Cove Rangers v Queen of the South Scottish Cup
27.11.21 — 3pm KO
— Upcoming fixtures
— League table
50/50 WINNER!
The 50/50 was not claimed at the Peterhead match - the winning ticket holder is still to come forward!
Cove Rangers FC
Balmoral Stadium
Wellington Circle, Altens
Aberdeen, AB12 3JG
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
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
cinch League One
Saturday November 20th @ Penny Cars Stadium
Cove steal sparkle
from the diamondS
Skipper Mitch Megginson and substitute Fraser Fyvie netted late in the second half as we went to the top of cinch League One with a thoroughly deserved victory over the Diamonds at the Penny Cars Stadium.
It was a magnificent result and display against fulltime opponents who had won seven of their previous nine games and began the afternoon top of the table themselves.
They were knocked off that perch by a marvelous Cove display full of guts and determination… and two goals from quality crosses.
Special mention must go to Harry Milne, the provider for one of those crosses, who completed the match sporting a bandage on his head after suffering an injury early in the first period.
But it was a day when team unity was the key, with strong goalkeeping from Stuart McKenzie, excellent defending and tireless effort from everyone who featured ensuring three points were taken from one of the most difficult venues in the division to visit.
A spate of injuries meant we had some enforced changes from the side that defeated Peterhead the previous weekend, with Connor Scully and Jevan Anderson in from the start.
Chances were limited in the first half, although we had by far the best of them.
The first came in the seventh minute, when Jamie Masson’s powerful 16-yard strike was beaten to safety by home keeper Max Currie.
We had a great chance to open the scoring the 12th minute, after Iain Vigurs had picked out a great run by Rory McAllister from a corner on the right. His cross to the front post was perfect for McAllister to get on the end of, but the striker could only direct his eight-yard header over the crossbar.
Airdrie’s Rico Quitongo was booked in the 18th minute, for a foul on Megginson. Vigurs took the kick, but his cross was cleared by the home defence.
Airdrie’s Adam Frizzell was fortunate to escape with only a booking for a shocking high challenge on Milne, in the 21st minute.
Milne suffered a head injury because of the high boot and we were forced to play with 10 men for just over six minutes while he went down the tunnel for treatment.
Left-back Milne was able to return, although his head was now heavily bandaged.
Airdrie’s only chance of the half came just after the half hour, although McKenzie had little problem clearing Callum Smith’s 16-yard shot.
The half ended with a spate of bookings. Blair Yule earned one for a challenge on Frizzell, seconds after we were awarded a free-kick 22-yards from the Airdrie goal.
Megginson also appeared to have his name taken for dissent before Vigurs’ shot from the free-kick hit the home defensive wall and went behind for a corner.
Jamie Masson was also shown a yellow, for a late challenge on Dylan Easton, seconds before the whistle blew for half-time.
Airdrie were more adventurous in the second period and had a great opportunity to break the deadlock two minutes after the restart, when McKenzie’s clearance went straight out to Easton.
The midfielder immediately fired a powerful shot goalward from 22-yards, but McKenzie made amends by stretching to push the effort over the crossbar.
We were awarded a free-kick in the 50th minute, when Milne was tripped while making a great run down the left.
Masson took it, but his curling effort, from just outside the area, was held by Currie.
McKenzie made another important save a minute later, when he punched Easton’s corner from the left clear from inside the six-yard box.
We brought Fyvie on for Masson after 62 minutes and the former Aberdeen midfielder helped us dominate from then on.
Yule was unlucky not to put us ahead in the 73rd minute, after latching on to an excellent through ball from Vigurs.
The midfielder’s low eight-yard shot was heading in until Airdrie keeper Currie stretched his left leg to boot the ball clear.
Leighton McIntosh came on for McAllister just before we took the lead in the 78th minute… and the goal was a cracker.
Yule latched on to a weak clearance out on the right and sent over a delightful cross that Megginson deftly nodded home from the edge of the six-yard box.
The points were sealed in the 81st minute when Milne’s top-drawer cross from wide on the left bamboozled the Airdrie defence and Fyvie darted in at the front post to coolly side-foot the ball into the net.
