Cove Rangers FC Matchday Programme – vs. Queen of the South 19.10.24 by coverangersfc

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH

Saturday 19th Oct ‘24 • 15:00 KO

02 UPCOMING FIXTURES & LEAGUE TABLE

MATCH REPORT

Cove Rangers 2

Arbroath 4

League One Sat 28th Sept ‘24

Balmoral Stadium

The team fell to a painful defeat with a lacklustre performance, defensive errors again costing us dear.

The visitors surged into a two-goal lead, but despite failing to create much, we had pegged them back by the interval through Blair Yule and Liam Parker. Instead of kicking-on, we conceded again immediately after the break, and Arbroath secured the win with seventeen minutes remaining.

We had the visitors under pressure at early on, but they held out, and snatched the lead with a rapid break. Ryan Dow ran at our back line and cut the ball inside for Scott STEWART to finish with composure.

Megginson had an effort charged down as we attempted to level, but in their next attack Arbroath doubled their advantage. Innes MURRAY played the

ball wide and when Stewart returned it to him the winger shot goalwards. Demus got a hand to the ball but could not keep the effort out.

We grabbed a lifeline soon after. From a corner on the right, Liam Parker won a header, sending the ball back across the box and Blair YULE was first to react, forcing the ball home after McAdams kept out his first attempt.

Megginson then ran on to a through ball, beating the offside trap, the keeper saving at his near post at the expense of a corner. Emslie swung his delivery in, the ball skidding off the head of O’Brian, and Liam PARKER showed determination, shrugging off a challenge to net with a powerful header. That should have lifted us for the second half, but it was the visitors who regained the advantage. Substitute Taylor, who was to be a thorn in our side throughout, found space on the left, and from his cross Alasdair

SPALDING scored with a first-time shot. The sub might have made it four, weaving his way through, but Demus got a touch on his shot and Gillingham hacked clear.

Marshall dragged a shot wide, and Scully saw his effort charged down as we attempted to restore parity, but Arbroath caught us out again, Taylor’s free-kick from wide on the right met perfectly by Jack WILKIE who powered his header beyond Demus.

Findlay Marshall came agonisingly close to scoring soon after, his low drive just marginally wide of the left post, but that was to be our last threat, and Arbroath saw out the game comfortably.

It was a result with which we could have no complaints.

Cove Rangers (4-4-1-1)

Demus; Doyle, Gillingham, Parker, Harrington (Fyvie 63); Darge, Scully; Yule (c), Marshall (McAllister 78), Emslie (McGrath 78); Megginson

Substitutes

Robertson, Murray, Lobban, Gaffney

Goalscorers

Yule (39), Parker (42)

Booked

Darge (77), Doyle (90)

Arbroath (4-2-3-1)

McAdams; Sinclair, Bisland, O’Brien (c), Wilkie; Spalding, Flynn; Stewart, Dow, Murray; Reilly

Substitutes

McConnell, Slater, Gold, Callaghan, Gallagher, Taylor, Watson, Coulson, Richardson

Goalscorers

Stewart (31), Murray (38), Spalding (47), Wilkie (73)

Booked Murray (52)

Referee

Greg Soutar

Attendance

645

We rounded off the first quarter of the campaign with another excellent away performance, ending Alloa’s unbeaten run in the process.

The goals came early through Connor Scully and Fraser Fyvie, and our cause was helped when Luke Donnelly was sent-off before half-time.

Thereafter, the team managed the game comfortably, and might well have added to the winning margin.

It was a special day for Scully, the midfielder making his 67th successive start, matching the club record in the SPFL era, held by legendary goalkeeper Stuart McKenzie.

We broke the deadlock in the sixteenth minute. Ryan Harrington surged down the left, shrugging off two challenges, and his cross found Megginson who took a touch and laid the ball off.

Connor SCULLY ran on to it, and with his right foot, guided his shot beyond the despairing keeper and inside the far post; the perfect way to celebrate his latest appearance milestone.

Alloa might have levelled almost immediately, Buchanan firing a low delivery across the six yard box, but there were no takers at the back post. The home side were to be punished for that, with Harrington again the provider.

Once more, the full-back made space on the left and his delivery was pinpoint, Fraser FYVIE in the perfect place to head home from close range, the midfielder’s first goal of the season.

The home side were then reduced to ten men when Luke Donnelly made a

reckless challenge on Mitch Megginson midway inside the Alloa half. Referee Grainger did not hesitate in brandishing the red card, clearly the correct decision. Thankfully, the striker was able to continue after prolonged treatment.

The hosts made a triple substitution at the interval, and tried immediately to get back into the game, but we looked dangerous on the counter, and Emslie forced an early corner. Scully’s delivery was headed out, but Yule was quickly on to it, teeing up Fyvie, and the midfielder’s twenty-five yard strike caused a problem for Morrison, the keeper snatching it at the second attempt.

Megginson then set up Emslie in our next attack, the winger shooting over from the angle, and we continued to press without carving out any goalscoring opportunities.

The intensity had gone out of the game at this stage, but we looked controlled and composed, and were comfortably maintaining our advantage, with Blair Yule pulling the strings in what was a polished man of the match performance.

Alloa were now offering little in the way of a threat.

The points should have been secured in the seventy-fourth minute when Adam

“It was a special day for Scully, the midfielder making his 67th successive start, matching the club record in the SPFL era...”

Emslie found space on the right and sent in an inviting cross. Megginson, six yards out, attempted to cushion the ball, but it bounced through to the keeper.

Emslie had to be replaced following a robust challenge, Myles Gaffney coming on for the last nine minutes, and Liam Parker was next to have a go for us, his twenty yard volley flying wide.

