UNCOVERED — Cove Rangers v Airdrieonians 25.09.21

Cove Rangers v Airdrieonians cinch League One 25.09.21 — 3pm KO

BALMOR AL GROUP Proud sponsors of BALMORAL STADIUM

Balmoral Comtec Balmoral Tanks Balmoral Business Park ACE Winches BLAZE Manufacturing Solutions Friends of ANCHOR www.balmoral-group.com

02 03

— Contents Cove Rangers FC Matchday Programme Airdrieonians: 25.09.21 — 3pm KO Match sponsor

Matchball sponsor

Features

PETERHEAD MATCH REPORT PETERHEAD REACTION OLA ADEYEMO INTERVIEW Regulars Upcoming fixtures

04

Club information

06

Club partners

29

View from the dugout

30

Player and Management sponsorship

34

Season 2021/22 statistics

36

Captain’s view

40

Club honours

44

Today’s team lines

45

08 18 20

— Upcoming fixtures

A Sat 2nd Oct, 2021

Alloa Athletic v Cove Rangers

cinch League One

H Sat 9th Oct, 2021

Cove Rangers v Albion Rovers

SPFL Trust Trophy

A Sat 16th Oct, 2021

East Fife v Cove Rangers

cinch League One

H Sat 23rd Oct, 2021

Cove Rangers v Clyde

cinch League One

— League table cinch League One

P

W

D

L

GF

GA

GD

PTS

Queen’s Park

7

3

4

0

10

4

6

13

Dumbarton

7

4

1

2

15

10

5

13

Cove Rangers

7

3

2

2

12

9

3

11

Montrose

7

3

2

2

10

7

3

11

Airdrieonians

7

3

2

2

11

10

1

11

Alloa Athletic

7

3

1

3

10

8

2

10

Falkirk

7

3

1

3

9

8

1

10

Clyde

7

2

2

3

10

15

-5

8

Peterhead

7

2

0

5

8

12

-4

6

East Fife

7

1

1

5

7

19

-12

4

50/50 WINNER! The 50/50 winning number at the Montrose match was 92538, won by Ian Roberts.

04 05

– Club information

Cove Rangers FC Balmoral Stadium Wellington Circle, Altens Aberdeen, AB12 3JG

T 01224 392111 F 01224 392859 coverangersfc.com Twitter / Facebook / Instagram @coverangersfc

Honorary President Alan McRae Directors Keith Moorhouse - Chairman Graeme Reid - Vice Chairman/Financial Controller Duncan Little - Secretary/Stadium Manager John Sheran - Director of Football Darren Anderson Grant Moorhouse Safety Officers John Morgan & Bill Ogilvie Committee Michael Coull, Richard Forbes & Gordon Taylor Football Manager - Paul Hartley

Assistant Manager - Gordon Young Fitness Coach - Tam Ritchie

06 07

Goalkeeping Coach - Derek Soutar

Head of Youth Development - Gary Hake Performance Analyst - Ryan Docherty

Physios - Donal Gallacher & Eilidh McGregor Kit Manager - Adrian Thomson Club Doctor - David Fowler

Commercial Manager - Angela Bruce Media Officer - Charlie Allan

Child Wellbeing and Protection Officer - Kate Dean Club Chaplain - Dougie Simpson

Club Photographers - Dave Cowe, Richard Forbes

EXTRA A MONTH

Search ‘Get Sky Sports’ Ends 30 September 2021. 2 for 1 channel offer: Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Football: £18 extra pm for 18 months (then £22pm). Requires Sky Signature (£26pm for 18 months, then £31pm; £20 set-up). New 18 month min. terms. Prices may change during this period. Over 400 games: based on 128 Premier League games; 228 English Football League games (includes 80 red button matches); up to 48 Scottish Professional Football League games; and up to 44 Women’s Super League matches shown across the football season from 31 July 2021 to 29 May 2022. General: Nonstandard set-up may cost extra. Weekend set-up costs £15 extra. Connect to TV using HDMI cable. Sky Q kit is loaned to you at no cost and must be returned at the end of the relevant subscription.

You own the Sky dish. Prices may vary if you live in a flat. You must get any consents required (e.g. landlord’s). UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man residential customers only. Email address required so we can keep in touch about your services. Correct at 15 July 2021. Further terms apply.