Airdrie piled players forward after that but, we were never in danger before the final whistle sounded and the teams left the park to the sound of the loyal band of Cove Rangers fans, who had made the trek to Lanarkshire, chanting; “We are top of the league!”
Airdrieonians: Currie, McInroy, Quitongo (S McGill 82), Easton, Watson (Allan 82), Fordyce, Smith, Frizzell (G McGill 73), Gallagher, Agnew, McCabe.
Subs: Cantley, Lyons, McDonald, Walker.
Cove Rangers: McKenzie, Neill, Milne, Scully, Strachan, Yule, Megginson (Robertson 88), Masson (Fyvie 62), McAllister (McIntosh 77), Anderson, Vigurs.
Subs: Adeyemo, Gourlay.
Referee: Craig Napier.
AIRDRIE REACTION
Summer signing Jevan Anderson was delighted to be back in the starting line-up for last weekend’s cinch League One match against Airdrieonians, after spending a lengthy period of time on the side-lines recovering from injury.
Jevan made his first start for the team against Clyde at Broadwood back in August. After almost scoring a hattrick that day, he was forced off at the hour mark due to landing awkwardly on his ankle.
When asked how he was feeling after playing his first game back, Jevan said: “I’ve felt better! It was my first 90 minutes for the club, and it felt good to be back out there playing again.
It felt even better that we managed to get a win. Airdrie is a tough place to come but I thought we really controlled the game. We started well the first 25 minutes and then Harry (Milne) went off for treatment meaning we were left with 10 men and that kind of changed the swing of the game a little bit.
The second half we defended really well at times, there was one stage where they had wave after wave of attack, but we coped with it well and we were clinical come the end of it.
My time at the club so far has been frustrating. I came in late at the start of the season, and it took me a while to get my fitness up to speed as I missed the majority of pre-season.
When I thought I was going to get a break against Clyde I ended up coming off after an hour and spent six weeks out because of the ankle injury I sustained.
“...we have shown we are more than capable of standing our ground.”
Since that game against Clyde, the team have started playing well so I’ve just had to bide my time and be patient.
The gaffer has been saying to me recently to be ready for when you get your chance so hopefully I’ve done myself no harm in my performance against Airdrie.”
When asked about this weekend’s Scottish Cup Third Round tie, Jevan said: “Queen of the South will be a good test for us. They are in the league above, but as can be seen from earlier in the season when we played Inverness in the Premier Sports Cup, and evidenced from our league form, most recently beating Airdrie away from home 2-0, we have shown we are more than capable of standing our ground.
It’s an opportunity for us to show what we can do. It won’t be an easy game by any means, but these are the games you want to play in, and it will really test us, but it’ll be good hopefully.
I obviously wasn’t here last season, but I’ve been told our home form last year was vital. If you can make your home ground a hard place to come for away teams then you’ve always got an advantage. Hopefully there will be a good turnout for the team as well, as their support drives the boys on.
I’m looking forward to the game, and hopefully we can get a win to advance to the next round.”
MIKE CORMACK
Mike Cormack can proudly lay claim to the honour of being the first man to score a Scottish Cup goal for Cove Rangers.
That was when we made our debut in the competition — on December 9, 1989 — against this afternoon’s third round opponents Queen of the South.
Mike scored a screamer of a free-kick to raise hopes of us earning a second round replay, which would have been a remarkable achievement just three years on from when we made the step up from the Junior ranks to the Highland League.
Mike’s wonder-strike made it 1-1 midway through the second half of a thrilling tie played in front of a of a crowd of 870 at Palmerston Park. Queen’s took the lead again, through Stuart Gordon, with just 13-minutes to go.
Our lads refused to give up though, with striker Mike Megginson seeing his net-bound strike kept out by a spectacular save from Queen’s keeper Alan Davidson.
Cove substitute Donald Smith also saw a shot strike the woodwork in an exciting finale, but our then Second Division hosts held out to advance to the next round.
