— Upcoming Fixtures
A Sat 27th Aug, 2022 Queen’s Park v Cove Rangers cinch Championship
H Sat 3rd Sept, 2022 Cove Rangers v Hamilton Academical cinch Championship
H Fri 9th Sept, 2022 Cove Rangers v Dundee cinch Championship
A Sat 17th Sept, 2022 Partick Thistle v Cove Rangers cinch Championship
50/50 winner!
The 50/50 winner at the Raith Rovers match was 111841, won by Graeme Yackiminie. Graeme kindly donated £450.00 to our Charity Partner, Friends of Anchor.
MATCH REPORT
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 4 Cove Rangers 1
cinch Championship
Sat 13th August
Caledonian Stadium
The side went into their third cinch Championship match of the season desperate to get back to winning ways, but a disappointing showing saw our defence regularly exposed, and Caley Thistle romped to what was a convincing victory.
Jim McIntyre made three changes and opted for a back five for the first time in competitive action this campaign. Iain Vigurs and Leighton McIntosh dropped to the bench with Morgyn Neill and Robbie Leitch returning to the side, and new signing Cieran Dunne handed a first start less than forty-eight hours after putting pen to paper.
Caley Thistle might have broken the deadlock in the third minute. Daniel MacKay drifted infield and chipped a precision pass over the head of Connor Scully to set Cameron Harper free. The left back struck his low shot sweetly, but was denied by an outstanding save from Kyle Gourlay, who dived to push the ball out for a corner.
The opening goal was however only delayed by a few minutes, and it was all too easy for the home side. After an exchange of passes in the centre circle, both Ross and Neill were dragged towards the ball, and SAMUELS had the freedom of the pitch to run into, before finishing confidently from fifteen yards.
The manager shuffled his defence in a bid to find more solidity, with Dunne dropping deeper as he returned to a flat back four.
It wasn’t until the 17th minute that Cove offered any kind of concern for the home defence. Good work on the right by Logan and Leitch had Caley Thistle on the back foot, and as the ball flipped up into the air, Zak Delaney mis-headed towards his own goal, and was thankful to see his keeper Mark Ridgers leap to his left to push the ball to safety.
Daniel MacKay was a constant threat for the home side, and he was the architect of the second goal, which arrived in the 32nd minute. The winger again cut in from the left and fired a wicked cross into the area which DORAN, using the pace on the ball, simply nudged past Gourlay.
— Inverness Caledonian Thistle Match Report
We were offering little in response, but might have got a foothold in the game two minutes later. Shay Logan sent a long free-kick deep into the box and Neill rose highest to head the ball back across, but with Megginson lurking, Ridgers was quickly off his line to gather.
Jim introduced Iain Vigurs for Morgyn Neill at the interval, and with little over a minute played, we were back in contention.
After a well-worked interchange on halfway, Fraser Fyvie lifted the ball for Megginson to run on to. Mitch’s low diagonal shot was blocked by Ridgers’ left foot, but as it ran free, Robbie LEITCH was first to react to stab into the empty net from six yards.
Caley Thistle were still finding too much space in attack, and Billy McKay was next to exploit the gaps being offered up. He waltzed into the box, but was forced wider by Reynolds, and could only shoot weakly over the bar.
We then put together one of the best passing moves of the game, Logan and Fyvie involved in setting up Leitch, and Robbie’s low cross from the right was met first time by Vigurs, whose low shot brought a fine save from Ridgers just inside his left post.
With the mist continuing to roll in across the pitch, and the temperature dropping, the gaffer threw on Luis Longstaff for his second Cove appearance, Jamie Masson making way for the former Liverpool youth.
But it was the home side who were to make the next major impact on the game.
Once again, there was acres of space in our penalty area, and it took a brilliant challenge by Cieran Dunne to avert the danger, but when the ball was returned from the left, the defence still hadn’t regrouped, and McKay sent in a low cross which SAMUELS smashed home for his second of the game.