08 09

cinch League One Saturday September 18th @ Balmoor Stadium

PETERHEAD 0 COVE RANGERS 1

— Peterhead Match Report

Cove take th

he blue toon

10 11

— Peterhead Match Report

Rory McAllister netted for the fifth successive cinch League One game to give us victory in a highly competitive clash at the Balmoor Stadium.

Rory put former club Peterhead to the sword when he expertly converted a 79th minute penalty, which had been awarded for a blatant push by Andrew McDonald on Morgyn Neill.

It was a welcome reward for a thoroughly professional performance from our lads, who also recorded our first league clean sheet of the season up in the Blue Toon.

Rory had also struck the woodwork with a header, and we created the best of the chances in the game, so there could be no argument over who deserved to come out on top.

We made two changes to the side from the week before, one of them enforced because Blair Yule was suspended. Harry Milne and Jamie Masson were the duo who came in from the start.

The game was a bit of a slow starter as the two sides sussed each other out. The first real chance came our way in the 14th minute, when Milne fed the ball through to McAllister and his cross from the left was just missed by Mitch Megginson at the edge of the six-yard box.

Cove Rangers had a penalty appeal turned away in the 21st minute, after Megginson and McAllister had combined to break through the Peterhead defence.

The latter laid the ball sideways to Masson and his shot from just inside the area appeared to be handled by Simon Ferry before it was cleared, but referee Gavin Duncan waved play on.

Scott Ross started our next attack with a long ball over the top of the home defence, which Megginson controlled well before lifting a 16-yard shot over the crossbar.

Masson was always looking to get on the ball and his next pass gave McAllister the opportunity to shoot over from 20-yards.

>>>

12 13

>>>

— Peterhead Match Report

Peterhead’s best chance so far came in the 34th minute, when Niah Payne shot over from 20-yards after collecting a pass from Scott Brown.

Masson was at the heart of things again in the 38th minute, with a pass to Megginson, who created space for himself at the edge of the Peterhead area before sending a powerful shot wide.

We were very unlucky not to break the deadlock in the 51st minute. Iain Vigurs played a free-kick in from wide on the left and McAllister got up above the home defence to power in a 12-yard header that crashed off the junction of the post and crossbar, to Brett Long’s right, with the keeper well beaten.

The rebound fell to Megginson, but Long denied him by spreading himself well to block the striker’s 10yard shot.

McAllister went close again on the hour, when he managed to get to Shay Logan’s right wing cross to knock the ball inches wide of the front post, from the edge of the Peterhead six yard box.

The Blue Toon quickly broke up the park for Brown to shoot wide from 18-yards.

Peterhead’s Andrew McCarthy could count himself fortunate to receive only a booking in the 68th minute for blatantly chopping down Masson as he broke forward with the ball.

Masson resumed after lengthy treatment, but was eventually forced to limp off in the 73rd minute, with Robbie Leitch replacing him.

14 15

That was just after Peterhead got their first shot on target, although Stuart McKenzie had no problems gathering Hamish Ritchie’s effort from the edge of the area.

Fraser Fyvie threatened to score a wonder goal in the 74th minute, when he danced past three defenders during a mazy run in from the left wing but then sliced his 18-yard shot wide of the target.

We had a second penalty claim turned away by the referee in the 78th minute, when Neill’s header from a Vigurs corner seemed to have been handled by a Peterhead defender.

The referee had no choice but to award a penalty a minute later, when McDonald rugby tackled Neill at the back post and hauled him to the ground, after Vigurs had swung another corner over from the right.

McAllister took full advantage by slotting the spot-kick home to maintain his recent scoring streak and bring his tally for the season to an impressive six goals.

Peterhead manager Jim McInally was sent to the stand by referee Duncan before the match could be restarted.

Peterhead’s best chance came in the 84th minute, when Ritchie hit a powerful shot from the edge of the area and McKenzie dived full length to his left to make an excellent save.

There was no further threat to our goal as we defended strongly as a team to secure a welcome victory on the road.

>>>

— Peterhead Match Report

Peterhead: Long, Mulligan, Conroy, McDonald, Duffy (Cook 82), Ferry (Jason Brown 75), Ritchie, Brown, McLean, McCarthy, Payne (Lyle 65).

Subs: Wilson, Cameron, Kesson, Strachan, Musanhu, Jordon Brown.

Cove Rangers: McKenzie, Neill, Milne, Scully, Ross, Megginson, Masson (Leitch 73), McAllister, Vigurs, Fyvie (McIntosh 88), Logan.

