— Upcoming Fixtures
50/50 winner!
The winning 50/50 ticket at the Ayr United Scottish Cup tie was number 127893. The £400 prize was donated to MND Research and Friends of Anchor by the winner, who asked to remain anonymous.
Captain Mitch Megginson was the match winner on a day of firsts as the team finally won away from home in the Championship, Paul Hartley chalked up his debut victory since returning and the side kept a clean sheet for the first time in 2023.
The manager made four changes from the Scottish Cup defeat at the hands of Ayr United and had the luxury of seven players on the bench. McClelland, Vigurs, Reynolds and Paterson dropped out, Jason Naismith returned after being cup-tied, Miko Virtanen was handed his first start, and there were recalls for Morgyn Neill and Luis Longstaff.
On a dull, drizzly and misty afternoon in Maryhill it was a quiet start to the match with both teams taking time to settle. Cove were first to threaten, winning a corner on the left, but when Longstaff swung the ball in, Neill could only head wide at the back post.
Out of nothing, Thistle fashioned an opening in the eleventh minute. Lawless played a pass over the top for Mullen to run on to, but Neill recovered his position quickly, and made a vital challenge in the box to prevent the striker from getting his shot away.
We conceded a free-kick twenty-two yards out on the angle of the box which Turner whipped towards the back post, but Scott Fox was alert and pushed it wide for a corner. It would not be the goalkeeper’s last intervention of the afternoon.
Thistle then handed us a gilt-edged chance to open the scoring. An attempted pass back was way short, and Leighton McIntosh ran on to it, but with Cieran Dunne waiting for the cutback in the middle, the striker lost control of the ball and Sneddon dived on it to snuff out the danger.
“...and although McIntosh might have got his foot to the ball, it was the captain who wheeled away in celebration.”
Two minutes later we did take the lead.
Shay Logan fed Dunne, and the winger raced down the left touchline before firing in an inviting cross to the back post. Mitch MEGGINSON got free of his marker to direct an angled header back across the keeper, and although McIntosh might have got his foot to the ball, it was the captain who wheeled away in celebration.
The home side tried to find a way back into the game and won a free-kick thirty yards
— Partick Thistle Match Report
out when Logan was adjudged to have fouled Lawless. Turner rifled his effort low round the wall, but Fox dived to his left to make a fine stop, pushing the ball wide.
“The keeper again came to our rescue...”
Harry Milne then burrowed his way into the Cove box, the ball running free for Turner who wheeled and struck a powerful shot, but Scott Fox was again equal to it, tipping over the bar.
In first half stoppage time, Fitzpatrick broke free and unleashed a stinging
twenty-five yard strike which brought a superb save out of Fox, the keeper clearly touching the ball wide, only for the referee to award a goal kick.
Near the hour mark Tiffoney’s low shot was well held by Fox then, minutes later, the substitute drove into the box, but his dangerous low shot was cleared by Neill.
Thistle were piling on the pressure now and McKinnon was next to try his luck, his twenty yard volley touched over by Scott Fox.
The keeper again came to our rescue in the sixty-seventh minute. Thistle won a free-kick out on the right, Turner sent in an inch-perfect delivery, and from just a few yards out Holt powered a header
goalwards, but Scott threw up his left arm and pulled off a breath-taking save.
After defending solidly for a large part of the half, the team got up the park, and Longstaff, Virtanen and Weston all had shots blocked in the box before Scully smashed in a volley from twenty yards which Sneddon saved on the line.
The closing stages were inevitably nervy as Thistle pushed desperately for a leveller, but the back line held firm, and the boys saw out the match for what could be a massive result.