“Good work on the right by Logan and Leitch had Caley Thistle on the back foot.”
A flurry of changes followed as the match moved into its final ten minutes. Leighton McIntosh and Gerry McDonagh replaced Leitch and Fyvie for Cove, with Nathan Shaw and Steven Boyd being introduced for Doran and Daniel MacKay for the home side.
Samuels was chasing his hat-trick, and might have got it as he raced into the box and unleashed a powerful shot, well saved by Gourlay.
He came close again almost immediately, Kyle racing from his line to make the block, but as the ball ran loose, SHAW was there to complete the scoring with the last kick of the ball.
Inverness CT (4-4-1-1)
Ridgers; Hyde, Delaney, Deas, Harper; Samuels, MacGregor, Allardice, D. MacKay (Boyd 79); Doran (Shaw 83); McKay (Oakley 88)
Subs
C. MacKay, Nicolson
Goalscorers
Samuels (6, 74), Doran (31) Shaw (90)
Booked
Samuels (45) Deas (89)
Cove Rangers (5-4-1)
Gourlay; Logan, Ross, Neill (Vigurs 46)
Reynolds, Dunne; Leitch (McIntosh 80) Scully, Fyvie (McDonagh 80)
Masson (Longstaff 70); Megginson
Substitutes
McKenzie, Thomas
Goalscorer
Leitch (47)
Booked
Scully (60) Fyvie (68)
Ross (82) Logan (87)
Referee
Greg Aitken
Attendance
2,106
MATCH REPORT
The team suffered a first cinch Championship defeat of the season in a game which, at halftime, the players looked to be in control of, despite the nil-nil scoreline.
The performance levels dipped after the break, and Morton won it thanks to a defensive lapse by Shay Logan, and a stunning strike from Jai Quitongo.
On a warm Inverclyde afternoon, Cove, wearing the eye-catching black and gold centenary kit, saw plenty of the ball in the early stagesbut were unable to penetrate the home rearguard, and were very nearly caught out by a sucker-punch in the tenth minute.
Carlo Pignatiello surged down the right wing and delivered a searching cross which prompted a scramble at the back post. Kabiatumbled in the box, and as heappealed for a penalty, and a first effort was blocked, the ball landed at the feet of Quitongo who blasted over with an angled tenyard effort.
Cove’s first serious attemptsaw Leighton McIntosh cut in from the left with a positive, threatening run. As he neared the edge of the box, Baird upended him with a desperate lunge, and as the ball ran free, Mitch Megginson was quickest to react, his twenty-yard shot saved by Schwake.
Further chances were to follow.
Evan Towler broke down the left and rolled a square pass into the path of Fyvie, and with the Morton defence converging, Fraser cleverly dummied the ball. Vigurs was quickly on to it, and his curling twenty-yard effort was grabbed under the crossbar by the home keeper.
Jamie Masson then delivered from the right, dropping the ball into an inviting area, but Fyvie could only shoot straight at Schwake.
“As the ball ran free, Mitch Megginson was quickest to react, his twenty-yard shot saved by Schwake”
Logan got in on the act soon after, his low nineteen-yard shot agonisingly skipping inches wide of Schwake’s left post.
The opening goal might have come in the next move. Jamie Masson freedTowler on the overlap, and Evan’s pinpoint cross found Iain Vigurs, his powerful header from six yards coming crashing back off the keeper’s right post.
Luis Longstaff came on for his Cove Rangers debut in the sixty-fifth minute, and he very nearly made an instant impact. Megginson tussled for the ball on halfway and diverted it into the path of the former Liverpool man. As Luis threatened to break clear, he was hauled to the ground by Strapp, who was booked, but might have been sent-off.
Home manager Dougie Imrie immediately replaced the defender with Hynes, and Jim McIntyre introduced Gerry McDonagh for Vigurs, switching to a 4-4-2.
