Cove Rangers FC Matchday Programme – vs. Annan Athletic 24.02.24

Balmoral

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“Megginson and Burrell were causing constant problems for the Brora defence and our latest attack ended with Connell shooting well over from distance.”

The side secured a fifth round Scottish Cup meeting with Kilmarnock, coming from behind to secure the victory over battling Brora. The home side took an early lead, but Mitch Megginson levelled, then gave us a deserved lead in extra-time. Connor Scully’s well-struck third goal was the icing on the cake.

Having twice seen the tie postponed, the Brora groundstaff had done a fine job over the weekend, and while it might not have been perfect, the surface was at least flat, and certainly playable, as the game got underway.

It was the home side who took the lead in the thirteenth minute against the run of play. Having seen off their initial attack, we gave the ball away just outside the area and Jordan MacRae pounced on it. His pass was inchperfect, and Tony DINGWALL ran on to it to roll the ball through Suman’s legs.

The equaliser came in twenty-second minute. Rumarn Burrell was the provider, teasing Williamson in the box before clipping the ball across the area where Mitch MEGGINSON bundled it in from close range.

There was no further scoring in the regulation time, and it was fully eleven minutes into extra-time before either side seriously threatened, when Cove should have secured the lead. Connor Scully switched a superb angled pass over the top for Yule to chase down, and Blair’s cross was inch-perfect, but Burrell took a touch rather than shoot first time, and with the keeper closing him down, could only stab the ball wide of the post.

Brora Rangers(4-2-3-1)

“...Mitch Megginson gathered, turned, and smashed the ball into the net.”

The goal came on the stroke of halftime. Connell shaped up for one of his long throws but caught the home side out by taking it short to Doyle. Mikey rolled it back to him, Reynolds failed to connect with the cross at the near post, but Mitch MEGGINSON gathered, turned, and smashed the ball into the net.

Megginson and Burrell were causing constant problems for the Brora defence and our latest attack ended with Connell shooting well over from distance.

The striker was then upended, taking a high boot on the head from Gillespie thirty yards out. Megginson took the free-kick, cleverly playing a low ball into the box, and Connor SCULLY ran on to it to blast his angled shot beyond Ross.

Ross; Kelly, Williamson, Nicolson, Cooper; MacLean, Sutherland (MacLeod 108); Dingwall, Wallace (Gillespie 73), Ewan (Brindle 82); MacRae (c)

Substitutes

Malin, Hardie, MacDonald, Strachan

Goalscorers

Dingwall (13)

Booked

Nicolson (16), MacRae (90), Dingwall (95)

Cove Rangers (4-3-1-2)

Suman; Doyle, Kerr Reynolds, Darge; Yule, Sena, Scully; McGowan (Connell 82); Burrell, Megginson (c)

Substitutes

Robertson, Jones, Gillingham, Stewart

Goalscorers

Megginson (22, 105), Scully (120)

Booked

Doyle (24), Sena (64)

Referee

Colin Whyte

MATCH REPORT

Stirling Albion

Cove Rangers

cinch League One

Tue 3rd February ‘23

Forthbank Stadium

2

2

The players shrugged off a poor first half, were much improved after the interval, and in a repeat of what happened at Forthbank last September, twice came from behind to earn a deserved point.

Stirling led through a Dale Carrick double, one a penalty, the other a fortunate deflection, but the boys dug in, and strikers Mitch Megginson and Rumarn Burrell, who linked-up well throughout, both netted in the comeback.

Having missed the Scottish Cup win in Brora, recent signings Matty Shiels and Ola Lawal returned to the starting line-up in the two changes from midweek. Arron

Darge and Paul McGowan dropped down to the bench.

We fell behind to a penalty in the thirtyseventh, Nick Suman adjudged to have fouled Leitch when challenging the midfielder after Carrick had failed to connect with a Moore cross. In the 2-2 draw earlier in the season, Suman had saved a Spence spot-kick, but while he again guessed correctly this time, Dale CARRICK drove the ball low into the bottom corner to give the hosts the lead.

The leveller came on the hour mark after some sustained Cove pressure. Reynolds laid the ball off for Scully, who chipped it

“The leveller came on the hour mark after some sustained Cove pressure.”

down the line to Shiels. Matty’s cross was dangerous, Mitch Megginson chesting it down, and when Burrell returned it him, MEGGINSON lashed his twelve yard shot high into the net.

Just as the side looked to kick-on, they suffered a cruel setback. There looked little danger when Dale CARRICK shaped to shoot from distance, but his effort took a wicked deflection off Doyle, and looped high over Suman into the net.

Chasing an immediate equaliser, Scully swung a free-kick deep to the back post,

Kerr getting in behind his marker, but the defender could only divert the ball wide of the post.