Subs: Adeyemo, Gourlay.

Referee: Gavin Duncan.

16 17

— Peterhead Reaction

Defender Morgyn Neill and manager Paul Hartley spoke to the media after our 1-0 cinch League One victory over Peterhead at Balmoor Stadium.

Morgyn was the player fouled for the penalty that Rory McAllister converted to secure the three points.

Morgyn said: “We deserved the victory and it was great to get a clean sheet as well. They never really cut us open at any stage, while we were always creating chances, so it was only a matter of time before we scored.

We stayed patient and might have had a penalty when I sent in a header and we were all claiming a hand ball, I certainly think it was one. I take pride in being able to pose a threat at setpieces, I scored quite a few goals from them for Dumbarton.

We have quite a few players who are good in the air, including Connor Scully – even though he’s quite small and skinny! The manager works hard on ensuring we are ready to make good use of that in attacking situations, so it was only a matter of time until we would get something for our efforts.

It finally paid off when I was pulled down when the ball was a mile away, so the referee had to give that one. Rory then did his usual professional job, so that was that, we are happy to come away with the three points from what we always knew would be a tight game.

As a defender, I’m happy to also come away having stopped the opposition scoring. It’s been difficult for us to do that this season because we’ve had an unsettled team and the problems with covid have made it difficult to train properly.

It’s been hard for the gaffer and his coaching staff because they have been forced to shuffle the back four about from week to week. We certainly looked more solid in this game, so hopefully this is the start of good run of defensive displays.”

18 19

Paul said: “This was a really good three points for us. It was a tough game, but I felt we were the better of the sides, particularly in the first half.

We created chances and were also solid defensively, so it was a well earned win. Getting our first clean sheet of the season in the league was particularly pleasing.

The players deserve full credit for earning that with hard work and staying organised when they were put under pressure. If you keep clean sheets you have more chance of winning games.

As a team, there have been times when we haven’t defended well enough and made things difficult for ourselves.

That wasn’t the case this time and it played a huge part in us managing to get the win.”

— Ola Adeyemo interview

OLA AD Former Dundee United and Watford striker Ola Adeyemo is the latest addition to Paul Hartley’s squad, signing a contract with the club until January 2022.

We sat down with Ola to find out a bit about his football career to date, his personal life and also the ambitions he has set out for his time with the club.

>>>

DEYEMO

20 21

— Ola Adeyemo interview

Tell us a bit about your background.

I was born in Nigeria but brought up in London and mainly Ireland. When growing up I moved back and forth between Dublin and London, as I had family in both cities.

Did you always want to be a footballer when you were growing up?

Yes of course, ever since I was a kid. It’s every young boys dream to grow up and become a professional footballer!

Tell us a little bit about your career in football, where did it all start for you?

I started off playing school boy football in Ireland and then made the step up to League of Ireland where I played for UCD (University College Dublin).

From UCD I made the move up here to Scotland to play for Dundee United where I got my professional debut against Kilmarnock in 2014. During my time with United, I went out on loan to East Fife for a short spell. I stayed at Dundee United until December of 2015 and then moved down south to Watford, where I played in the development squad.

After Watford I moved to Norway for a short period, which was different, but I enjoyed it! I then went on to play for a few non-league teams in England, before returning back home to Ireland to play for Wexford last year. Unfortunately, back in January I got a bad injury as I ruptured my achilles. Ever since then I have just been working as hard as I can to get back playing and to recover from my injury. Now I have the made move to Cove and the gaffer (Paul Hartley) has given me the opportunity to get fit and show what I can do.

22 23

— Ola Adeyemo interview

24 25

Tell us a little bit about your playing style – have you always been an attacker?

Yes I have always been a striker throughout my career, everywhere I have went I have been in the forward area. I’m a tall, physical forward, but I also have a bit of pace to get in behind defenders.”

Do you have any pre-match rituals or superstitions?

I don’t have any in particular, I know some players have some strange ones but not me. One thing that I do before entering the pitch is I pray to god before that I will leave the pitch injury free and that all my team mates also leave the pitch okay. Other than this, I don’t have any specific rituals or superstitions.

Away from football how do you like to spend your time?

I don’t tend to do too much, I mainly just watch movies and films on Netflix and just chill out with my family. I have been at home during the whole pandemic back in Dublin so I have been able to spend a lot of time with my family, but obviously with the lockdown happening I didn’t get the chance to do too much. I often train at the gym, I was there a lot when I was doing rehab as a result of my injury, but other than that I just relax.

