Cove Rangers FC Matchday Programme – vs. Stirling Albion 18.11.23

vs STIRLING ALBION Saturday 18th November ‘23 • 3.00pm KO

BALMOR AL GROUP Proud sponsors of Balmoral Stadium Balmoral Comtec Balmoral Tanks Balmoral Business Park BLAZE Manufacturing Solutions Friends of ANCHOR www.balmoral‐group.com

01

vs STIRLING ALBION Balmoral Stadium • Saturday 18th November ‘23 • 3.00pm KO

Features

Hamilton Match Report

04

Kelty Hearts Match Report

10

Montrose Match Report

14

Regulars 02 18 20 22 26 31 34 35 37

Fixtures & League Table Season 23/24 Statistics Player & Management Sponsorship Vice Captain’s Column View from the Dugout Club Partners Club Information Club Honours Today’s Team Lines

Match Sponsor

Matchball Sponsor

02 FIXTURES A

Sat 25th Nov, ‘23

Stirling Albion v Cove Rangers

Scottish Cup

A

Sat 2nd Dec, ‘23

Falkirk v Cove Rangers

cinch League One

A

Sat 9th Dec, ‘23

Annan Athletic v Cove Rangers

cinch League One

H

Sat 16th Dec, ‘23

Cove Rangers v Alloa Athletic

cinch League One

LEAGUE TABLE cinch League One

P

W

D

L

GF

GA

GD

PTS

Falkirk

13

10

3

0

31

9

22

33

Hamilton Academical

13

9

3

1

27

6

21

30

Cove Rangers

13

6

4

3

19

14

5

22

Montrose

13

6

1

6

22

21

1

19

Kelty Hearts

13

5

3

5

19

20

-1

18

Alloa Athletic

13

5

2

6

17

20

-3

17

Stirling Albion

13

4

2

7

9

21

-12

14

Queen of the South

13

4

1

8

16

20

-4

13

Annan Athletic

13

2

4

7

17

28

-11

10

Edinburgh City

13

1

3

9

15

33

-18

6

50/50 WINNER The winning ticket number at the Hamilton game was 140813, and the £525 prize was claimed by Martin Bowden. We also have a 50/50 winner from the Montrose game - 141855, Ralph Mennie, £475.

Find a keeper With thousands of cars in one place you’re sure to find your perfect ride. And you have 14 days to love it or your money back.

04 HAMILTON MATCH REPORT

MATCH REPORT

Cove Rangers 1 Hamilton 0 cinch League One Sat 4th November ‘23 Balmoral Stadium

05 Cove recorded a third successive victory and handed Accies their first defeat of the season as the side moved to within touching distance of the League One play-off places.

Nick Suman, who was to be named man of the match, pulled off a number of excellent saves in what was a closely contested encounter settled by the only goal, a classy effort constructed by Mark Reynolds and finished by Fraser Fyvie.

Paul Hartley had made two changes to the side which had triumphed in Dumfries a week earlier, switching up his strike force. Scott Williamson and Kyle Connell dropped to the bench with top scorer Rumarn Burrell and skipper Mitch Megginson, free from suspension, restored to the starting line-up.

We started brightly, immediately putting the visitors under pressure as Burrell got in behind their back line. Ryan Fulton raced out to dive on the ball and appeared to knock the striker over in the process, but the referee waved play on.

Hamilton responded positively, Barjonas playing a 1-2 with Henderson before firing a twenty-yard shot just wide of Suman’s right post.

Thereafter, Cove enjoyed the bulk of the possession, Scully, Fyvie and Yule seeing plenty of the ball as we probed without being able to make the breakthrough.

Accies were dangerous on the counter, and in the fourteenth minute Barjonas gathered from a throw-in then sent in a low curling strike which Suman dived fulllength to push away with his left hand.

We came desperately close to opening the scoring in the twenty-sixth minute.