Partick Thistle
(4-2-3-1)
Sneddon; McMillan (McKinnon 46), McAvoy (Muirhead 59), Holt (c), Milne; Bannigan, Hodson; Lawless (Graham 46), Turner, Fitzpatrick; Mullen (Tiffoney 46)
Substitutes
Mitchell, Brownlie, Lyon, MacKenzie
Booked
McMillan (16), McAvoy (47), Hodson (66)
Sent off Graham (70)
Cove Rangers (4-2-3-1)
Fox; Naismith (McClelland 82), Ross, Neill, Logan; Virtanen, Scully; Longstaff, Megginson (c), Dunne (Reynolds 82); McIntosh (Weston 82)
Substitutes
Gourlay, Vigurs, Glass, Paterson
Goalscorers
Megginson (26)
Booked
Virtanen (45), McClelland (88), Megginson (88)
Referee
Duncan Williams
Attendance
2,450
MATCH REPORT
What had been a strong and disciplined defensive display was undone in the space of two minutes early in the second half as the promotion favourites took a stranglehold on the game with a quickfire double.
Despite Scott Fox saving a penalty, Dundee were in charge from that point, and ran out comfortable winners.
With Fraser Fyvie ruled out for the season, the manager was also without Blair Yule and Brody Paterson, who picked up ligament damage in training during the week.
Recent signings David Bangala and Gime Toure were both included for the first time, David replacing Leighton McIntosh in the only change to the starting line-up, while Gime was handed a place on the bench.
It was a quiet start to the encounter, both sides getting a feel for the ball, but neither able to create any meaningful openings, and it was not until the eleventh minute that anything of note happened. Connor Scully controlled a bouncing ball and laid it off to Mitch Megginson, and the skipper set off towards the home goal, wriggling his way just inside the box before shooting wide of the near post.
Over the piece, it was a first half low on quality, with the highlight coming in the third minute of stoppage time.
The impressive Cameron controlled the ball and unleased a thirty-yard
drive which looked headed for the top corner only for Scott Fox to leap across his six-yard box and claw it for a corner with his outstretched left hand. It was another outstanding save by the Cove keeper, following on from his superb performance at Firhill last weekend.
Having made two substitutions, the home side were quickly on top after the interval, but the boys again defended well. Dunne blocked a McMullan cross, Scott Ross cleared an effort and Longstaff averted the danger at the back post before Ashcroft headed over from eight yards.
“...another outstanding save by the Cove keeper, following on from his superb performance at Firhill last weekend.”
The breakthrough came in the fiftieth minute. After good interplay on the right, substitute Zach ROBINSON raced to the bye-line and fired low and hard to the near post, Fox unable to prevent the ball from squirming in.
Almost immediately in was two-nil, with the two Dundee substitutes linking-up to double their advantage. Robinson turned provider this time, teeing up the opportunity perfectly for Alex JAKUBIAK who drilled his shot low into the corner of the net from fifteen yards.
Paul Hartley then made a double switch, Bangala and Dunne being replaced by McIntosh and Toure, for his debut. Gime’s first contribution was to concede a penalty for a foul on Cameron. The Dundee midfielder took the spot-kick himself, and struck it well enough, but Scott Fox dived to his right to pull off another excellent one-handed save.
“Toure showed what he has to offer, collecting the ball on halfway and driving forward...”
With twenty minutes remaining, Mitch Megginson limped off holding his hamstring to be replaced by Tony Weston, and the new man had an almost immediate opening. Toure showed what he has to offer, collecting the ball on halfway and driving forward before
teeing up Weston, but Tony’s sixteenyard shot was too close to Legzdins.
Gime Toure’s eventful debut continued with a booking for a foul on Fisher, then Fox pulled off another superb save, tipping over Sweeney’s strong header.
The third Dundee goal came with eleven minutes to go, expertly set up by Paul McMullan who clipped a ball perfectly into the box for Lyall CAMERON to run on to and beat Fox with a low angled drive.
The remainder of the game petered out with Dundee never in any danger of letting their advantage slip.
Dundee (4-2-3-1)
Sneddon; McMillan (McKinnon 46), McAvoy (Muirhead 59), Holt (c), Milne; Bannigan, Hodson; Lawless (Graham 46), Turner, Fitzpatrick; Mullen (Tiffoney 46)
Substitutes
Sharp, Marshall, Anderson, Tolaj
Goalscorers
Robinson (50), Jakubiak (52)
Cove Rangers (4-3-3)
Fox; Naismith, Ross, Neill, Logan; Bangala, (McIntosh 59) Virtanen, Scully; Longstaff, Megginson (c) (Weston 69), Dunne (Toure 59)
Substitutes
Gourlay, McClelland, Vigurs, Glass, Reynolds
Booked
Virtanen (41), Fox (61), Toure (75), Neill (86)
Referee
Craig Napier
Attendance
4,208
PAUL HARTLEY
As we move into the final third of the season, this afternoon offers up another huge challenge, but it’s one I feel sure the players are ready to meet.