Do you have a favourite place to stay or visit?

Ireland as it is my home, I have got all my family there, all my siblings, friends, nephews and nieces are there so that is my favourite place. My dad stays in London, but Ireland is home to me.

>>>

— Ola Adeyemo interview

Have you got a favourite goal you have scored in your career?

I scored one in a match for Dundee United in a preseason friendly – It was left foot and top bins so I enjoyed that!

Do you have a favourite moment in your career to date?

My professional debut for Dundee United against Kilmarnock – That is by far my favourite moment. It was a proud moment for both me and all my family, and is an occasion I’ll never forget.

You are at Cove Rangers now, what attracted you up north?

I really wanted to come back to Scotland, it’s a different avenue to get to as it’s a high level of football. I was told about Cove Rangers and how they were a club on the up with very good players and big ambitions, and I believed it would suit me as it’s a club and team who all work hard. Gordon Young was the assistant manager at Dundee United just before I left and so he knew of me and that helped in bringing me to the club.

Finally, do you have any aims or goals that you want to achieve in your time with the club?

I just want to play as many games as I can and show the club and the fans what I can do. I want to get as fit as I can as obviously I am just back from a bad injury so I want to get back to my best. Finally, I want to score goals! As a striker that’s what I want to do and that’s my job, so I want to score as many goals and help the team and help push as high up the table as possible.

26 27

STOP BALL WATCHING. START PLAYING.

Rip-roaring power. Spellbinding control.

Jaw-dropping accuracy. The new Mitre Delta Max SPFL. Prepare to mesmerise.

Mitre.com

— Club partners

Principal Club Partner

Principal Stadium Partner

Official Club Partners

28 29

— View from the dugout

PAUL HARTL I would like to begin by welcoming the players, officials and supporters of Airdrie to Balmoral Stadium this afternoon.

It’s our first meeting since Airdrie beat us in the semifinals of the Championship play-offs last season.

Airdrie have been on a good run of late, so we know we are going to deliver a top class team performance if we are to compete with them. One similar to what we saw in last weekend’s 1-0 victory up at Peterhead.

Rory McAllister secured the win with a late penalty but I feel it was a victory we deserved for the effort we put in over the 90 minutes.

It was particular pleasing to record our first league clean sheet of the season up at Balmoor Stadium.

It’s been tough at times because we’ve been unable to pick a settled back four because of players being absent because of illness, injuries or problems caused by the covid pandemic.

>>>

LEY

30 31

— View from the dugout

>>>

So all credit to those who played at Peterhead for doing what was required at what is always a difficult venue to help us come away with the three points.

We defended strongly but also communicated well across the back to restrict the amount of opportunities Peterhead created in our box.

It wasn’t just down to the back four though. Our strikers were constantly chasing back to help and it was the same with all of the midfielders who featured over the course of the 90 minutes.

Like I said, it was a proper team effort, the sort you need if you are to have any chance of picking up points in a league as competitive as this one is.

Stay safe and enjoy the game.

Paul Hartley

32 33

“ ...it was a proper team effort, the sort you need if you are to have any chance of picking up points in a league as competitive as this one is ”

— Player and management sponsorship

MANAGEMENT Paul Hartley

Gordon Young

Tam Ritchie

SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

GOALKEEPERS Stuart McKenzie

Kyle Gourlay

SPONSORSHIP AVAILABLE

Harry Milne

Scott Ross

Ryan Strachan

LOCAL , NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL ROAD HAULAGE

ABERDEEN 01224 – 781698

DEFENDERS

WWW.MGSLOGISTICS.CO.UK

Jevan Anderson

Shay Logan

Morgyn Neill

34 35

MIDFIELDERS

Fraser Fyvie

Connor Scully

Blair Yule

Jamie Masson

Iain Vigurs

Ross Draper

Robbie Leitch

Mitchel Megginson

Leighton McIntosh

Rory McAllister

FORWARDS

CRFC offer excellent advertising opportunities to organisations who are looking to share marketing messages, or to build their brand via one or more of our channels. Get in touch with our commercial team for further information.