Fyvie fed a pass into the path of Burrell, whose running and close control caused Hamilton problems all afternoon, and the striker raced into the area. He got to the bye-line and delivered, the ball deflecting off Kilday and bouncing agonisingly inches wide of the far post.

Just past the half hour mark, Suman was called into action. Tumilty cut in from the right and curled in a fine shot, the big keeper diving to his right to deny the full back.

Burrell then got closed down before he could shoot, and McGowan had to make a desperate clearance from another searching Jones cross.

It was a strong start to the second half by the home side, Yule winning a corner, which came to nothing, then Megginson having a shot blocked, but Accies were a threat on the break, substitute O’Hara flashing in a cross which Doyle cut out superbly to concede a corner.

Blair Yule then fired in another excellent delivery which Fulton did well to hold at his post.

Cove were now dominating. Megginson showed lovely control wide on the left, linked-up with Fraser Fyvie, then the midfielder rolled in Jones, whose cross was deflected for a corner. Fyvie’s delivery was superb, Paul McGowan

06 HAMILTON MATCH REPORT making space at the back post to head goalwards, but Fulton was alert, and dived to turn the ball wide.

The opening goal finally came a few minutes later, and it was of the highest quality.

Mark Reynolds strode forwards out of defence, crossing the halfway line before dinking an excellent angled ball into the box. Fraser FYVIE had ghosted in behind the defence and showed great composure as he guided a pinpoint header over Fulton and inside the far post.

“ The big keeper dived full stretch to his right to make another outstanding save.”

Hamilton responded and were to enjoy their best spell of the game.

Yule made a necessary interception in the area to thwart O’Hara, then from a Longridge cross, Tumilty’s first time shot was comfortably held by Suman.

07 At that stage, it was all Accies, and they came close again in the seventy-second minute. For the first time all afternoon, a huge gap appeared in the heart of the Cove defence, and O’Hara ran away in behind. Nick Suman raced from his line, spread himself, and made a superb stop to deny the striker, the ball eventually being scrambled to safety.

The manager then withdrew Paul McGowan, deciding to match-up with Hamilton, Cameron Stewart slipping into a back three, but the visitors kept up the pressure, and Suman again came to our rescue. A free-kick from wide right was half-cleared, but only as far as Kyle MacDonald, who shot powerfully from twenty-five yards. The big keeper dived full stretch to his right to make another outstanding save.

Accies were laying siege on the home back line, but that was to be their last serious attempt on goal, and the defence saw the game out comfortably to secure a second successive clean sheet.

In fact, it was Cove who might have added to their winning margin deep into stoppage time, with Williamson and Scully both having shots blocked.

08 HAMILTON MATCH REPORT

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COVE RANGERS (4-4-2) Suman; Doyle, Gillingham, Reynolds, Jones; Yule, McGowan (Stewart 75), Fyvie, Scully; Megginson (c) (Williamson 81), Burrell Substitutes Demus, Sena, Connell, Mykyta Goalscorers Fyvie (61)

HAMILTON (4-4-1-1) Fulton; Tumilty (Tait 78), McGowan, Kilday, Longridge; Murray (Hendrie 58), MacDonald, Martin (c), Henderson (Mumbongo 78); Barjonas; McGlynn (O’Hara 46) Substitutes J. Smith, O’Brien, Zanatta, L. Smith, Hewitt

Referee Colin Steven

Attendance 507

10 KELTY HEARTS MATCH REPORT

MATCH REPORT

Kelty Hearts Cove Rangers cinch League One Sat 11th November ‘23 Balmoral Stadium

0 1

11 The team kept its impressive unbeaten run going in Fife, with Rumarn Burrell’s first half goal enough to make it seven without defeat. The 1-0 success was a fourth win in a row, and Nick Suman again pulled off a superb save as the defence recorded a third clean sheet on the spin.

Paul Hartley had named an unchanged line-up for what was our first ever visit to New Central Park. Josh Kerr was back in the squad having recovered from the ankle break he suffered at the end of August, and Arron Darge was also fit enough to return to the bench.