It was disappointing last week at Dens. After the fine performance in the win over Partick Thistle, we had hoped to build on that, but it wasn’t to be, and defensive lapses once again cost us dear.
What made it more frustrating was the fact that we started well, and that for fifty minutes, the game plan had been working. Given how they like to play, we had gone out to limit and frustrate them, and the boys did a good job of that in the first half.
We then lost two quick goals, which can happen against quality sides in the Championship, and we should have responded better. You’re still in the game at that point, it’s how you react, and we need to have a better mentality and not get down on ourselves. Last Sunday, we didn’t show that positive mindset, and that’s something we’ll be talking to the players about, to reinforce that.
This afternoon’s game is massive, for both sides, and we are all well aware of the importance of a victory. If we can do that, it would be a real psychological boost, and although there’s still a long way to go, it would at least give us a cushion for the run-in.
Between now and the end of the season it is going to be all about getting those points on the board, and it won’t be pretty at times. We are going to need to
“We’re going to have to be better at both ends, and that’s something we’ve been working hard on in training this week.”
be fully focused, roll the sleeves up, and work as hard as we can if we are to achieve what was always the goal this year, to remain in this division.
The players showed they can do it, both against Partick and for the first half against Dundee, and that’s the kind of application and desire we’re going to have to show. Maintaining that is going to be crucial in the weeks ahead.
We’re going to need that nice solid shape, while at the same time making sure that does not take away from what we’re trying to do further up the pitch. We’re going to have to be better at both ends, and that’s something we’ve been working hard on in training this week.
There are twelve fixtures left in the Championship and it’s a tough league in which every game is important, but given our situation, the two matches against Arbroath, and our trip to Hamilton at the start of April, will inevitably be in the spotlight.
They will be vital, but we’re going to have to perform every week if we’re to retain our status, starting this afternoon.
Enjoy the game!
Paul Hartley
Management
Goalkeepers Defenders
Gordon Young Jimmy Boyle
5. Scott Ross
26. Mark Reynolds
15. Kyle McClelland
Tam Ritchie
28. Brody Paterson
6. Morgyn Neill
12. Scott Fox
3. Jason Naismith
4. Connor Scully
8. Blair Yule
24. Fraser Fyvie
9. Mitchel Megginson 11. Leighton McIntosh
22. Cieran Dunne
16. Iain Vigurs
17. Luis Longstaff
14. Miko Virtanen
27. Gime Touré
19. David Bangala
18. Tony Weston
— Arbroath Head to Head
Prior to this season, we had never met today’s opponents Arbroath in a senior match, and the two encounters so far have provided positive outcomes for the team.
In the previous meeting here at Balmoral Stadium at the start of October, we earned an important victory with Connor Scully the twogoal hero.
The midfielder opened the scoring early in that match, getting on the end of a Max Johnston cross to head powerfully past Derek Gaston, and he doubled our advantage in the thirtyfourth minute, pouncing on to the rebound after the keeper had saved from Shay Logan.
Just over a month later, the side made the short trip to Gayfield and on an afternoon in which the low sun caused havoc for the players, we fell behind with just five minutes played thanks to Michael McKenna.
The home side looked set to snatch what would have been a vital three points, but with the game edging into stoppage time, Mitch Megginson cleverly laid the ball off and Blair Yule fired low into the corner of the net for his first goal of the campaign.
That draw helped maintain our advantage over Dick Campbell’s side, and despite a tough run in January, the players have maintained the four point gap as both sides look to wriggle clear of relegation concerns.
If the team can retain their unbeaten record against our Angus visitors, it might go a long way towards helping to keep Cove in the Championship this season.