Before our players could settle down, Morton snatched the lead. Slack defending by Logan offered encouragement to the Cappielow side, and as the ball bounced up on the edge of the box QUITONGO hammered in an unstoppable volley which flew past Gourlay.
With Morton digging in to hold what they had, Lithgow came on as a third central defender with Kabia being sacrificed, but despite that, we were within inches of securing a quick-fire equaliser.
Fyvie gathered in midfield, strode forward,and shot from thirty-five yards. With Schwake diving to his right, the ball took a wicked deflection off Blues, but spun just wide of the left post.
It was to be the last significant moment of the game, and we paid the price for a second half in which the team failed to offer enough going forward, and switched-off for one crucial split second to hand Morton the winner.
Greenock Morton (4-4-1-1)
Schwake; Pignatiello, Baird, O’Connor, Strapp (Hynes 72 mins); Muirhead, Gillespie, Lyon (King 61 mins), Kabia (Lithgow 80 mins); Blues; Quitongo
Subs
Green, McGrattan, Garrity, Easdale, McGregor
Goalscorers
Quitongo (77 minutes)
Booked O’Connor, Quitongo, Strapp Cove Rangers (4-1-4-1)
Gourlay; Logan, Ross, Reynolds, Towler; Scully; Masson, Fyvie, Vigurs (McDonagh 74 mins), McIntosh (Longstaff 65 mins); Megginson
Subs McKenzie, Neill, Thomas
Booked
Masson, Vigurs, Towler, Fyvie Referee
Peter Stuart
Attendance
1,506
LUIS LONGSTAFF
It was initially a frustrating time in the transfer market for manager Jim McIntyre after taking over at Balmoral Stadium in June, but one deal he did get over the line was the capture of Luis Longstaff, and the former Liverpool youngster is determined to repay the faith shown in him.
The twenty-one year old front man made a real impact with our League One rivals Queen’s Park last season, featuring thirty-one times and scoring four goals, and it was that experience which played a big part in his decision to move north.
“When I was at Queen’s, it was always a tough game against Cove, especially at Balmoral Stadium. It was probably the toughest place to come.
“I wanted to join a club that plays good football, and after being on the opposing side to that last year, it definitely motivated me to come here.”
Luis was aware of most of his new team-mates from those encounters last term, and is now settling in at the club having had a few training sessions, and featured in the matches against Morton and Caley Thistle.
“I knew some of the lads from playing against them last season, and it’s been great getting to know them better. They’re a really good group and have made me feel welcome.
“ Everyone at the club has gone out of their way to make me feel at home.”
“In fact, everyone at the club has gone out of their way to make me feel at home.”
The manager has no doubt that his third summer signing can make a real impact in the Championship:
“He gives us something we’ve been looking for. He’s very direct and can go by a man, he plays the position well, and he offers natural width. He stretches the opposition, gives them problems, and that’s something I really like.”
Darlington born, Luis was snapped up by Liverpool as a kid, and feels the grounding he received there will stand him in good stead for the future:
“When you go to a club as big as Liverpool, the standard of coaching staff and the quality of people employed, they improve you every day you’re there. You play against the best teams at your level, you’ve got the best facilities, the best of everything.
“As a player, and a person, it’s made me a hundred times better than if I’d never been there. I’m grateful for everything they did for me.”
Two main highlights stand out for Luis; winning the FA Youth Cup Final in April 2019 – when he replaced recent Aberdeen signing Leighton Clarkson –and his debut for the senior Liverpool team in an EFL Cup tie a few months later.
“The League Cup game was a strange one, they changed the whole side, so it
was like an under 23s against a proper Aston Villa first team. It was surreal, Villa Park was packed full, and the atmosphere was amazing. We lost 5-0, but it was still a great experience.
“As for the cup final, when you’re at a club like Liverpool, you know how important that is, and what it means. In the past, they’ve always put a lot of emphasis on bringing through young players.