The goal did come in our next attack. After a Shiels throw-in was intercepted, Megginson regained control and switched the ball wide to Doyle. Mikey passed it into the box where Rumarn BURRELL took a touch, turned, and hammered it past Currie.

With two minutes to go, Mitch chased down a ball and looked to be fouled, but as it ran free, Connor Scully took a touch then unleashed a drive from the edge of the box, Currie having to produce a fine save to punch over.

Stirling Albion (4-4-1-1)

Currie; Cummins, McGregor, McLean (c), Clark; Moore (Wilson 78), Banner, Leitch (Cooper 71), Milne; Hilson (Offord 78); Carrick

Substitutes

Weir, McGeachie, Dunsmore, Miller, Spence, Bird

Goalscorers

Carrick (pen 37) (64)

Booked

McLean (57)

Cove Rangers (4-3-1-2)

Suman; Doyle, Kerr Reynolds, Shiels; Yule, Sena, Scully; Lawal (Connell 72); Burrell, Megginson (c)

Substitutes

Robertson, Jones, Gillingham, McGowan, Darge, Stewart

Goalscorers

Megginson (60) Burrell (69)

Referee

Iain Sneddon

Attendance

714

cinch League One

Sat 10th February ‘24

Rugby Park

Our Cup run might have ended against the Premiership side, but it was a credible performance by Cove, one in which they might have taken an early lead and generally held their own against the fourth best team in the country.

Derek McInnes was full of praise for Cove in the wake of Kilmarnock’s victory, his side securing a quarter-final place with goals late in each half.

It was a positive start by Cove, Arron Darge earning a free-kick wide right after being fouled by Kennedy. Connor Scully swung in an inviting delivery which Ndaba half cleared, but Mark Reynolds was unable to return the ball into the danger area.

“It had been a strong opening twenty minutes, the team in no way overawed by their top-flight opponent...”

We had a huge opportunity in the eighth minute. After good work down the right, Blair Yule chipped a cross into the area. Mayo got to the ball first, but headed it into the path of Rumarn Burrell, and the striker’s effort looked to be going in, only for Murray to clear it off his line.

In our next attack Burrell teased Ndaba and raced past him to the bye-line, but Findlay was able to cut out the cross.

A forceful challenge by Kerr set up another opening, Burrell gathering and running at the home rearguard, but he delayed, and Mayo was able to step in to clear.

It had been a strong opening twenty minutes, the team in no way overawed by their top-flight opponents, and Burrell again tried to dance his way through the Killie defence only to eventually be outnumbered.

Kennedy skipped away from Yule and into the box, Gillingham knocking his dangerous shot over the bar, and from the resultant corner, the Premiership side nudged ahead. Polworth delivered, and as the ball dropped, Marley WATKINS reacted first to flick it into the net. It was a cruel end to what had been a fine first half by the team.

The players began on the front foot after the interval, Scully and Megginson

combining before Kerr took possession in the middle of the pitch, his chip forward only just too long for Yule to connect with in the box.

The manager made his first change, McGowan replacing Yule for the final quarter, and soon after, having earlier received treatment, Mikey Doyle was forced to limp off, Kyle Connell taking over as the side reverted to a back four.

There was a big opportunity with fifteen minutes remaining. Scully played the ball to Sena, and after the midfielder had battled through two challenges, he fired in a dangerous cross. Will Gillingham could not direct his effort goalwards, but it cannoned off Kerr and flew straight into the welcoming arms of Will Dennis.

After a flurry of substitutions, Killie finally settled the tie when one of the new men, Danny ARMSTRONG, fired home from inside the area.

Kilmarnock (3-5-2)

Dennis; Mayo, Findlay, Ndaba; Murray (Balagizi 82), Watson (Donnelly 68), Polworth, McKenzie (c) (Stewart 82), Kennedy; Watkins (Armstrong 78), van Veen (Vassell 68)

Substitutes

O’Hara, Wright, Cameron, MacKay-Steven

Goalscorers

Watkins (45), Armstrong (81)

Booked

MacDonald (59)

Cove Rangers (3-5-2)

Suman; Doyle (Connell 71), Gillingham, Reynolds; Darge, Yule (McGowan 67), Kerr (Stewart 78), Sena, Scully; Burrell, Megginson (c)

Substitutes

Demus, Jones

Booked

Darge (39), Gillingham (78)

Referee

Grant Irvine

Attendance

4,407

An error-strewn display saw the team fall to another defeat as our run without a win in the league stretched to seven matches. The loss also saw us drop out of the play-off places for the first time since the early part of the campaign.

Alloa snatched the lead just before halftime. On a rare counter-attack, Steven got on the wrong side of Mark Reynolds, and as the central defender tried to recover, he clipped the winger. Referee Grainger pointed immediately to the spot, and Scott TAGGART stepped up to send Demus the wrong way, finding the bottom left corner.