It was to be the last serious action of an impressive ninety minutes as the team put in perhaps their best performance of the season to date.

Alloa Athletic (4-2-3-1)

Morrison; Taggart (c), McKay (Thomson 78), Neill (Devine 46) (Virtanen 87), Waters; Scougall, Hetherington; Buchanan (Sammon 46), Donnelly, Cawley (McDonnell 46); Rankin

Substitutes

Ogayi, Graham, Nevans, Mullen

Booked

Thomson (90)

Sent off Donnelly (37)

Cove Rangers (4-2-3-1)

Demus; Doyle, Gillingham, Parker, Harrington; Yule, Darge; Emslie (Gaffney 81), Fyvie (c), Scully; Megginson

Substitutes

Robertson, Murray, McGrath, McAllister, Marshall, Lobban

Goalscorers

Scully (16), Fyvie (24)

Booked Yule (69), Darge (74)

Referee

Graham Grainger

Attendance

652

MATCH ACTIONS CAMPAIGN!

Cove Rangers are proudly continuing their support of Show Racism the Red Card’s Match Actions Campaign during the weekend’s William Hill League One encounter with Queen of the South.

Show Racism the Red Card is the UK’s leading anti-racism Education Charity, working within schools, workplaces, sports, and community organisations to educate children, young people, and adults on challenging prejudice and stereotypes.

Using the power of football is a powerful tool to initiate conversations about antiracism and our club has supported their messages of tolerance and inclusion for many years. Now more than ever, the importance of active anti-racism cannot be overstated.

Across Scottish football, clubs will show their commitment to anti-racism over one weekend – Friday 18th, Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th October.

This weekend also coincides with Show Racism the Red Card’s UK-wide annual fundraising drive, Wear Red Day, taking place on Friday 18th. On this day, individuals and groups up and down the country are encouraged to wear red and donate to show their support for the campaign and its message.

Billy Singh, Campaign Manager from Show Racism the Red Card in Scotland had this to say: “We are delighted once again that Scottish football is supporting our much-needed antiracist message. With the recent race riots in England and the continued demonisation of migrant communities across the UK we all have a collective responsibility to challenge all acts of racism not only within football but in our communities, workplaces and social spaces.”

“In our schools we have, on average, 50 recorded racist incidents a week and on our streets there are on average 9 recorded racist incidents

a day. Thankfully in Scotland we did not have the race riots that they had in England but there are people in our communities that want to divide us. Football fans can be a force for good and by being active anti-racists we can change hearts, minds and lives. Please continue to support our campaign.”

Football is a sport that is loved across the world and football matches should be an enjoyable experience for everyone, of all backgrounds. Education is the key and since our formation in 1996 Show Racism the Red Card has engaged with over 1 million learners.

We at Cove Rangers are proud to support the campaign to reach their next big milestone and to ensure Scotland is equipped with the tools to challenge and eradicate racism from football and society.

Further information:

Website theredcard.org

Education Hub theredcardhub.org

Video platform voices.theredcard.org

Wear Red Day theredcard.org/wear-red-day

Follow them on:

Instagram @SRtRCScotland

Twitter @SRtRCScotland Facebook.com/theRedCardScotland

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT!

Why not take the chance to give your backing to the team, and to show your support for your favourite Cove Rangers player.

For just £325 +VAT, your name or company logo will be listed prominently alongside the picture of your chosen individual on the club website and in the online programme produced for each home match.

In addition, you will join the squad for a light lunch towards the end of the season and have the opportunity to get your shirt signed and a commemorative photograph taken.

A few players and some members of the coaching staff are still up for grabs.

You can view which at the website, coverangersfc.com and then contact mjohnston@coverangersfc.com to sign up.

being presented with Will Gillingham’s shirt at the end of last season’s

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS

Balmoral Stadium is the ideal place for local businesses, large and small, to increase their visibility and reach out to a wider client base.

With thousands of supporters visiting each season, it is an opportunity to attract attention and get your company noticed.

Perimeter adverts can be custom made and sized to suit your requirements, and we have limited spaces available now.

For further information please contact our commercial team at commercial@coverangersfc.com

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

With the international break behind us, and the first quarter of the campaign completed, we are now refreshed and ready for the challenge of what will, as always, be a long, hard and demanding season.

League One is always pretty unrelenting, but this year looks like being even tougher.

Last time round, Falkirk were by far the best team in the division, and Hamilton were also strong, but having now seen all the sides, it is obviously going to be a pretty evenly matched contest, and every week is going to be a battle. There will be no easy games!

Over the piece, we have played a lot of good football to date, but we should have picked up more points. I am thinking in particular of Queen of the South and Stenhousemuir away, and the home game with Dumbarton. During that period, we got into the bad habit of conceding poor or late goals, and we were missing chances.

That is a damaging combination, but we sorted it out, looked more solid and were picking up impressive results, only to fall back into our old ways against Arbroath in the last game here at Balmoral Stadium.

It was important then to go down to The Indodrill a fortnight ago and put in the kind

“Over the piece, we have played a lot of good football to date, but we should have picked up more points.’’

of performance I know we are capable of, and we did just that.

I thought the first half was the best we have played this season, and after Scully and Fyvie got the goals, we managed the game out.

Keeping a clean sheet was vital to the confidence, as was becoming the first team to beat Alloa. The win also kept us very much in contention, despite the points total being lower than we had hoped for.

Now it is all about kicking-on and improving that in the second quarter. There is a determination about the squad, and I have every faith in the players.

They know what we now need to do, starting this weekend against Queens, and if we can get a consistent run of form and results, we should be well placed at the halfway point of the campaign.

Enjoy the game!

Paul Hartley

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