“To have been part of that team, to have gone into the history books as having won the Youth Cup, it was a big achievement, one I’m really proud of.” Now, Luis feels he is ready to move on his career, and sees the Championship as the ideal platform for him to do so.
And he believes the drive and motivation he has is shared by everyone at Cove Rangers:
“Having won League One last year, the ambition of the club is there for everyone to see. They have big aspirations to become a full-time club, and they want to continue to push up the leagues.
“I spoke to the manager, and he made it clear they don’t want to just stay in the Championship, they want to keep pushing on and hopefully fight for promotion.
“That kind of ambition is partly what pulled me here; I want to be a part of it.”
JIM MCINTYRE
After two disappointing results out on the road, it is good to be back at Balmoral Stadium this afternoon as we look to get the season back on track.
The two recent defeats were very different.
I was pleased with much of what we did at Cappielow, but we didn’t take our chances in the first half, and one slack moment in defence cost us what would have been a deserved point.
In Inverness last weekend, we were well off it, couldn’t cope with Caley’s pace and movement, and could have no complaints about the loss. I took the hit for changing the formation, but we quickly reverted to a back four, and we should have done better.
We have been working hard in training this week to ensure there is no repeat against Ayr United.
One thing we’ve done throughout the early part of the campaign is move well as a unit, we’ve been organised and structured, and all that was missing against Inverness. The players know it’s important we get back to the standards we had previously set, and I sense they are determined to do just that.
If you get the basics right in this game, it can take you a long way towards getting the result you want. That’s what I’ll be looking for this afternoon.
Since we last played at home, I have been able to add to the squad, bringing in players I feel sure will have a big impact in the coming season.
“ I wanted to make sure I was signing quality, players who would add something to the very good group we have here.”
It had been a frustrating window. I could easily have signed any number of guys, plenty were offered to me, but I wanted to make sure I was signing quality, players who would add something to the very good group we have here. That’s what I think I have now done.
Luis Longstaff is an exciting forward, and the fans will love him once he gets up to full fitness. Cieran Dunne is explosive, offers me options up and down the left flank, both in defence and attack, and he too has all the attributes I look for.
Charlie Gilmour came in this week, but everything I’ve been told about him, and the footage I have watched, tells me he will be another very good addition. He gives me options in midfield, especially with Blair Yule currently out injured, and I think we are going to enjoy watching him in a Cove shirt.
We all knew this was going to be a challenging season as the club stepped up to Championship level for the first time, and the three matches we’ve so far played have proved that.
Every point is going to have to be fought for, there will not be any easy games, so we have to capitalise on our strengths and make the most of home advantage here at Balmoral, where the team’s record is superb.
We will be giving everything to extend that against Lee Bullen’s side.
Enjoy the game.
Jim McIntyre
Management
Jim McIntyre 2. Shay Logan
6. Morgyn Neill
Jimmy Boyle 3. Evan Towler
19. Rhys Thomas Tam Ritchie
5. Scott Ross
26. Mark Reynolds
Goalkeepers
23. Kyle Gourlay
1. Stuart McKenzie Defenders
Advertising Opportunities
4. Connor Scully 8. Blair Yule 22. Cieran Dunne 10. Jamie Masson
14. Charlie Gilmour
Robbie Leitch
Luis Longstaff
Fraser Fyvie
Gerry McDonagh
Mitchel Megginson
Leighton McIntosh Strikers
CAPTAIN’S VIEW
Last week’s defeat in Inverness was a tough one to take.
As a group, we’re an honest bunch of players, and we know the overall performance was unacceptable.
The Championship is a step-up and at this level, teams will punish you, particularly the better sides, the ones likely to be pushing for promotion. We found that out the hard way last Saturday.
It’s a long time since we last lost two league games in a row, it’s something we’re not used to, and it hurts. I can promise you we have been working hard in training this week to try to ensure we won’t have that feeling again this afternoon.
Our home form is going to be key to us having a good season. We haven’t been beaten here in a league game for fifteen months, and the aim has to be to take maximum points as often as we can.