Queen’s manager Billy McLaren, however, was quick to praise how well we played that afternoon. McLaren said: “Cove were the better side, even a blind man could have seen we really struggled against them. They thoroughly deserved a draw, at the very least.”
Cove Rangers manager Dave Watson said: “We won all the battles, but lost the war. I’m proud of every Cove player. They were very professional and gave their all, which is all any manager can ask for.”
Queen of the South: Davidson, Bain, Thompson, McAfferty, Heatherington, Sim, Andrews, Johnston, Gordon, Fraser, Sloan.
Subs: Mills, Thomson.
Cove Rangers: Beckett, Thompson, Whyte, Dobbins, A Paterson, Taylor, Cormack, Megginson, Yule, S Paterson, Duncan.
Subs: Park, Smith.
Referee: John McKinnon (West Calder). >>>
As we prepare to take on The Doonhamers again, this time at Balmoral Stadium, we asked former Cove midfielder Mike to share his memories of that historic meeting down in Dumfries 32 years ago.
What do remember about that game?
The main thing is that we all knew it was a huge day for Cove Rangers. That was underlined when we were invited to do a live interview on BBC Scotland’s Sportscene programme the night before.
Mike Megginson was working as a fireman then, so they even asked him to take his firemen’s helmet with him and wear it in the studio.
As far as I know, it was the first time Cove Rangers had ever featured like that on television. There had also been loads of media coverage right through the week because it was seen as a real David v Goliath sort of tie. We had earned the right to face them though.
You had to reach the semi-finals of the Qualifying Cup back then to qualify for a crack at the Scottish Cup.
It was a huge thing for Highland League clubs because there was always a chance of making a lot of money if you drew a plum tie.
To make it through to that stage so soon after joining the Highland League was a big step for Cove to make — and we made it all the way to the final.
Even more so because we beat Ross County and Inverness Caley, who were still Highland clubs back then, to get there. Elgin City beat us in the Qualifying Cup final, but we had the excitement of the Scottish Cup to make up for that.
How did Cove Rangers prepare for the tie?
As they have always done for any game, with the utmost professionalism. We were booked into Glasgow’s Grosvener Hotel on the Friday and Saturday nights, which was unheard of at that time for a team from the Highland League.
Dave Watson wanted us down the day before so that we would be properly rested and didn’t have too long a journey to make on the day of the game.
The club also agreed to let us stay in Glasgow on the Saturday, to enjoy a night out, as a reward for having earned the tie, regardless of how well we did in Dumfries.
Cove are a club who have always done things the right way, it’s why so many good players have been delighted to come and play for them over the years.
What can you tell us about the actual 90 minutes?
It was a long time ago, so not a lot. I do remember coming off feeling disappointed that we had lost.
Queen of the South were expected to beat us easily because we had never played in the Scottish Cup before, but we took them right to the wire.
You are telling me the match report says my goal was a free-kick, but I would fibbing if I said I remember that. I scored quite a few goals over the years!
It is pleasing to know I’m in the history books as the first to score a Scottish Cup goal for Cove though.
The fact we managed to do so well against league opponents was something we were proud of as well. Even more so because I remember thinking when we arrived at their ground ‘this park is huge!’
You had previously been with Scottish League sides Montrose, Motherwell, Kilmarnock and Falkirk, so how did you end up at Cove?
Tommy Cummings, who was the Cove manager when I came back up the road from Falkirk (in 1987), convinced me I would be joining a club with high ambitions.
I was a bit sceptical at first and was considering better financial offers from various league clubs. But Tommy persuaded me that Cove was the best place for me at that stage of my career.
I’m glad he did because I really enjoyed the eight years I played for the club. You will never hear me say anything bad about Cove Rangers because they treated me very well. Like most former players, I will always have a strong affection for the club.
The guys I played alongside are still good pals and some of their sons, Mitch Megginson and Blair Yule, are Cove players now.
I have an added interest because Rory McAllister is my son-in-law, so I love getting the chance to go to Cove games to watch him play.
It was a real family club when I was a player and I get the impression it’s still the same. There is always a great atmosphere behind the scenes when I go to games and that’s always a good thing for a football club.