After a poignant, and impeccably observed minute’s silence to mark Armistice Day, it was Cove who kickedoff on what was a bright, crisp afternoon and they were first to threaten when Mitch Megginson broke down the right and played the ball inside. Fraser Fyvie gathered and shot from twenty yards, his effort deflected for a corner.

It was all Cove, Megginson taking possession and feeding Burrell, who laid the ball off for Blair Yule. The midfielder shot powerfully from just outside the box, Gourlay diving to his right to make the save.

The breakthrough came in the eighteenth minute.

Paul McGowan gathered in midfield, looked up, and chipped a ball forward into the box. Rumarn BURRELL took control, turned, and shot low, his effort

zipping into the net at the near post with Gourlay well beaten. It was the striker’s eighth goal of what has been a productive season.

Kelty might have equalised almost immediately. After a good passing move, Jamie Walker found himself free sixteen yards out, but dragged his left foot shot wide of the far post.

As the game reached the half hour mark, Kelty were seeing more of the ball, but causing few, if any, problems for our defence, and were being regularly frustrated as they probed for an opening.

With little happening for us at the top end of the pitch, Mitch Megginson was often back helping out, and proved to be a highly effective first line of defence, putting in a tireless shift.

We got back on the attack in the thirtyeighth minute when Burrell was brought down thirty yards out. Fraser Fyvie stepped up to take the free-kick, his powerfully struck effort skidding across the box, and Gourlay did well to push it for a corner.

There were no changes at the interval, and we were quickly on the front foot, Burrell being upended twenty yards inside the Kelty half as he attempted to break away. Fyvie’s free kick was eventually cleared, but we kept up the pressure, hemming the home side in without being able to find a way through their back line.

12 KELTY HEARTS MATCH REPORT Hearts got out in the fifty-second minute, and after a short corner, Moore crossed deep. Thomson rose highest, but his looping header dropped beyond the far post.

Fyvie then had a powerful low drive blocked on the edge of the six yard box, and from the resultant clearance the midfielder curled in a dangerous delivery which Burrell headed inches wide.

In what had become a game of few clear cut chances, the players were working hard to close down the home side, denying them the opportunity to break upfield, and with over an hour on the clock, were comfortably holding on to their lead.

Fyvie tried to catch out Gourlay with a long range free kick from out near the left touchline, shaping to cross before curling a shot to the near post, but the keeper was alert, and grabbed the ball.

In the sixty-ninth minute, we might have doubled our advantage. Owens mistakenly sent the ball straight to Burrell, who took a touch then tried to play in Megginson, but his pass was behind his team-mate, and with defenders getting back, the captain could only shoot wide of the far post.

There was a scare soon after when Will Gillingham, seeing the ball out, was nudged in the back by Walker and tumbled over the perimeter wall and into the fans. Thankfully, the big man emerged unscathed.

Kelty were now streaming forward looking for an equaliser, and Biabi had a glancing header which flew wide of the far post.

They came even closer soon after when Corbett unleashed a powerful eighteen-yard strike. The ball looked to be flying in under the crossbar, but Nick Suman maintained his recent form with another outstanding save, pushing it over for a corner.

The manager then made our first change, withdrawing Burrell and introducing Sena in a bid to help close down the midfield.

“ Nick Suman maintained his recent form with another outstanding save...”

Kelty piled forward in a desperate bid to get back on level terms, Scully hooking away a dangerous delivery, then deep into stoppage time, at the other end of the pitch, he played in Fyvie, whose shot from inside the box deflected just wide into the side netting.

It was to be the final action of the game, the side putting in another strong away performance to extend their unbeaten record and move up to third place in the table.