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

— Season 2021/22 statistics

Date

Fixture

Game H/A

F

A

Starting

Starting

Starting

Starting

Starting

Starting

Starting

Starting

Starting

10/07/2021

Stirling Albion

PSC

H

2

3

S.McKenzie

M.Neill

H.Milne (R.Thomas)

S.Ross

R.Strachan (C.Scully)

B.Watson

B.Yule

R.McAllister (M.Megginson)

R.Draper

13/07/2021

Hearts

PSC

A

0

3

K.Gourlay

M.Neill

H.Milne (R.Thomas)

C.Scully (R.McAllister)

S.Ross (B.Watson)

B.Yule

M.Megginson

L.McIntosh

R.Draper

17/07/2021

Peterhead

PSC

A

1

3

S.McKenzie

M.Neill

C.Scully

S.Ross

B.Yule

M.Megginson1 (L.McIntosh)

D.Higgins (H.Milne)

R.McAllister (B.Watson)

R.Draper

20/07/2021

Inverness CT

PSC

H

3

1

K.Gourlay

M.Neill

H.Milne

C.Scully

B.Yule1

M.Megginson1

L.McIntosh1 (R.McAllister)

R.Draper

I.Vigurs

31/07/2021

Falkirk

SPFL1

A

1

1

K.Gourlay

M.Neill

H.Milne

S.Ross

B.Yule

M.Megginson

R.Draper

I.Vigurs

R.Leitch (C.Scully)

07/08/2021

Queens Park

SPFL1

A

0

2

K.Gourlay

M.Neill (J.Anderson)

H.Milne

R.Strachan

B.Yule

M.Megginson

L.McIntosh (R.McAllister)

I.Vigurs

R.Leitch (C.Scully)

14/08/2021

East Fife

SPFL1

H

5

2

K.Gourlay

H.Milne

C.Scully

S.Ross

R.Strachan

B.Yule

M.Megginson3 (L.McIntosh)

R.McAllister1 (B.Watson)

I.Vigurs

21/08/2021

Dumbarton

SPFL1

A

3

1

K.Gourlay

M.Neill (J.Anderson)

H.Milne

C.Scully (L.McIntosh)

S.Ross

R.Strachan

B.Yule

M.Megginson1

R.McAllister1

28/08/2021

Clyde

SPFL1

A

1

2

K.Gourlay

M.Neill

C.Scully

S.Ross

R.Strachan

B.Yule

M.Megginson

R.McAllister1

J.Anderson (J.Masson)

04/09/2021

Stenhousemuir

CC

H

0

0

S.McKenzie

M.Neill

C.Scully

S.Ross

B.Yule

M.Megginson

J.Masson

L.McIntosh (R.Leitch)

R.McAllister

11/09/2021

Montrose

SPFL1

H

1

1

S.McKenzie

M.Neill

C.Scully (H.Milne)

S.Ross

B.Yule

M.Megginson

R.McAllister (L.McIntosh)

I.Vigurs

R.Leitch

18/09/2021

Peterhead

SPFL1

A

1

0

S.McKenzie

M.Neill

H.Milne

C.Scully

S.Ross

M.Megginson

J.Masson (R.Leitch)

R.McAllister1

I.Vigurs

25/09/2021

Airdrieonians

SPFL1

H

02/10/2021

Alloa Athletic

SPFL1

A

09/10/2021

Albion Rovers

CC

H

16/10/2021

East Fife

SPFL1

A

23/10/2021

Clyde

SPFL1

H

30/10/2021

Queen’s Park

SPFL1

H

06/11/2021

Montrose

SPFL1

A

13/11/2021

Peterhead

SPFL1

H

20/11/2021

Airdrieonians

SPFL1

A

04/12/2021

Dumbarton

SPFL1

H

12/11/2021

Falkirk

SPFL1

A

18/12/2021

Alloa Athletic

SPFL1

H

26/12/2021

East Fife

SPFL1

H

02/01/2022

Peterhead

SPFL1

A

08/01/2022

Clyde

SPFL1

A

15/01/2022

Montrose

SPFL1

H

29/01/2022

Dumbarton

(Cove win 4-2 on penalties)