So how do think this afternoon’s Scottish Cup rematch with Queen of the South will go?
Queen of the South better be ready for an even tougher battle than they got in 1989. It will be a totally different contest because Cove are now up at the top end of League One on merit.
Anyone who comes to Balmoral Stadium to play Cove knows they won’t get it easy in any way. That’s because Cove Rangers have signed a lot of really top quality players over the last couple of years.
What really pleases me is they have also retained their strong links with the area. The majority of their squad are from Aberdeen and the north-east and lads like Harry Milne, Blair and Connor Scully have come up right through the ranks at Cove.
You only need to watch Connor playing to see how much it means to him to now be playing at SPFL level for Cove, he gets at least 8 out of 10 from me every time I see him in action.
Cove also have a manager in Paul Hartley who has achieved so many things at the very highest levels in the game, which includes winning the Scottish Cup. He will make sure his team are properly prepared and up for giving Queen of the South a really difficult game.
START PLAYING.
Rip-roaring power. Spellbinding control. Jaw-dropping accuracy. The new Mitre Delta Max SPFL. Prepare to mesmerise.
PAUL HARTLEY
I will begin by extending a warm welcome to the players, officials and fans of Queen of the South on their first visit to Balmoral Stadium this afternoon.
We can expect a very competitive Scottish Cup tie as we fight for the right to be in the draw for the next round. That’s when the top sides in the Premiership become involved.
We only need to look back to last season, when our reward for overcoming Alloa was a visit to Ibrox, for a reminder of what could lie ahead for the winners. It will be tough though, because this is a tie in which we are very much the underdogs.
Queen of the South play in the division above us, are a fulltime club and have a long history of going on good runs in this competition. No matter what some people may say, they will be the ones expected to progress.
It means we have a big job in front of us, but it’s one we can take on with no fear because of our recent fine form at league level. It’s great to be going into the tie on the back of the great result last weekend at Airdrie that took us to the top of cinch League One. That extended our record to just one defeat in our last 12 games — but the players know it’s always all about what happens in the next one.
HARTLEY
— View from the dugout
The challenge in front of them right now is trying to replicate the excellent form we have shown in the league in a totally different environment.
You, the Cove Rangers fans, can play a big part in helping us get the result we would all like this afternoon. It was great to see our biggest crowd of the season so far turn out for our last home game, when we beat Peterhead. The atmosphere that day really gave the players a lift and we were able to produce one of our strongest displays so far.
Hopefully there will be another decent turn-out today, it’s a tie that certainly merits one.
I also have to say a special thanks to the Cove Rangers fans who made the trip down to The Penny Cars Stadium last weekend. You may have been small in numbers, but you are our most loyal supporters and certainly made yourselves heard.
The backing we received from the stands played a massive part in us claiming an important win at a very difficult venue.
Going to football matches is an expensive business, even more so for some people on the back of all that has happened during the past 18 months or so.
We really do appreciate the effort you make every week — and will continue doing our utmost to give you something to cheer about.
Stay safe and enjoy the game.
Paul Hartley
“We really do appreciate the effort you make every week — and will continue doing our utmost to give you something to cheer about.”
MANAGEMENT
GOALKEEPERS
DEFENDERS
Paul Hartley
Gordon Young
Harry Milne
Ryan Strachan
Shay Logan Morgyn Neill
Scott Ross
Ritchie
Stuart McKenzie
Kyle Gourlay
Jevan Anderson
FORWARDS
MIDFIELDERS
To
Blair Yule
Jamie Masson
Fraser Fyvie
Connor Scully
Rory McAllister
Mitchel Megginson
Leighton McIntosh
Iain Vigurs
Robbie Leitch
— Season 2021/22 statistics
27/11/2021 Queen of the South SC H 30/11/2021 Rangers B CC H 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 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 Alloa Athletic SPFL1 H 23/04/2022 Dumbarton SPFL1 H 30/04/2022 East Fife SPFL1 A
(B.Yule)
I.Vigurs S.Logan (C.Scully)
#CRFCLIVE
CAPTAIN’S WEIV
“There is always a little bit of extra excitement in training in the lead up to Scottish Cup ties. ”
It’s the country’s oldest knock-out competition and every one us will have grown up dreaming of one day playing in the final at Hampden.