13 KELTY HEARTS (4-4-2) Gourlay; Corbett, Thomson, F. Owens, Walker; McCluskey (Cunningham 74), O’Donnell, Lyon (c), Moore; Bavidge, Johnston (Biabi 65) Substitutes Campbell, Daramola, Tidser, L. Owens, B. Owens, Cameron, Sylla Booked Thomson (27), O’Donnell (55)

COVE RANGERS (4-4-2) Suman; Doyle, Gillingham, Reynolds, Jones; Yule, McGowan (Darge 86), Fyvie, Scully; Megginson (c) (Connell 86), Burrell (Sena 79) Substitutes Demus, Kerr, Mykyta, Stewart, Williamson Goalscorers Burrell (18) Booked Doyle (25)

Referee Stewart Luke

Attendance 501

14 MONTROSE MATCH REPORT

MATCH REPORT Rumarn Burrell’s ninth goal of the season proved enough to clinch the three points for Cove in what was a hard-fought encounter against Montrose. Our visitors had the bulk of the play in the second half, but could not find a way through, as the defence racked-up a fourth straight clean sheet.

Having fielded the same eleven in the wins over Hamilton and Kelty Hearts, the manager was forced into making one change for this one after captain Mitch Megginson took ill. Scott Williamson stepped up from the substitutes bench.

On a bitterly cold evening, and with rain driving across the pitch, it took both teams time to settle and it was not until the fifth minute that either was able to create anything going forward.

Fraser Fyvie played the ball from deep, Jacob Jones helped it on, and

Cove Rangers 1 Montrose 0 cinch League One Tues 14th November ‘23 Balmoral Stadium

Williamson drove at the Montrose rearguard before passing back infield.

Fyvie gathered and unleased a twentyfive yard shot which forced Gill into a decent save low at his post.

Within a minute we came close again, Burrell flicking the ball on for Williamson to chase down. The striker was forced wide by Quinn and could only shoot into the side netting.

It was Montrose who might have broken the deadlock in the twelfth minute. In attempting to pass back from halfway, Burrell overhit his effort and the ball skidded beyond Gillingham for Hester to run on to. Nick Suman was alert to the danger and out quickly to clear, the away striker booked for a late challenge on the keeper.

15 Seconds later, Brown gathered a through ball, swivelled, and fired a volley goalwards forcing Suman to dive to his right to make a fine stop. It was to be his only significant save of the match.

With seventeen minutes on the clock, Cove should have gone in front. Mikey Doyle took a throw-in, gathered the return ball, and played in Rumarn Burrell. The striker raced to the byeline and crossed, Scott Williamson taking a touch to create space, but he was denied by Gill who dived to his right to make the save.

Mark Reynolds then pinged a forty yard pass towards Burrell, who cushioned the ball into the box. Paul McGowan ran on to it and tried to lob the keeper but could only nudge his effort into Gill’s hands.

We then put together a fine five-man move with Fyvie and Yule both involved, the former winning a free-kick out wide on the right. The midfielder’s delivery was half-cleared, but Reynolds’ right foot twenty-five yard shot flew over the bar.

Montrose came close when Lyons shot too high from a tight angle, then Gardyne floated a free-kick on to the head of Waddell, but Suman dealt with the situation comfortably.

With two minutes of the half remaining, Thomson set off on a mazy run deep in the box and flashed in a powerful low cross, but Hester, at the back post, could only divert the ball wide from two yards out.

16 MONTROSE MATCH REPORT The visitors were to pay for that in first half stoppage time.

With Kerr Waddell having limped off, they were down to ten men when Mikey Doyle forced a corner at the back post. The goal that followed came straight off the training ground.

Connor Scully played it short to McGowan, who had run out of the box, and when Paul returned the pass, Scully curled in an inviting cross. Reynolds flicked it on, and Rumarn BURRELL was on had to smash home from point blank range.

With conditions worsening, it was a quiet start to the second half, but we had a big opening in the fifty-first minute. Jones headed out a Montrose corner on the left and Burrell gathered, still deep in his own territory. The striker then set off to run virtually the length of the pitch, defenders trailing in his wake, but with Yule calling for a pass, Rumarn went for goal himself, his twenty yard effort sailing over the bar.

