INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE
Saturday 9th Nov ‘24 • 15:00 KO
02 UPCOMING FIXTURES & LEAGUE TABLE
The winning ticket in the 50/50 draw at the Queen of the South game last month was 159609, with the £400 prize being claimed by Dan Armstrong. Scan
The team recorded back-to-back wins and clean sheets with a deserved victory over Queens.
Fraser Fyvie was on target for the second game in a row with a finely judged first-half header, and top scorer Mitch Megginson settled any nerves with an excellent finish just eight minutes from the end.
After both teams had shown their support for the Show Racism The Red Card campaign, it was Cove who kicked-off and enjoyed most of the early possession.
Megginson came close to breaking the deadlock when, after a clever freekick routine, Scully headed into the box where the striker took possession. He found space, then curled in a superb effort only to be denied by the diving Stewart, the keeper pushing the ball to safety with his outstretched left hand.
We were dominating now, regularly testing the visitors, and when the goal came, it was of the highest quality. Liam Parker gathered inside the Queens half, looked up, and fired a pinpoint angled cross into the area where Fraser FYVIE moved clear to guide the ball beyond the keeper with a well-judged header inside the far post.
Queen of the South were more in the game after the restart, but we still carried a threat, and Emslie saw his shot charged down at the edge of the box. The visitors continued to press and Cochrane let fly from thirty yards, but Demus saw it all the way, and dived to claim the ball.
From there, Cove stepped it up again, and took a grip on the game.
Megginson had an effort blocked, then we came agonisingly close to doubling our advantage on the hour mark. Fyvie surged down the left, racing to the byeline, and when he cut the ball back, Will Gillingham – who was to be named man of the match – fired just wide into the side-netting.
Blair Yule was enjoying another fine game at the heart of the midfield, and he played a clever pass over the top for Megginson to run on to soon after. Mitch cut inside, and his curling shot looked netbound until Hannah dived full-length to head it away.
Dylan Lobban came on for his Cove debut in the sixty-eighth minute and was immediately involved. Fyvie teed him up, but the midfielder’s effort was charged down.
Our defence looked disciplined and organised, but Queens might have levelled out of nowhere when, after a short free-kick, Kennedy shot powerfully from thirty yards. Demus dived to his left to beat the ball away and Liam Parker was on hand to hack it clear.
““...Megginson settled any nerves with an excellent finish.”
Cove Rangers (4-2-3-1)
Demus; Doyle, Gillingham, Parker, Harrington; Yule, Darge; Emslie (Lobban 68), Fyvie (c), Scully; Megginson
Substitutes
Our second goal came with eight minutes remaining.
Yule pounced on to a loose ball played out by the Queens defence, and his quick pass found Mitch MEGGINSON who took a touch before curling an excellent effort beyond Stewart and in off the left post.
Robertson, Murray, McGrath, McAllister, Marshall, Gaffney
Goalscorers
Fyvie (35), Megginson (82)
QOTS (4-2-3-1)
Stewart; Hewitt, Brydon, Hannah, MacIntyre; Lyon (c), Cochrane (Walker 62); McKechnie (Luissint 88), O’Donnell, Kennedy (Willis 88); McIntosh (Doherty 75)
Substitutes
Hogarth, Church, Rogerson,
Referee
Craig Napier
Attendance 519
MATCH REPORT
We moved to the top of the League One table after becoming the first team to win three successive matches in what has been the tightest campaign imaginable.
The defence was again solid, recording a third successive clean sheet, and one of the back line also made a crucial impact at the other end of the pitch. Mikey Doyle was the unlikely source of the opening goal, driving home into the bottom corner just after the break, while a much more regular scorer, Mitch Megginson, settled things after excellent build-up play by Arron Darge.
Following the victories over Alloa Athletic and Queen of the South, Paul Hartley named an unchanged line-up for the third game in a row. There was good news with the return to the bench of midfielder Declan Glass, leaving Nick Suman as the only absentee.
Cove kicked-off on a blustery afternoon, but it was Montrose who threatened
first, Liam Parker conceding a corner under pressure from Kane Hester. Gardyne’s inswinging delivery was comfortably dealt with by Balint Demus, the keeper commanding as he punched the ball to safety.