SPFL1

A

05/02/2022 Airdrieonians

SPFL1

H

12/02/2022

Queen’s Park

SPFL1

A

19/02/2022

Falkirk

SPFL1

H

26/02/2022 Alloa Athletic

SPFL1

A

05/03/2022 Peterhead

SPFL1

H

12/03/2022

Clyde

SPFL1

H

19/03/2022

Montrose

SPFL1

A

26/03/2022 Airdrieonians

SPFL1

A

02/04/2022 Queen’s Park

SPFL1

H

09/04/2022 Falkirk

SPFL1

A

16/04/2022

SPFL1

H

23/04/2022 Dumbarton

SPFL1

H

30/04/2022 East Fife

SPFL1

A

Alloa Athletic

36 37

Starting

Starting

Sub

Sub

Sub

Sub

Sub

Sub

Sub

Sub

Sub

Referee

AS1

AS2

ATT

I.Vigurs

F.Fyvie2

C.Scully

M.Megginson

R.Thomas

K.Gourlay

-

-

-

-

-

Barry Cook

Craig Ferguson

Harry Bruce

298

I.Vigurs

F.Fyvie

B.Watson

R.McAllister

R.Thomas

S.McKenzie

-

-

-

-

-

Colin Steven

David McGeachie

Graham McNeillie

I.Vigurs

R.Leitch (F.Fyvie)

H.Milne

B.Watson

L.McIntosh

F.Fyvie

K.Gourlay

-

-

-

-

Matthew MacDermid

Ralph Gordon

Graham Chambers

R.Leitch (B.Watson)

F.Fyvie

B.Watson

R.McAllister

S.McKenzie

-

-

-

-

-

-

Chris Graham

Greame Leslie

Chris Hobbs

F.Fyvie (R.McAllister)

S.Logan

C.Scully

R.Strachan

B.Watson

D.Higgins

R.McAllister1

J.Anderson

-

-

-

Alan Newlands

George King

Andy Gamble

F.Fyvie

S.Logan

C.Scully

B.Watson

D.Higgins

R.McAllister

J.Anderson

S.McKenzie

-

-

-

Calum Scott

Scott Anderson

Chris Hughes

R.Leitch1 (J.Masson)

S.Logan

M.Neill

B.Watson

J.Masson

L.McIntosh

J.Anderson

S.McKenzie

-

-

-

Euan Anderson

Steven Traynor

Gordon McCabe

I.Vigurs

R.Leitch1 (J.Masson)

B.Watson

J.Masson

L.McIntosh

J.Anderson

S.McKenzie

-

-

-

-

Duncan Williams

Graham Chambers

Regan Wallace

I.Vigurs

R.Leitch1 (L.McIntosh)

J.Masson

L.McIntosh

S.McKenzie

-

-

-

-

-

-

Grant Irvine

Stuart Hodge

Duncan Nicolson

F.Fyvie

S.Logan

H.Milne

R.Strachan

R.Leitch

K.Gourlay

-

-

-

-

-

Barry Cook

Steve Traynor

Craig Macrae

F.Fyvie

S.Logan

H.Milne

J.Masson

L.McIntosh

O.Adeyemo

K.Gourlay

-

-

-

-

Matthew MacDermid

Drew Kirkland

Calum Doyle

F.Fyvie (L.McIntosh)

S.Logan

L.McIntosh

O.Adeyemo

R.Leitch

K.Gourlay

-

-

-

-

-

Gavin Duncan

Andrew McWilliam

Ian Hart

Peter Stuart

Alastair Mather

David McKniff

506

— Season 2021/22 statistics

#CRFCLIVE

38 39

Name

Appearances

Goals

Position

Yellow

Red

Stuart McKenzie

5

0

GK

0

0

Kyle Gourlay

7

0

GK

0

0

Harry Milne

10

0

DF

3

0

Scott Ross

10

0

DF

2

0

Ryan Strachan

5

0

DF

0

0

Morgyn Neill

11

0

DF

1

0

Jevan Anderson

3

0

DF

0

0

Shay Logan

6

0

DF

0

0

Rhys Thomas

2

0

DF

0

0

Connor Scully

12

0

MF

1

0

Blair Yule

11

1

MF

1

1

Jamie Masson

5

0

MF

1

0

Fraser Fyvie

9

2

MF

2

1

Iain Vigurs

11

0

MF

4

0

Ross Draper

5

0

MF

1

0

Robbie Leitch

10

2

MF

1

0

Mitchel Megginson

12

6

FW

3

0

Leighton McIntosh

10

1

FW

0

0

Rory McAllister

12

6

FW

1

0

Ole Adeyemo

0

0

FW

0

0

PTAIN

’S VIE

W

CA

— Captain’s view

40 41

“I want to begin by giving deserved praise to my strike partner in recent weeks, Rory McAllister… or ‘Penaldo’ as he is now better known in the home dressing room..”