Montrose took a grip on the match in the wake of that, and after Lyons had shown superb skill, weaving through the penalty area, the ball rolled out to Thomson who fired just wide from the edge of the box.

Paul Hartley then took off Williamson and introduced Cameron Stewart as he switched to a back three, but still the visitors were enjoying the bulk of the possession and pressure. They came close again when Suman punched out Thomson’s dangerous driven cross,

Steeves gathering before seeing his shot charged down by the outrushing Cove defence.

As the game moved into its final ten minutes, we at last began to see a bit more of the ball and were able to take the steam out of the visitors’ forward momentum. And we might have settled matters with five minutes remaining.

Fyvie played a pass out wide, Scully sent in a superb delivery, and Burrell headed goalwards only to see Graham deflect the ball out for a corner.

Fyvie then had an audacious effort from a free-kick wide on the left, his expertly struck delivery looked to be curling in at the back post only for Gill to stretch back and tip the ball for a corner.

From there, the players saw the game out comfortably enough, despite the referee inexplicably adding on six minutes of stoppage time.

“ Burrell headed goalwards only to see Graham deflect the ball out for a corner.”

17 COVE RANGERS (4-4-2) Suman; Doyle, Gillingham, Reynolds, Jones; Yule (Darge 78), McGowan, Fyvie (c) (Sena 90), Scully; Williamson (Stewart 72), Burrell

Substitutes Demus, Connell, Kerr, Mykyta, Gallagher Goalscorers Burrell (45) Booked Scully (42)

MONTROSE (4-4-2) Gill; Dillon (Watson 86), Waddell (Graham 46), Quinn, Steeves (c); Brown, Thomson, Gardyne, Shrive (Webster 67); Hester (Batchelor 67), Lyons Substitutes Matthews, Williamson, Hermiston, Callaghan Booked Hester (12), Lyons (82), Webster (86)

Referee Alastair Grieve

Attendance 534

18 SEASON 23/24 STATS Date

Fixture

Competition

H/A

Score

18/07/23

Clyde

VPC

H

5-2

22/07/23

Brechin City

VPC

A

3-2

25/07/23

Livingston

VPC

H

0-5

29/07/23

Hamilton Acad.

VPC

A

2-2

05/08/23

Hamilton Acad.

SPFL1

A

0-1

12/08/23

Falkirk

SPFL1

H

2-2

19/08/23

Montrose

SPFL1

A

3 -0

26/08/23

Queen of the South

SPFL1

H

1-2

02/09/23

Alloa Athletic

SPFL1

A

0-1

09/09/23

Montrose

SPFL Trust Trophy

H

0-2

16/09/23

Kelty Hearts

SPFL1

H

2-2

23/09/23

Edinburgh City

SPFL1

A

2-2

30/09/23

Stirling Albion

SPFL1

A

2-2

07/10/23

Annan Athletic

SPFL1

H

3-2

28/10/23

Queen of the South

SPFL1

A

1-0

04/11/23

Hamilton Acad.

SPFL1

H

1-0

11/11/23

Kelty Hearts

SPFL1

A

1-0

14/11/23

Montrose

SPFL1

H

1-0

18/11/23

Stirling Albion

SPFL1

H

25/11/23

Stirling Albion

Scottish Cup

A

02/12/23

Falkirk

SPFL1

A

09/12/23

Annan Athletic

SPFL1

A

Name

Nick Suman

Balint Demus

Appearances

Goals

Position

Yellow

Red

6

0

GK

0

0

12

Jacob Jones

14

Jason Naismith

1

Michael Doyle

4

0

0

0

0

Will Gillingham

16

Arron Darge

11

0

Cameron Stewart

10

0

Mark Reynolds

13

Luke Strachan

Josh Kerr

Rio Phipps

Connor Scully

Mouhamed Niang

0 7

0

0 1

1

0

18

1

17

1

0

GK DF

DF

1

3 1

0

0

0

DF

0

0

DF

0

0

DF

2

DF

0

DF

1

DF

DF

1

0

DF

0

MF

0

MF

2

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

19 Date

Fixture

Competition

H/A

16/12/23

Alloa Athletic

SPFL1

H

23/12/23

Edinburgh City

SPFL1

H

30/12/23

Montrose

SPFL1

A

06/01/24

Kelty Hearts

SPFL1

H

13/01/24

Hamilton Acad.