CAPTAIN’S VIEW
I would like to begin by welcoming you all to Balmoral Stadium for this afternoon’s clash with Arbroath.
Your support between now and the end of the season will be vital. It helps the boys on the pitch massively when we see and hear you backing us – it gives us that extra drive and energy which can make all the difference in matches!
The club’s ticket offer will hopefully help bring in bigger crowds, and the players will give their all during the 90 minutes to ensure you enjoy the match, and go home wanting to come back.
Your support has also been brilliant on the road, particularly last weekend at Dens. Even after falling behind, we could hear you cheering us on and picking us up.
We were disappointed with the outcome of that game. We went into it full of confidence off the back of our excellent performance against Partick Thistle the week before. We did well in the first half by limiting Dundee to very few chances. Frustratingly, after putting so much into the first 45 minutes, we switched off during the opening period of the second half, and gifted them two goals.
We always knew it was going to be a tough game, as we were coming up against a side challenging for the title. But at this level, it is important to be switched on for the full 90 minutes, particularly when you come up against a side with as much quality as Dundee, otherwise you will be punished, and unfortunately, we were.
What is going to be key to finishing the season strongly is making sure to not get too high after a victory, nor too low after a defeat. We have had many ups and downs already this season, and there
— Captain’s
is no doubt that will continue throughout the remainder of the campaign. Every match is just as important as the other now. It is going to be a graft between now and the end of the season, so it is vital that we put the hard work in, be aggressive, and make sure our opponents know that they are in a game every time we step out onto that pitch.
Arbroath will be looking to do the same this afternoon. We know they will be in our faces and will come here looking to make it a difficult afternoon for us. We must make sure we win that battle, and then let our quality shine through.
“ It helps the boys on the pitch massively when we see and hear you backing us.”
Arbroath have made a number of signings since our last meeting, and so we know it will be a completely different game to the ones we have played already this season. It is important that we take the game to them, and also that the fans get right behind the team, in order for us to come away with the three points this afternoon.
COYCR! Mitch Megginson
18. Tony Weston
NEW SIGNINGS
It has been a tumultuous start to 2023 with nine players leaving Balmoral Stadium, eight coming in, and a change in management.
Of last summer’s loan signings, Jack Sanders and Max Johnston were recalled, Evan Towler went back to Aberdeen and Charlie Gilmour returned to St Johnstone to recover from his serious ankle injury. More recently, Gerry McDonagh left, having mutually agreed the termination of his contract, Rhys Thomas joined Formartine United and Robbie Leitch made the move to Kelty Hearts.
We also bid farewell to two club legends in Stuart McKenzie, who signed for Peterhead, and Jamie Masson, who fulfilled a long-held dream by emigrating to Australia.
The new boss, Paul Hartley, was quick to start filling the gaps and reshaping the squad as he felt necessary for the second half of the campaign.
Declan Glass and Brody Paterson were first through the door, joining on loan from Dundee United and Hartlepool United respectively, to be followed soon after by Scott Fox, who has already shown why the manager snapped him up on an eighteen-month contract.
Paul brought in more experience in the shape of Jason Naismith, who also signed on until summer of 2024.
Tony Weston came in on loan from Rangers, free agent Miko Virtanen signed until the summer with the potential of earning a longer term contract, and minutes before the transfer deadline, and immediately after playing against us for Ayr United, David Bangala quickly agreed a loan move.
The final signing, so far, came ahead of the recent Partick Thistle game with the capture of Gime Toure, who was out of contract after leaving Yeovil.
The window remains open this month for players without a club, and we also have one loan left available, which can be utilised before the end of February.
There may yet be further additions to the squad!
12. Scott Fox
27. Gime Toure
3. Jason Naismith
14. Miko Virtanen
25. Declan Glass
19. David Bangala
28. Brody Paterson
Honorary
Directors
Safety
Committee
Football
Assistant
First
Fitness
Goalkeeping
Head
Physiotherapist Aimee
Kit
Club Doctor
Commercial
Head
Digital Media
Club
Child
Club Chaplain
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
‘90-’91, ‘00-’01, ‘08-’09, ‘17-’18.
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
Cove Rangers
Arbroath