There aren’t many who get the opportunity to go on and fulfil that dream, but it’s still a big thrill when you get the chance to feature in the competition. Even more so when you are up against a side from a division above you, as we are this afternoon as we play hosts to Queen of the South.
Our opponents are full-time too, so we know it will take a top class performance from us if we are to have any chance of remaining in the competition.
This tie is of particular interest to me because it is a repeat of the first ever Scottish Cup tie Cove Rangers played in, when we lost 2-1 to them down at Palmerston Park in 1989.
My father, Mike, played for Cove that day, when I wasn’t yet even a twinkle in his eye (I wasn’t born until 1992!). He has spoken often about how special it was to be involved in that historic tie and of the many others he was fortunate to play in for this club over the years.
I would obviously love it if we could win this time so that I could at least have the bragging rights at the next family get together, but accept that is something that will have to be earned this afternoon.
We have been in good form in recent weeks in the league, but that will count for nothing today.
— Captain’s view
>>> The Scottish Cup has always been about who turns up and performs best on the day, it’s why you see so many unexpected results in it year after year.
As underdogs this afternoon, it’s up to us to rise to the big challenge facing us and make sure we make every effort possible to put Cove Rangers in the draw for the next round. We were drawn away to Rangers after being fortunate to overcome Alloa Athletic at this stage last season.
There could be another huge tie on the horizon this time too, but only if we do what is required of us in this game first.
It’s good to be going into such a difficult tie on the back of a confidence boosting 2-0 win away to Airdrie last weekend. Even more so because those three points took us to the top of cinch League One, which is very pleasing when you consider the problems we have experienced with injuries and the Covid pandemic since the summer.
On that note, I want to give special praise to Harry Milne for the part he played in the win at Airdrie. Harry suffered a gash to his head very early on that would have forced a lot of players to go off. He’s a hardy loon our Harry, though.
He not only came back on, wearing a Terry Butcher-style bandage around his head, Harry also set up our crucial second goal, for Fraser Fyvie. It was a reminder of just how determined the lads in our squad are to do there very best for Cove Rangers, no matter the circumstances.
When you see things like that, it makes me feel even prouder to be their captain.
CYCR!
Mitch Megginson
Scottish League 2 Winners: 2019-20
Highland League Winners: 2000-01, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2012-13, 201516, 2017-18, 2018-19
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 Cup Winners: 2001-02, 2010-11, 2018-19
Runners-up: 1992-93, 1994-95, 2016-17, 2017-18
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
Cove Rangers FC Manager - Paul Hartley
1. Stuart McKenzie
2. Morgyn Neill
3. Harry Milne 4. Connor Scully
5. Scott Ross
6. Ryan Strachan
8. Blair Yule
9. Mitchel Megginson (C)
10. Jamie Masson
11. Leighton McIntosh
13. Rory McAllister
14. Ross Draper
15. Jevan Anderson
16. Iain Vigurs
17. Ola Adeyemo
18. Finlay Robertson
19. Rhys Thomas
20. Robbie Leitch 21. Balint Demus 23. Kyle Gourlay
24. Fraser Fyvie
25. Shay Logan
Queen of the South FC Manager - Allan Johnston
1. Josh Rae (GK)
3. Alex Cooper
4. Udoka Chima
5. Paul McKay
6. Harry Cochrane
7. Ruari Paton
8. Josh Todd 9. Ally Roy 10. Lee Connelly 11. Aidan Fitzpatrick
12. Sol Brynn (GK)
13. Josh Debayo 14. Ben Liddle
15. Calvin McGrory 16. Euan East
17. Niyah Joseph
19. Innes Cameron
20. Roberto Nditi 22. Max Johnston
27. Owen Hunter
30. Charlie Cowie (GK)
31. Aidan Moffat
33. Wullie Gibson
49. Ruben Soares Junior
Today’s referee - Scott Lambie
Today’s assistant referees - Steven Traynor, Gordon McCabe
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