SPFL1

A

27/01/24

Queen of the South

SPFL1

H

03/02/24

Stirling Albion

SPFL1

A

10/02/24

Falkirk

SPFL1

H

17/02/24

Alloa Athletic

SPFL1

A

24/02/24

Annan Athletic

SPFL1

H

02/03/24

Edinburgh City

SPFL1

A

09/03/24

Montrose

SPFL1

H

16/03/24

Kelty Hearts

SPFL1

A

23/03/24

Hamilton Acad.

SPFL1

H

30/03/24

Stirling Albion

SPFL1

H

06/04/24

Falkirk

SPFL1

A

13/04/24

Annan Athletic

SPFL1

A

20/04/24

Alloa Athletic

SPFL1

H

27/04/24

Queen of the South

SPFL1

A

04/05/24

Edinburgh City

SPFL1

H

Name

Blair Yule

Iain Vigurs

Tyler Mykyta

Appearances

Goals

Position

Yellow

Red

2

0

MF

1

0

9

10

1

1

Mark Gallagher

10

Paul McGowan

15

Rumarn Burrell

18

8

4

0

Fraser Fyvie

Mitch Megginson

2

11

5

16

Scott Williamson

12

Milosz Ochmanski

0

Jack Robertson

Myles Gaffney

1

8

Kyle Connell

Dayshonne Golding

Score

0 1

1

4

MF

0

MF

0

0

FW

2

1

MF

MF

2 1

FW

0

FW

0

FW

FW

0

DF

0

0

MF

1

0

0

GK

FW

2

0

0

0

0

0

0 1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

20 SPONSORSHIP

Management Sponsors

Gordon Young

Tam Ritchie

1. Nick Suman

2. Jacob Jones

4. Connor Scully

5. Mouhamed Niang

6. Will Gillingham

7. Paul McGowan

8. Blair Yule

9. Mitch Megginson

10. Rumarn Burrell

11. Kyle Connell

14. Luke Strachan

15. Arron Darge

Paul Hartley

LOCAL , NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL ROAD HAULAGE

WWW.MGSLOGISTICS.CO.UK ABERDEEN 01224 – 781698

Player Sponsors

21

Advertising opportunities CRFC offer excellent advertising opportunities to

organisations who are looking to share marketing messages or build their brand.

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

16. Iain Vigurs

17. Josh Kerr

18. Tyler Mykyta

19. Dayshonne Golding

20. Myles Gaffney

21. Balint Demus

22. Mark Gallagher

24. Fraser Fyvie

26. Mark Reynolds

27. Cameron Stewart

28. Rio Davidson-Phipps

29. Scott Williamson

22 VICE CAPTAIN’S VIEW Welcome to Balmoral Stadium as we look to continue our unbeaten run against Stirling Albion.

While it was great getting the win over Montrose on Tuesday night, I don’t think we were at our best, but what you would have seen was the grit and determination that is needed in this league.

We got the goal, but in the second half they pushed us back, we had to sit in and try to counter them, and we were able to do that to good effect.

Earlier in the season, we might not have been able to see that out, but when you’ve gone undefeated in the way we have – that’s eight in a row now – you have the self-belief to carry it through.

It’s four 1-0 victories on the bounce now, and we’ll take that all day.

We were playing some really good stuff up until Kelty, but the last couple of games we’ve had to find a different way to win. What we want to do is get back to how we were performing, to raise the standards, while still showing the effort and resilience that has got us through the last two.

I do have to give praise to our back line, they have been excellent during this run. We have a good structure, and while I got man of the match against Montrose, I really do think Will Gillingham deserved the award.

I don’t think the big man has had enough praise; the last four or five games he has been outstanding.