It was not until the eight minute that we got properly up the pitch, Arron Darge and Adam Emslie linking to try to find a way through, but the home defence held firm, and cleared the danger. Yule then found Emslie in space on the right, but his cross was deflected, and Gill gathered.
Fraser Fyvie then broke away midway inside the Montrose half, playing in Connor Scully, but after running free from his marker, the midfielder’s shot was straight at the goalkeeper.
10 MONTROSE MATCH REPORT
The match was anything but a classic, not helped by the swirling wind, but we might have gone behind midway through the half. Masson let fly from thirty yards and when the ball bounced in front of Demus, he was unable to hold it. With Hester attempting to pounce on the rebound, the keeper recovered quickly enough to avert the danger.
Just before the interval, Brown turned away from Doyle and played a clever pass in for Kane Hester to run on to, behind the Cove defence. Balint Demus was quickly off his line, and when the striker shot, the keeper spread himself to make a vital save.
We went straight up the park, and after Yule took a knock while attempting to shoot, the ball ran for Megginson. Mitch took control before flashing it across the area, Emslie inches from diverting his delivery into the net.
We were the better side upon the resumption, Scully to the fore with a driving run, but were unable to make the final pass. That changed in the forty-eighth minute when Parker found Megginson with an excellent long ball forward, and after taking a touch, Mitch rolled it into the path of Mikey DOYLE. The full-back took a touch, steadied himself, then drove a superb strike beyond Gill and low into the bottom corner.
Doyle nearly turned provider soon after, curling in a dangerous cross from the right which Megginson got a flick on, but could only divert over the bar.
We came close in the seventy-fourth minute when after good link-up between Megginson and Fyvie, Fraser played in an excellent low cross. With Scully trying to make contact, Williamson slid in to clear. Doyle and Emslie played a neat one-two in our next attack, and when the fullback delivered from the bye-line, Mitch Megginson met the ball flush with his forehead forcing Gill into a great save, the keeper tipping the ball over. From the resultant corner Yule’s header was just a foot too high.
We did double our advantage soon after, the goal down to the determination of Arron Darge. The midfielder was alert, robbing Gardyne in the centre circle, and after driving forward thirty yards, he played an inch-perfect pass into the path of Mitch MEGGINSON. The striker was his usual composed self as he smashed the ball low into the net.
A much improved second half showing meant we thoroughly deserved the win, becoming the seventh team to top the League One table this season; only Arbroath, Caley Thistle and Dumbarton have failed to do so.
Mitch might have got another soon after, his effort deflected to safety, but the boys saw the game out comfortably for a result which ensures we are heavily involved in the promotion battle.
Montrose (4-1-3-2)
Gill; Williamson, Dillon, McKenzie (Webster 64), Steeves; Gardyne; Machado (Bertie 64), Brown (Shrive 81), Masson (c) (Watson 81); Lyons, Hester (MacIverRedwood 64)
Substitutes
Matthews, Hannah, Smith, Balfour
Booked
Fyvie (35), Megginson (82)
Cove Rangers (4-2-3-1)
Demus; Doyle, Gillingham, Parker, Harrington; Yule, Darge; Emslie (Lobban 81), Fyvie (c) (Marshall 87), Scully; Megginson
Goalscorers
Doyle (48), Megginson (86)
Booked
Fyvie (59), Yule (67)
Referee
Craig Napier
Attendance
691
MATCH REPORT
The team eventually romped to another win, our fourth victory and clean sheet in a row, thanks to three second half goals, including a memorable Mitch Megginson strike, but it took an outstanding first half from Balint Demus to keep us in the match.
The big keeper pulled off a string of superb saves to defy Dumbarton, and we looked a different side after the break, immediately taking control and ultimately deserving to take full points.
It was a notable afternoon for Arron Darge who made his fiftieth appearance for the club.
The home side had been penned-in during the early exchanges, but in the seventh minute, after a throw-in found Hilton unmarked, the midfielder drove in on goal and unleashed a powerful close-range low shot. Balint Demus dived smartly to his right to make an impressive one-handed save and Wilson, under pressure from Gillingham, failed to collect the rebound.
