Cove Rangers FC Matchday Programme – vs. Arbroath 28.09.24 by coverangersfc

ARBROATH

Saturday 28th Sept ‘24 • 15:00 KO

02 UPCOMING FIXTURES & LEAGUE TABLE

MATCH REPORT

Mitch Megginson celebrated his return to the team by netting the all-important only goal of the game, securing our first victory of the campaign. In a tight match, Montrose might have taken the lead, but a superb penalty save by Nick Suman kept them out, and the team went on to claim a deserved three points.

The spot-kick was awarded after a long ball forward was chased down by Hester and when Nick Suman came out to confront him, the striker appeared to initiate contact before tumbling to the

Cove Rangers (4-4-1-1)

Suman; Doyle, Gillingham, Parker, Harrington; Yule, Darge, Fyvie (c), Scully; Glass (Emslie 72); Megginson (McGrath 78)

Substitutes

Demus, Ochmanski, McAllister, Marshall, Donaldson, Gaffney, Milnes

Goalscorer

Megginson (49)

Booked

Darge (62), Gillingham (80)

Montrose (4-2-3-1)

Gill; Williamson, Quinn (Shrive 62), Steeves, Hannah (Dillon 46); Gardyne, Machado (McKenzie 46); Brown, Masson (c) (Bertie 72), Lyons (MacIverRedwood 59); Hester

ground. After a brief pause, the ref pointed to the spot. Craig Brown grabbed the ball, and shot low to Suman’s left, but the big keeper guessed correctly and pulled off an outstanding stop, pushing it round the post.

Cove were on top for much of the match and we finally made the breakthrough in the forty-ninth minute. Harrington flighted an accurate pass forward, Yule gathered and curled in an excellent cross, and Mitch MEGGINSON took a touch, rounded Gill, and rolled the ball into the unguarded net.

Substitutes

Matthews, Smith

Booked

Masson (19), Bertie (90)

Referee

Duncan Nicolson

Attendance

479

MATCH REPORT

The Lowland League side came out on top after a dramatic ending during which we looked to have won the tie, only to lose two late goals. East Kilbride had gone in front early, but Mitch Megginson quickly cancelled that out, and in a match we largely had the better of, Myles Gaffney appeared to settle things, finishing

League One Sat 7th Sept ‘24 K-Park

off a fine move. There were just six minutes to go then, but the home team managed somehow to secure a famous victory.

The home side kicked-off on a blisteringly hot afternoon and forced an early corner which was half cleared, but they kept up the pressure, and

when Stirling delivered from the right, Adam LIVINGSTONE rose highest at the back post to head goalwards. Demus got a hand to the ball but could not keep it out.

We levelled in the fourteenth minute when the ball was clipped forward to the edge of the East Kilbride box. Under pressure from Jamie Hamilton, Mitch MEGGINSON showed real strength to shrug off the central defender and his low angled shot was perfectly placed just inside the left post.

Having dominated for much of the game, we snatched a deserved lead in the 84th minute. Blair Yule broke clear on the right and crossed to the back post where Scully climbed above Ferguson to nod the ball across, and it was Myles GAFFNEY who was first to react, heading home.

It took an outstanding save from Balint Demus to keep out the home side immediately afterwards, Robertson shooting low with power following a corner, but the keeper dived full length to push it clear. The equaliser was however delayed only by seconds when, after a cross from the right, Jack LEITCH scrambled the ball in from close range.

East Kilbride won it in the third minute of stoppage time. Flannagan crossed from the right and it was fellow sub Stephen BOYD who stole in behind our defence to head the ball back across and into the net.

