th minute.

Iain Vigurs, who was substituted on for Sena in the 70th minute, fired a pass into Megginson who had his back to goal 25 yards out. The captain did extremely well, flicking the ball through on goal for CONNELL who poked the ball beyond McCabe into the back of the net.

The team had their tails up now, and in the 81st minute Kyle Connell scored the winner. Right-back Arron Darge floated the ball into the channel where Josh Kerr was running. The latest recruit, who impressed on his debut, looked up and looped the ball across the penalty area to CONNELL on the other side, who ran in and smashed past McCabe to give us the lead.

For the remainder of the match, the team comfortably saw the game out, and ensured our winning start to this season’s Viaplay Cup campaign continued.

Brechin City (5-4-1)

McCabe; Scott, Spark, Thomson, Martin, Cruickshank; Loudon, Patrick (Heenan 84’), Moreland, MacLeod; McGrath.

Unused Substitutes

Mudie, McArthur, White, Wilson.

Goals

McGrath (30’), Louden (39’).

Cove Rangers (4-4-2)

Suman; Darge, Gillingham, Reynolds, Scully; Mykyta, Gallagher (Vigurs 70’), Sena (Kerr 60’), Connell; Megginson, Burrell.

Unused Substitutes

Demus, Ochmanski, Gaffney.

Goals

Reynolds (34’), Connell (74’, 81’).