I don’t know exactly what it is, but the Balmoral Stadium certainly suits us, and we have to use that to our advantage.
It is a big open pitch, which is perfect for the style of football we like to play, and obviously we are used to it, and have the bonus of training on it every week. Lots of other teams will have tighter pitches, will play on grass, and when they come here it’s more difficult for them to sit in and defend, and close down the space.
That plays into our hands.
Since our last match here, the manager has been able to add to the squad, and I would like to welcome Luis, Cieran and Charlie to the club.
“ Our home form is going to be key to us having a good season. We haven’t been beaten here in a league game for fifteen months.”
They all seem like great lads, and will fit in well both on and off the pitch.
It’s important that we’ve got those new signings. The squad would have been a bit stretched as soon as we picked up a few niggles or suspensions, and it means we have more options.
It is also good to have that healthy competition for places. None of us can take our place in the starting line-up for granted, we have to work hard in training, and perform in the matches, if we’re hold on to it.
Having other boys pushing you is really important, it means you have to maintain high levels of consistency, and that’s got to be a good thing for the team.
The opening performance and win against Raith is what we have to be aiming for week in, week out, and that’s what we’ll all be hoping to achieve this afternoon.
The league is so tight, every win will be massive. The boys will all be giving everything to put three more points on the board.
COYCR! Mitch Megginson
Balmoral Stadium
Wellington Circle, Altens, Aberdeen
AB12 3JG
Honorary President
Directors
Alan McRae OBE
Safety Officers John Morgan, Bill Ogilvie
Committee
Michael Coull, Richard Forbes, Gordon Taylor
Football Manager Jim McIntyre
Assistant Manager
Fitness Coach
Goalkeeping Coach
Head of Youth Development
Performance Analyst
Physios
Kit Manager
Club Doctor
Commercial Manager
Head of Media & Communications
Media Officer
Digital Media
Club Photographers
Jimmy Boyle
Tam Ritchie
Derek Soutar
Gary Hake
Ryan Docherty
Donal Gallagher, Eilidh McGregor
Adrian Thomson
David Fowler
Angela Bruce
Richard Gordon
Charlie Allan
Andrew Jamieson
Dave Cowe, Richard Forbes
Child Wellbeing & Protection Officer Kate Dean
Club Chaplain Dougie Simpson
Charlie Gilmour joins Cove on loan.
Jim McIntyre has made his fifth signing of the summer transfer window, capturing midfielder Charlie Gilmour on a season-long loan from St Johnstone.
The twenty-three year old began his career with Arsenal, making his debut in a Europa League tie in November 2018, before moving to Norwich City the following year.
Scottish League 1
Winners
‘21-’22
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
Highland League Cup
Winners
‘94-’95, ‘99-’00, ‘04-’05, ‘14-1’5, ‘16-17, ‘18-’19
Runners-up
‘90-’91, ‘92-’93, ‘95-’96, ‘97-’98, ‘05-’06, ‘07-’08, ‘11-’12
Aberdeenshire Shield
Winners
‘01-’02, ‘10-’11, ‘18-’19
Runners-up
‘94-’95, ‘12-’13, ‘15-’16
Scottish League 2
Winners
‘19-’20
Aberdeenshire
Centenary Cup
Runners-up
‘86-’87
Scottish Qualifying Cup (North)
Winners
‘90-’91, ‘00-’01
Runners-up
‘88-’89, ‘91-’92, ‘01-’02, ‘03-’04
Aberdeenshire Cup
Winners
‘01-’02, ‘10-’11, ‘18-’19
Runners-up
‘92-’93, ‘94-’95, ‘16-’17, ‘17-’18
Aberdeenshire & District League
Winners
‘00-’01, ‘08-’09, ‘10-’11, ‘11-’12, ‘12-’13, ‘14-’15
Runners-up
‘06-’07
Inter-League Trophy
Winners
‘01-’02
Rangers
Ayr United