East Kilbride (4-1-4-1)

Connelly; Ferguson, McGregor (Fagan 65), Hamilton, Lockie (c); Spence; Stirling (Flannagan 65), Leitch, Balde, Livingstone (Boyd 76); Robertson

Substitutes

Wilson, McDonald, Biggar, Mimnaugh

Goalscorers

Livingstone (3), Leitch (87), Boyd (90)

Cove Rangers (4-4-2)

Demus; Darge, Doyle, Gillingham, Harrington; Yule, Fyvie (c), Glass, Scully; Megginson (Ochmanski 75), McGrath (Gaffney 66)

Substitutes

Suman, Murray, Donaldson, Milnes

Goalscorers

Megginson (14), Gaffney (84)

Referee Joel Kennedy Attendance 253

MATCH REPORT

Kelty Hearts 1 Cove Rangers 3

League One

Sat 14th Sept ‘24

New Central Park

The side made it two league wins on the bounce with an impressive victory in Fife, at the same time ending Kelty’s unbeaten run.

Mitch Megginson bundled us ahead before half-time, his goal cancelled out by a long range Cunningham shot, but despite the home side enjoying the better of the game after the interval, it was Cove who came out on top thanks to a blistering Blair Yule strike and a fine finish by Findlay Marshall.

Unsurprisingly given how tight last season’s four contests were, the game was evenly balanced at this point, both sides enjoying spells of possession, but Kelty should have broken the deadlock in the twenty-fourth minute, when Harrington was robbed by Johnston who flashed the ball across the area. Williamson was unmarked six yards out, but shot wildly high over the bar.

The opener came four minutes before the interval from a superb Cove move. Doyle fed a pass in behind, Fyvie surged into the box, and when he sent in a powerful driven cross, Adams was able only to push the ball back out into the danger area where it bounced off Mitch MEGGINSON and into the net. It was the striker’s 75th league goal since we gained promotion to the SPFL.

Kelty levelled out of nowhere in the sixty-fourth minute. Ross CUNNINGHAM took possession twenty yards out, and after spinning away from a couple of challenges, shot low and hard, beating the diving Suman with a well-struck effort. Almost immediately, Williamson ran clear in behind, but the keeper stood his ground and saved with his right hand.

“The opener came four minutes before the interval from a superb Cove move....”

“Mitch Megginson took possession and rolled a pass into the path of Blair YULE who unleashed the sweetest of strikes...”

We regained the lead in the eightysixth minute in stunning fashion. Arron Darge won a free-kick out on the right and when Fyvie delivered, the ball was only half-cleared. Mitch Megginson took possession and rolled a pass into the path of Blair YULE who unleashed the sweetest of strikes, the ball flying past Adams and ripping high into the net.

The points were secured in the second minute of stoppage time. Doyle took a throw-in on the right, Yule got a touch inside the box, and Findlay MARSHALL picked up the ball, shrugged off a challenge, then hammered a shot low past the keeper from ten yards.

Kelty Hearts (4-1-4-1)

Adams; Mercer, Cleall-Harding, O’Ware, Paterson; Tidser (Miller 82); Johnston, Cunningham, Moore, McCarvel (B. Owens 59); Williamson

Substitutes

Adamson, Cole, L. Owens, Thomas, Bryce, Hobbs

Goalscorers

Cunningham (64)

Cove Rangers (4-2-3-1)

Suman; Doyle, Gillingham, Parker, Harrington; Darge, Fyvie (c); Yule, Glass (Marshall 69), Scully (Emslie 76); Megginson,

Substitutes

Demus, Murray, McGrath, McAllister, Gaffney

Goalscorers

Megginson (41), Yule (86), Marshall (90)

Referee Ryan Lee

Attendance

377

MATCH REPORT

Inverness CT 1 Cove Rangers 1 League One Sat 21st Sept ‘24

Caledonian Stadium

The team picked up what could be a valuable point with a battling performance in the Highland capital, extending their unbeaten league run to three games. Adam Emslie put us in front midway through the first half, but the home side snatched the leveller early in the second.

The manager made two changes from the win at Kelty. Ryan Harrington was passed fit, but with Fraser Fyvie and Declan Glass ruled out, Aberdeen loanees Findlay Marshall and Adam Emslie returned to the starting line-up. Blair Yule captained the side.