We finished the first half on the attack, but were unable to fashion any chances, and had to settle for a scoreline which was hardly a fair reflection of the balance of play.

The team seemed undaunted, resuming on the front foot and seeing plenty of the ball, but the final pass was missing, and we were unable to threaten

“We finished the first half on the attack, but were unable to fashion any chances...”

Morrison in the home goal. We were to be punished as Alloa doubled their advantage soon after the interval.

Will Gillingham failed to deal with a through ball and the on-form Bobby WALES finished confidently from the edge of the area, showing the clinical edge which had been missing in our play.

As the game moved into its final twenty minutes, we snatched a lifeline. Doyle fed the ball out to Yule and Blair’s cross was inch-perfect, Kyle CONNELL meeting it powerfully with his forehead to find the bottom corner.

The home side hit back immediately, Demus pulling off a superb one-handed save to deny Taylor STEVEN, but our relief was short-lived, the winger cutting in from the right in their next attack to curl an unstoppable shot into the net from twenty-five yards.

Connell then let rip from long range, Morrison beating his effort away, and as Megginson attempted to pounce on the rebound, the keeper recovered to claw the ball to safety. He was again called into action almost immediately, racing from his line to deny Burrell.

Kyle Connell then delivered our latest corner, Josh Kerr meeting it first time, his effort flying just wide of the near post.

But any hopes of a late comeback were finally extinguished with six minutes remaining, Taylor STEVEN finding

space in the area to fire low past the despairing Demus.

The home side were reduced to ten men, McKay sent off for a challenge on Sena, and the Cove midfielder might have snatched a consolation soon after, having one shot saved and another, from the rebound, bundled off the line.

It was to be the last action of another disappointing afternoon.

Alloa Athletic (4-2-3-1)

Morrison; Taggart (c), McKay, Neill, Coulson (Sammon 55); Roberts, Virtanen; Steven, Scougall (Cawley 83), O’Donnell (Sutherland 58); Wales (Buchanan 83)

Substitutes

Ogayi, Robertson, Donnelly, Roy, Graham

Goalscorers

Taggart (pen 42), Wales (53), Steven (73) (85)

Sent Off

McKay (89)

Cove Rangers (3-5-2)

Demus; Stewart (Connell 60), Gillingham, Reynolds; Doyle, Yule (Lawal 82), Sena, Scully (Kerr 65), Shiels; Burrell, Megginson (c)

Substitutes

Robertson, Jones, McGowan

Goalscorers

Connell (71)

Booked

McKay (89)

Referee

Graham Grainger

Attendance

568

HOSPITALITY NOW AVAILABLE!

With the Balmoral Lounge all but sold out for the entire league season, the club is now offering alternative hospitality 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.

To find out more and to secure your places, please contact Angela Bruce at abruce@coverangersfc.com

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

We currently have availability for the following games...

Stirling Albion

Saturday, March 30th

Alloa Athletic

Saturday, April 20th

Edinburgh City

Saturday, May 4th

Paul Hartley

Gordon Young Tam Ritchie

1. Nick Suman

4. Connor Scully

5. Mouhamed Niang

2. Jacob Jones

8. Blair Yule

9. Mitch Megginson

Management Sponsors Player Sponsors

3. Michael Doyle

7. Paul McGowan

6. Will Gillingham

CRFC offer excellent advertising opportunities to organisations who are looking to share marketing messages or build their brand.

To register interest for sponsorship, contact Angela Bruce: abruce@coverangersfc.com

22. Mark Gallagher

21. Balint Demus

24. Fraser Fyvie

20. Myles Gaffney

11. Kyle Connell

10. Rumarn Burrell

16. Iain Vigurs

18. Tyler Mykyta

17. Josh Kerr

27. Cameron Stewart

26. Mark Reynolds

19. Dayshonne Golding

15. Arron Darge

14. Luke Strachan

It has been a tough few days as everyone tried to bounce back from what was a painful defeat at Alloa last weekend.

NIt was a hard one to take. First half, I think we dominated, played really well actually, but lost a sucker punch goal when they broke on us. Before then, the general play was good and we looked threatening in attack, but they got their second soon after the break and we just never got to grips with the game after that.

We do need to deal better when we face adversity like that. You look back to that run we went on, eleven games unbeaten, and we were really solid, didn’t give away many chances, but unfortunately that’s not been the case of late, we’ve slipped back into the bad habit of giving teams goals rather than making them earn anything they get.

The improvement has to be as a team, a unit; that’s got to be the focus going forward.

Last Saturday, to lose four goals was down to poor game management, we did silly things during the second half, and we made it too easy for them. That can certainly be ironed out in training, and we have all been working hard this week to try to make sure we get it right.