It’s been tough for him coming across from New Zealand, and having played college football in the States, but he’s settled in so well; I thought against Montrose he was brave, attacked everything in the air and proved how good a defender he is.

23

VICE CAPTAIN’S VIEW

24 VICE CAPTAIN’S VIEW

25

“ I see no reason why we cannot keep the run going.”

Mark Reynolds has been a big help I’m sure, he has over six hundred games under his belt, and they’re starting to build a really good partnership. In fact, that’s happening all over the pitch, and that’s been a huge factor in our rise up the table.

It will be another tough one this afternoon, Stirling Albion are not that far behind us, but we will be going all out for another three points.

There’s no doubt that there is a different feeling around the stadium right now; when you’re winning that is bound to have an effect, and from that feelgood factor the confidence grows and grows.

When you’re in that mindset you start to have more belief in yourself, and Tuesday night was a perfect example of that. Although we weren’t at our best, we never looked panicky when we gave up possession, everyone just stuck to their tasks, and we got the job done.

We are as comfortable off the ball at the moment as we are on it, and that’s a really good place to be.

If we maintain that, I see no reason why we cannot keep the run going.

Enjoy the game!

Fraser

26 VIEW FROM THE DUGOUT

PAUL HARTLEY We go into this afternoon’s meeting with Stirling Albion having extended our unbeaten run to eight matches with the hard-fought victory over Montrose on Tuesday night.

In what were really difficult conditions, the players deserve great praise for getting the job done.

We clearly didn’t play as we can, but we found a way to get the points, and as a manager that can be just as pleasing.

Of course, you always want to see your team playing to their potential, performing to high standards, but some games don’t pan out that way, and that’s when you learn about the character and desire of the group.

The boys showed all that and more in midweek.

We started well enough, missed a few chances, and although they did too, we kept our shape and discipline. I know that 1-0 wins can be a bit nerve-wracking for everyone, but you get the same three points as you do for a convincing victory and seeing a game out in the way we did can be just as important for the players’ confidence and self-belief.

Montrose are a good side, they showed that in the second half, but we never lost our composure and that was a really important win for us.

27

28 VIEW FROM THE DUGOUT

29

“ I think everyone can now see the quality we have in the squad.”

The manner of the goal we scored was particularly pleasing. It is a move we have worked hard on in training, Paul McGowan coming out of the box for the short corner, and returning it to Connor Scully, and that extra movement just unsettles the opposition defence. It was brilliant to see it coming off in the way it did.

Rumarn Burrell finished it to keep up his good run. He might have got one or two more on the night, but it was a good striker’s goal. He has a lot of quality, but he maybe just needs to believe in himself a bit more. There is a lot of natural ability there and there’s definitely more to come from him.

Overall, we are now reaping the rewards of all the hard work put in since the summer.

It was a tough start for us, we all know that, and there was a lot of negativity flying around, but we believed in what we were doing, and I think everyone can now see the quality we have in the squad.

The challenge now is to keep that going.

We move on to Stirling Albion this afternoon, and that will be another tough game. Darren Young has done a good job there, getting his side up a division and proving competitive in League One. We scored late to get a draw down there earlier in the season, and of course we’ll be at Forthbank next week for the Scottish Cup tie. For now, we’re fully focused on getting three more points and it will take another strong performance to achieve that.

Enjoy the game!

Paul Hartley

DIFFERENT LEAGUE

Official Ball Supplier of the

mitre.com

CLUB PARTNERS Principal Club Partner

Official Club Partners

31 Principal Stadium Partner

Cllr Richard Brooks has been a voice for Aberdeen for over 20 years. He is now one of your local councillors

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

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

34 CLUB INFORMATION Balmoral Stadium Wellington Circle, Altens, Aberdeen AB12 3JG

T 01224 392111

F 01224 392859 coverangersfc.com

Twitter

Facebook Instagram @coverangersfc

Honorary President

Alan McRae OBE

Directors

Keith Moorhouse - Chairman

Graeme Reid - Vice Chairman Darren Anderson John Sheran Grant Moorhouse Willie Young