The breakthrough came in the twentyfirst minute. Blair Yule looked to have been fouled wide on the right, but the

ball ran to Findlay Marshall who drove down the touchline. He looked up and played an inviting delivery across the six yard box which Mitch Megginson just failed to connect with, but Adam EMSLIE was unmarked behind, and opened the scoring with a composed close range finish. It was his third goal in just seven appearances for the club.

Following a quieter spell, Inverness might have levelled shortly before the break when Devine crossed from the right and Brooks found himself unmarked at the near post, but headed well over.

Caley Thistle won a corner soon after the restart, which was cleared, but they regained possession, and when the ball was fed into James NOLAN, the substitute fired goalwards. Nick Suman stopped his first effort with a good low save, but the defender latched on to the rebound and shot powerfully into the bottom corner.

The game was then halted amidst some confusion, referee Stewart Luke suffering a calf injury which prompted an appeal over the public address system for a qualified SFA official to make themselves known. Assistant Will Pare took over in the middle with local ref, Jamie MacKinnon, running the line on the far side, the game resuming after a ten minute hold-up.

We restarted the better and came close to regaining our advantage. McAllister and Marshall combined, and when Reuben was challenged on the edge of the area, he was able to flick the ball into the path of Adam Emslie. The winger shot low and hard, Dibaga making the save, and Megginson was closed down as he attempted to pounce on to the rebound.

Inverness CT (4-2-3-1)

Dibaga; Davidson, Devine, Duffy (Nolan 46), Savage; Gilmour, MacLeod (Allan 90); Longstaff, McKay (c) (Thompson 90,) MacKinnon; Brooks (Bray 82)

Substitutes

Newman, Strachan, MacKay, Ferguson, Ewan

Goalscorers

Nolan (51)

Booked Gilmour (60)

Cove Rangers (4-2-3-1)

Suman (Demus 55); Doyle, Gillingham, Parker, Harrington (McAllister 61); Darge, Scully; Yule(c), Marshall, Emslie; Megginson (Gaffney 90)

Substitutes

Murray, McGrath

Goalscorers

Emslie (21)

Booked Marshall (26)

Referee

Stewart Luke

Attendance

1,505

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1. Nick Suman

8. Blair Yule

2. Finlay Murray

6. Will Gillingham

3. Michael Doyle

9. Mitch Megginson

7. Ryan Harrington

10. Declan Glass

4. Connor Scully

Milosz Ochmanski

Grady McGrath

Arron Darge 14. Reuben McAllister

17. Findlay Marshall

21. Balint Demus

20. Myles Gaffney

22. Adam Emslie

32. Liam Parker

19. Cole Donaldson

24. Fraser Fyvie

23. Jack Robertson

25. Mikey Milnes

20 VIEW FROM THE DUGOUT

We go into this evening’s meeting with Arbroath on the back of a three match unbeaten run in the league and after having taken what I thought was a very good point up in Inverness last weekend.

We scored a good team goal and were in control for the first half. They came out after the break and were better, getting their equaliser, but over the piece the boys did what you need to do up there, work hard and defend well. The back four were very good, they put their bodies on the line, and if you can’t win a game, the next objective is not to lose it.

Over the piece it was a strong performance, and we might have nicked it at the end. They will be up there challenging this season, so you take the draw, which extended the run, and move on to the next match.

While I was very pleased with the team as a whole, I have to make mention of Adam Emslie and Findlay Marshall. They had made a big impact coming on the previous week against Kelty, and they really stepped up against Inverness. The pace of Emslie and the quality they both have, that makes a big difference to the team, and they’re going to be important moving on.

It has been a tough run of games and we have come through it really well, and now we’ve got Arbroath here in front of the TV cameras, another big match.

I am hoping I will have a stronger bench this evening after missing Fyvie and Glass last week, it makes a massive difference when you have options to bring on, especially with this league being as tight as it is.

There really is nothing between the teams right now, and if you can get a run going, a few wins, it pushes you right up the table.

Winning your home matches will be key to that, so we want to put on another impressive display tonight and pick up the three points.

Enjoy the game!

Paul Hartley

“The pace of Emslie and the quality they both have, that makes a big difference to the team, and they’re going to be important moving on.’’

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