At the other end of the pitch, we’re also looking for a break. There’s been a lot of good football, but we need to find that final pass, or be more clinical when the opportunities come up. It just hasn’t been clicking as it was a couple of months ago.

You do need the luck to go your way, every team does, and we all go through spells when that just doesn’t seem to happen.

“We have to stay positive, to remain confident, and give everything we have... ”

We are confident we have the ability in the squad to turn things round. Obviously, there is frustration and disappointment, we had a good lead in third place and other teams have now caught us up, but they will have their wobbles just like we have, and we are still in a very good place to reach the playoffs.

We have to stay positive, to remain confident, and give everything we have to make sure that come the final game we are sitting in third or fourth.

There’s certainly an edge, you go into these games knowing you’ve got something to play for, and as players you have to embrace that.

Annan will be feeling the same way. They might have a different type of battle on their hands, but they’ve been picking up points of late, and you genuinely do not get easy games in this league. But we’re at home, we know how dangerous we can be here and that has got to be the focus. I’ve been involved in a few tight run-ins in the past, ever since I’ve been at Cove, and it doesn’t matter if you’re going for the title, the playoffs, whatever, it always seems to be the same.

I do relish the challenge, I enjoy it, and it’s up to us to make sure we end up where we want to be at the end of the season.

Mitch COYC!

PAUL HARTLEY

It goes without saying that last week’s performance at Alloa was hugely disappointing, and fell well below the levels we are going to need if we’re to meet our target for the season; a top four finish and a place in the playoffs.

It always takes a few days to get over it when you’ve been beaten, irrespective of how you’ve played. We feel it as much as anyone else, you stew over it across the weekend and wonder what you could have done better. There was some decent stuff in the first half, but not enough, and we know where we are now; it’s all about the next twelve games.

We have all got to stand up and be counted. There’s a lot of quality in the squad, we’ve got good players, and we need to show it now. We’ve been on a bad run, there was a similar one at the start of the campaign and we came through it; that’s what we need to do again.

You’ve got to take the criticism along the way when it’s not going so well, everybody knows that, and we’re all determined to finish the season on a high.

It has been individual errors, but that’s football, and it can’t be a blame game; you win, draw or lose as a team. People get singled out because they make a bad mistake, but they know it, they don’t need told, and we all have to cut out the errors that have been made in recent weeks.

We had a bit of a conversation after the game last week, we talked things through, and we all know what’s required over the next twelve games. It’s all to play for and we have to stick together.

“ We have to show we are ready to battle and fight, to show our quality...”

What we do need is to find a level of consistency, and to get back winning games again.

When you think back to the Kilmarnock game, we saw then just how good we can be, and that was against a top class team. We’ve shown it in spells, but not often enough recently, and that has to be our target, to do it on a more regular basis.

I have to say team selection hasn’t been easy either from time to time with injuries to key players, and that has been a worry again this week with a number of the boys on the treatment table. At this level, that does affect you, but it’s up to the ones who come in to prove they are worth a place in the team and deserve to stay there.

We have to show we are ready to battle and fight, to show our quality, and we will need that against Annan this afternoon. They are a good side, they’ve shown that in their results in recent weeks, and they will test us. No matter who you are, if you let performance levels drop at all, you don’t have the right attitude, then the opposition is going to hurt you.

We are here at Balmoral Stadium, and we have to make our home form count; that’s going to be a big thing for us between now and the end of the season. We have to win as many points as we can to cement ourselves in the top four.

We have a crucial run coming up, some matches that will probably be decisive, and we just have to focus on what we do, getting that right.

Win those, and we will deserve to be in the top four.

Enjoy the game!

Paul Hartley

Richard has pioneered work with charities, community hubs, befriending and foodbank groups, raising over £200,000 in the last 24-months to help worthy causes and individuals facing challenging times.

If you would like an opportunity to me et with him and discuss any matters that you feel he can be of assista nce with , please contact Richard on 07977 399 537 or email rbrooks@aberdeencity.gov.uk

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Cove Rangers

Manager - Paul Hartley

1 Nick Suman

2 Jacob Jones

3 Michael Doyle

4 Connor Scully

5 Mouhamed Niang

6 Will Gillingham

7 Paul McGowan

8 Blair Yule

9 Mitch Megginson

10 Rumarn Burrell

11

12 Milosz

14 Luke Strachan

15

Annan Athletic

Manager - Peter Murphy

1 Jacques Heraghty

2 Ryan Muir

3 Oscar MacIntyre

4 Benjamin Luissint

5 Matty Douglas

6 Steven Swinglehurst

7 Kai Nugent

8 Dominic Docherty

9 Aidan Smith

10 Tommy Goss

11 Josh Galloway

12 Greg Fleming

14 Lewis Hunter

15 Charlie Maxwell