Safety Officers

Graeme Anderson, John Morgan

Committee

Michael Coull, Richard Forbes

Football Manager

Paul Hartley

Assistant Manager

Gordon Young

Fitness Coach

Tam Ritchie

Goalkeeping Coach

Derek Soutar

Coach

Gary Hake

Performance Analyst

Rhys Sutcliffe

Physiotherapist

Charlotte Clarke

Kit Manager

Ian Sellar

Club Doctor

David Fowler

Commercial Manager

Angela Bruce

Club Secretary

Davey Byrne

Head of Media & Communications

Richard Gordon

Digital Media

Andrew Jamieson

Club Photographers

Dave Cowe, Richard Forbes

Child Wellbeing & Protection Officer

Kate Dean

Club Chaplain

Dougie Simpson

CLUB HONOURS

35

Scottish League 1 Winners

Scottish League 2 ‘21-’22

Winners

‘19-’20

Highland League Winners Runners-up

‘00-’01, ‘07-’08, ‘08-’09, ‘12-’13, ‘15-’16, ‘17-’18, ‘18-’19 ‘89-’90, ‘92-’93, ‘94-’95, ‘95-’96, ‘09-’10, ‘11-’12, ‘16-’17

Scottish Qualifying Cup (North) Winners

‘90-’91, ‘00-’01

Runners-up

‘88-’89, ‘91-’92, ‘01-’02, ‘03-’04

Highland League Cup Winners Runners-up

‘94-’95, ‘99-’00, ‘04-’05, ‘14-1’5, ‘16-17, ‘18-’19 ‘90-’91, ‘92-’93, ‘95-’96, ‘97-’98, ‘05-’06, ‘07-’08, ‘11-’12

Aberdeenshire Cup Winners

‘01-’02, ‘10-’11, ‘18-’19

Runners-up

‘92-’93, ‘94-’95, ‘16-’17, ‘17-’18

Aberdeenshire Shield Winners

‘90-’91, ‘00-’01, ‘08-’09, ‘17-’18

Runners-up

‘94-’95, ‘12-’13, ‘15-’16

Aberdeenshire & District League Winners

‘00-’01, ‘08-’09, ‘10-’11, ‘11-’12, ‘12-’13, ‘14-’15

Runners-up

‘06-’07

Aberdeenshire Centenary Cup Runners-up

Inter-League Trophy ‘86-’87

Winners

‘01-’02

Play today and support the club Sign up for £1 a week Win cash prizes every Wednesday To support us, scan the QR code or visit:

ourclublotto.co.uk/play/coverangersfc

TODAY’S TEAM LINES

37

Cove Rangers

Stirling Albion

Manager - Paul Hartley

Manager - Darren Young

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 20 21 22 23 24 25 27

Nick Suman Jacob Jones Michael Doyle Connor Scully Mouhamed Niang Will Gillingham Paul McGowan Blair Yule Mitch Megginson Rumarn Burrell Kyle Connell Milosz Ochmanski Luke Strachan Arron Darge Iain Vigurs Josh Kerr Tyler Mykyta Dayshonne Golding Myles Gaffney Balint Demus Mark Gallagher Jack Robertson Fraser Fyvie Mikey Milnes Mark Reynolds Cameron Stewart Rio Davidson-Phipps Scott Williamson

Blair Currie Ross McGeachie Cameron Clark Paul McLean Jordan McGregor Adam Cummins Aaron Dunsmore Ross Davidson Dale Carrick Jack Leitch Kieran Moore Kyle Banner Jordan Wyles Kieran Curtis Ewan Wilson Callum Law Murray Miller Josh Cooper Greig Spence Robert Thomson Lewis Milne Dale Hilson Mark Weir

Today’s referee - Peter Stuart Today’s assistant referees - Paul O’Neill & Colin McAlpine Team lines sponsor