Back came Cove, and Adam Emslie curled in an inviting delivery, Brown making an important interception to clear the danger. Darge then clipped a superb pass over the top for Doyle to chase down. He got the cross in, and Megginson’s shot was deflected wide, but the ball was adjudged to have gone over the line before Mikey delivered.
The play went straight up the other end, Hilton getting in behind on to a long pass forward. Demus seemed to slip, but recovered to make the save, and from the resultant corner, he was again called into action, throwing his body in front of a powerful Orsi strike.
The home side were enjoying their best spell of the match and again came close soon after. Blair was given too much space and his cross was pin-point, Shiels rising highest to head goalwards, but Balint Demus again came to our rescue, making a superb stop to tip the ball over.
Blair then curled in a wicked low free-kick from the right which Demus somehow kept out at his near post before it was scrambled away.
Almost immediately, the home side were again on the attack, the keeper saving from Ruth before managing to deflect Hilton’s effort from the rebound on to the upright and behind.
The half-time whistle came at just the right time for us, the team going into the break goalless thanks only to an inspired forty-five minutes by Balint Demus.
There were more promising signs after the restart, Scully sending in a long freekick which was half cleared, allowing Blair Yule to feed in Doyle. The full-back’s cross found Megginson, who was outnumbered, but still got his shot away. Unfortunately, it curled wide of the far post.
The breakthrough came in our next attack when Dylan Lobban teased the home back line before firing in a dangerous skidding cross. With Fraser Fyvie wating to get a touch, Mark DURNAN slid in to divert the ball past his own goalkeeper.
The side took confidence from that and piled on the pressure, the second goal coming five minutes later. The ball was played up to Mitch MEGGINSON who took a touch and held off a challenge before unleashing an unstoppable left-foot drive beyond Long and into the top corner. Having last week celebrated his 100th goal in Scottish League football, it was the striker’s third in successive games and sixth of the season.
Mitch might have added to his tally shortly afterwards, gathering a Yule pass before shooting from twenty
“The half-time whistle came at just the right time for us.”
yards, his effort slipping just past the left post.
With eight minutes left, Arron Darge did superbly to win possession on halfway and flick the ball wide to Adam Emslie. The winger ran at Miller, cut inside, and curled an excellent effort, the ball flying inches over the crossbar with Long beaten.
The icing on the cake came in the eighty-ninth minute when we countered, and after Fyvie and Megginson had combined, Adam EMSLIE raced on to the loose ball, showing composure as he chipped over the diving keeper and into the net.
Having ridden our luck at times in the first half, we were dominant after the interval, and thoroughly deserved our latest victory,
Dumbarton (4-2-3-1)
Long; Miller, Durnan (c), Brown, Blair (Gray67); Wilson, Niang (Mumbongo 67); Orsi (Wallace 76), Hilton (McGuffie 76), Shiels (Clark 78); Ruth
Substitutes
O’Neil, Lynas, Young, Shields
Booked
Durnan (58)
Cove Rangers (4-2-3-1)
Demus; Doyle, Gillingham, Harrington, Scully; Yule, Darge; Lobban (Marshall 85), Fyvie (c), Emslie; Megginson
Substitutes
Suman, Murray, Glass, McGrath, McAllister
Goalscorers
Durnan (OG 50), Megginson (55), Emslie (89)
Referee
George Calder
Attendance
568
DOUBLE DELIGHT!
The team’s superb form in recent weeks was acknowledged this week with the news that we had landed a double in the monthly awards.
Paul Hartley was named as the Glen’s Vodka League One manager of the month for October with Mitch Megginson, who has been on a hot scoring streak, collecting the William Hill player of the month accolade.
The striker netted against both Queen of the South and Montrose, and went on to make it three in a row last weekend as November kicked-in, while the gaffer was highlighted for the run of victories and clean sheets.
Both were keen to pay tribute to the backroom staff and the rest of the squad, emphasising the need to maintain the level of consistency which has sent us to the top of the table.