The new nickname is thanks to Rory scoring in our last five cinch League One games, with four of those coming from the penalty spot.

Rory really is a master when it comes to taking penalty kicks.

His latest came in last weekend’s hard earned 1-0 victory up at Peterhead.

I was so confident Rory would score that I was joking with him afterwards that I didn’t even bother to follow in just in case the keeper made a save and there was a chance to net from the rebound. (It was just a joke though, that’s something I would never do!).

As a striker, I know how tough it is to score in successive games, never mind five-in-a-row, so I take my hat off to the old fella.

Rory took over penalty duties after I had the misfortune of missing two-in-a-row. That was never a problem because you have to do what is best for the team and Rory’s scoring record is among the very best ever seen at SPFL level.

Hopefully there will be a lot more to come from him as we move through the season. Thanks to Rory, we are going into this afternoon’s home clash with Airdrie on the back of that win up at Peterhead.

>>>

— Captain’s view

>>>

I felt it was a more than deserved victory because we created the most chances and worked very hard to overcome well organised opponents, who always make it tough up at their place.

It wasn’t the prettiest performance we have ever produced, but there are times when all that matters is putting in the graft to make sure you come away with the points.

The win was also built upon a very strong defensive performance, which meant we were able to record our first clean sheet of the season in the league. That will also inspire confidence and it will be needed because it will probably be even tougher for us against this afternoon’s opponents.

This will be our first meeting with Airdrie since they beat us in last season’s Championship Play-Off semi-final.

The pain of falling short in our bid to gain promotion in our first season at League One level was hard to deal with over the summer. I’m sure the Airdrie players felt the same way about losing out to Morton in the Play-Off final. It’s behind both of us now though.

You can be sure everyone at Airdrie shares our our hunger for the chance to show lessons have been learned from what happened last season. It should mean a real cracker of a game between two sides who know every point captured off each other could end up being invaluable.

CYCR! Mitch Megginson

42 43

— Club honours

Scottish League 2 Winners: 2019-20

Aberdeenshire Cup Winners: 2001-02, 2010-11, 2018-19

Highland League Winners: 2000-01, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2012-13, 201516, 2017-18, 2018-19

Runners-up: 1992-93, 1994-95, 2016-17, 2017-18

Runners-up: 1989-90, 1992-93, 1994-95, 1995-96, 2009-10, 2011-12, 2016-17 Scottish Qualifying Cup (North) Winners: 1990-91, 2000-01 Runners-up: 1988-89, 1991-92, 2001-02, 2003-04 Highland League Cup Winners: 1994-95, 1999-2000, 2004-05, 2014-15, 2016-17, 2018-19 Runners-up: 1990-91, 1992-93, 1995-96, 1997-98, 2005-06, 2007-08, 2011-12

Aberdeenshire Shield Winners: 1990-91, 2000-01, 2008-09, 2017-18 Runners-up: 1994-95, 2012-13, 2015-16 Aberdeenshire & District League Winners: 2000-01, 2008-09, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2014-15 Runners-up: 2006-07 Aberdeenshire Centenery Cup Runners-up: 1986-87 Inter-League Trophy Winners: 2001-02

44 45

— Today’s team lines

Cove Rangers FC Manager - Paul Hartley

Airdrieonians FC Manager - Ian Murray

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

8.

9.

10.

11.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

23.

24.

25.

1.

3.

4.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

14.

15.

16.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

Stuart McKenzie Morgyn Neill Harry Milne Connor Scully Scott Ross Ryan Strachan Blair Yule Mitchel Megginson (C) Jamie Masson Leighton McIntosh Rory McAllister Ross Draper Jevan Anderson Iain Vigurs Ola Adeyemo Finlay Robertson Rhys Thomas Robbie Leitch Balint Demus Kyle Gourlay Fraser Fyvie Shay Logan

Max Currie (GK) Rico Quitongo Josh Kerr Callum Fordyce (C) Rhys McCabe Scott Agnew Calum Gallagher Dylan Easton Callum Smith Dean Ritchie Jordan Allan Matthew McDonald Craig Watson Jay Cantley (GK) Scott Walker Rhys Caves Adam Frizell Salim Kouider Aissa Gabby McGill Scott McGill

Today’s referee - Peter Stuart Today’s assistant referees - Alastair Mather, David McKniff

Team lines sponsor