Everyone at the club would like to congratulate Paul and Mitch for their awards. Hopefully there will be more to come in the months ahead!
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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
I was delighted that the club’s recent excellent run was this week recognised with the monthly awards for October being handed out to myself and to Mitch Megginson.
Having won all three matches played during October without conceding a goal, we were always going to be in the reckoning, and it was nice to hear the news.
I am now approaching five hundred games in football management, and one of the main things I have learned is the need for a strong work ethic on and off the pitch. It has been a team effort with my staff and the players, that’s how you get these awards, we’ve all been pulling hard together.
It’s nice to get the recognition, of course it is, it’s acknowledgement that after a slow start, things are coming together now.
I’m experienced enough to know that being a manager, it comes in peaks and troughs. Unless you’re at the very top level, you’re going to go on bad runs and you have to accept that, but you also have to enjoy the good times, and that’s what we are all doing now.
I’ve been on the flipside, when things are going terribly, so you don’t get carried away. It’s all about trying to keep our form going,
“It’s all about trying to keep our form going, stay grounded, and make the most of this feeling.’’
stay grounded, and make the most of this feeling. I still love the game, still get that buzz coming to training, or on Saturdays, and I want that to continue. So, getting an award like this is fantastic for everyone at the club, it means we’re on a bit of a high, we’re doing well, and we just need to keep that going.
It was great that Mitch’s goalscoring form was also highlighted, you see the value he brings to the side, and I’m hoping he can maintain that.
It’s not just Mitch though, all the players have been brilliant for me during this run, and if we can keep up the consistency we have shown, we will be giving ourselves a real chance in what will continue to be a really tough league.
Caley Thistle have been going through a hard time of course, but they’re a good team, and they’ll come here and pass the ball. They will be dangerous, so we have to be aware of the threat they bring, address that, and do all the good things we have been doing.
Enjoy the game!
Enjoy the game!
Paul Hartley
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CLUB HONOURS
Scottish League 1
Winners ‘21-’22
Scottish League 2
Winners ‘19-’20
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
Scottish Qualifying Cup (North)
Winners ‘90-’91, ‘00-’01
Runners-up ‘88-’89, ‘91-’92, ‘01-’02, ‘03-’04
Highland League Cup
Winners ‘94-’95, ‘99-’00, ‘04-’05, ‘14-1’5, ‘16-17, ‘18-’19
Runners-up
Aberdeenshire Cup
‘90-’91, ‘92-’93, ‘95-’96, ‘97-’98, ‘05-’06, ‘07-’08, ‘11-’12
Winners ‘01-’02, ‘10-’11, ‘18-’19
Runners-up ‘92-’93, ‘94-’95, ‘16-’17, ‘17-’18
Aberdeenshire Shield
Winners ‘90-’91, ‘00-’01, ‘08-’09, ‘17-’18
Runners-up ‘94-’95, ‘12-’13, ‘15-’16
Aberdeenshire & District League
Winners ‘00-’01, ‘08-’09, ‘10-’11, ‘11-’12, ‘12-’13, ‘14-’15
Runners-up ‘06-’07
Aberdeenshire Centenary Cup
Runners-up
‘86-’87
Inter-League Trophy
Winners ‘01-’02
Cove Rangers
Inverness Caledonian Thistle
... AND WE EVEN THROW IN YOUR MATCH TICKET!
cinch League One Sat 10th February ‘24 Rugby Park
The club offers an alternative hospitality package in the Players Lounge, an option which has proved highly popular.
Already, we have had stag parties, work and family outings, and other large groups, and the package is also available to individuals.
Competitively priced as just £70pp, which includes VAT and the cost of the match ticket.
The afternoon is hosted by the club’s former kit-man, Adrian ‘Edser’ Thomson – a popular and well-known figure among Cove fans.
Package includes:
• Arrival ninety minutes prior to kick-off
• Complimentary drinks
• Sandwich platter pre-match
• Reserved seating in the West Stand
• Half-time tea, coffee and pie
• Full-time bar for 45 minutes after final whistle
• Car parking
• No dress code
• One-off option or book for the season