Cove Rangers FC Matchday Programme – vs Montrose 09.03.24

SPFL 150 vs MONTROSE

Saturday 9th March ‘24 • 3pm KO

Balmoral

Balmoral

The winning number at the Falkirk match was 148448 and the £300 prize was claimed by Mark Wheeler.

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An incorrect offside flag right at the death cost us what might have been a valuable point against the runaway league leaders. It took Falkirk until the eighty-third minute to break the deadlock, a disciplined defensive performance having frustrated them until Miller finally found a way through.

Despite that setback, the boys responded, and Rumarn Burrell looked to have equalised only for the linesman to intervene. Replays showed the striker was clearly onside.

Blair Yule was still missing for this one, Paul McGowan was absent due to a back problem and Ola Lawal was unable to play against his parent club.

On the plus side, Mark Reynolds had recovered from a calf strain and Matty Shiels passed a fitness test, but the manager was left with just four outfield players on the bench.

He made one change to the side, Mark returning to take his place in a back three.

Both sides enjoyed early possession, Reynolds and Josh Kerr intervening to repel Falkirk attacks, and it was Cove who threatened first, Sena and Mark Reynolds combining to set up Matty Shiels, but his cross was just too long for Burrell.

Arron Darge, who was to have another fine game, made a crunching tackle to stop Ross in his tracks, but the ball broke to Nesbitt who shot from twenty yards.

Balint Demus made a decent save, diving to his right to clasp the ball.

“

Falkirk stepped up a gear and forced a succession of corners.”

Shiels then surged forward from his own half, feeding a pass into the path of Burrell, but Donaldson was able to slide the ball to safety. The central defender was again called into action soon after, clearing his lines after a promising move down the Cove left.

Falkirk stepped up a gear and forced a succession of corners. From the first of those, Darge cleared a Donaldson shot from sixteen yards just inside the post, then rushed out to charge down Nesbitt’s effort from the rebound.

Dylan Tait was cautioned for diving in the box, attempting to win a penalty, and Sena was unlucky to follow him into the book for a challenge on Morrison. We were offering little going forward, but our defending was strong and organised, and the high-scoring Bairns were getting little joy, despite dominating the ball.

Then the side fashioned a couple of openings in the space of sixty seconds. In the first, Megginson, Burrell and Scully all linked-up before Shiels fired

in a cross, but Long was able to gather with Rumarn ready to pounce, then Sena fed in Burrell, the layoff reaching Mitch Megginson. With the visitors’ defence in disarray, the ball would not fall for the skipper, and Donaldson was able to clear.

Falkirk hit back, Spencer clipping a pass through for MacIver which had Demus racing from his line to snuff out the danger, then a Yeats cross found the big striker, but under pressure from Doyle, he could only head wide.

The visitors were also on the front foot after the restart, Morrison making space for himself before shooting over from ten yards. They came closer minutes later when Nesbitt crossed and Mackie headed goalwards, his effort seeming to take a deflection and carry on the wind before bouncing off the crossbar.

Cove relieved the pressure, enjoying a period of possession, but were unable to create anything to trouble Long in the Falkirk goal.

Paul Hartley was forced into making a change midway through the half, Megginson going down injured and

having to be replaced by Kyle Connell, his nineteenth substitute appearance of the season.

Mackie and Spencer had openings for Falkirk, each shooting over, then we very nearly found a way through. Connell gambled on a long ball and reached it before the keeper, laying it off towards Burrell, but as Rumarn tried to fashion a clear shooting opportunity, Long recovered in time to close him down.

Morrison was next to threaten for Falkirk, his angled shot pushed wide by Demus, but we went straight up the field and might have snatched the opener. Burrell was hacked down by Mackie, who would be booked for the challenge, but the ball ran to Kyle Connell who took a touch before unleashing a powerful twenty yard strike which cannoned back off the bar. The referee pulled play back, awarding us a free-kick which Connell curled just over.

The opening goal came seven minutes from the end.

After we had lost possession, Mackie played a pass in for substitute Calvin

“

...the keeper getting his foot to the ball but unable to prevent it from flying into the net.”

MILLER and his well-struck angled shot had too much power for Demus, the keeper getting his foot to the ball but unable to prevent it from flying into the net.

Burrell very nearly got on the end of a Shiels cross as we tried to restore parity, and the striker was penalised when he tried an overhead kick in the box in our next attack.

Then came the last minute heartbreak.

After Scully’s corner was cleared, Darge cleverly cushioned the ball back over the Falkirk defence to find Burrell who finished confidently. Cove celebrations were cut short when the far side assistant, Robert Mackinnon, quickly raised his flag. A review of the footage made it clear Rumarn had timed his run to perfection; the striker onside when the pass was made.

While it had been backs to the wall for the most part, the players had put in an outstanding effort, and the point would have been deserved for what had been a controlled defensive performance. The incorrect call meant we remain just outside the playoff places.

Cove Rangers (3-5-2)

Demus; Doyle, Kerr, Reynolds; Darge, Sena, Fyvie, Scully, Shiels; Burrell, Megginson (c) (Connell 67)

Substitutes

Suman, Jones, Gillingham, Stewart

Booked

Darge (9), Sena (28)

Falkirk (4-2-3-1)

Long; Yeats, Donaldson (c), Henderson, Mackie; Spencer, Tait; Morrison (Agyeman 88), Nesbitt (Oliver 80), Ross (Miller 63); MacIver (Shanley 80)

Substitutes

Hogarth, McCann, McGinn, Bisland

Goalscorers

Miller (83)

Booked

Tait (24), Mackie (74)

Referee Chris Fordyce

Attendance 745

BUILDING FOR

As you will have noticed, the temporary stands at either end of the stadium, installed for our debut season in the Championship, have now been removed, with plans already underway for the construction of new permanent stands.

An agreement was reached with the supplier of the temporary ones to have them taken away last week to allow for preliminary works to be carried out at the stadium.

The club has been working closely with KR Group and Ewen Buchan Architects on the project.

Chairman Keith Moorhouse says bringing the removal forward makes sense:

“When we advised the suppliers, they informed us they could take them away now as they have demand at a number of new events they have coming up.

“This was a tough call, given our season was not yet complete, but given we must carry out a ground survey to satisfy planning, we agreed on the basis that if we are to have a permanent solution in place for next season, the preparatory work has to be done now.

“I am sure our supporters will understand that improving facilities is a priority for all football clubs and that is why we have acted immediately to ensure the new stands are in place for the start of the 202425 campaign.”

THE FUTURE

A spokesperson for KR Group said:

“This is a good fit for KR Group, we are well placed to design and build the new stands at our local facility and are pleased to be supporting Cove Rangers.

“We are delighted to be working closely with the club as they look to add to their already excellent facility; two new stands which will see Cove continue to demonstrate their progressive and modern approach. The stands are designed to be easily extended in the future should the demand be there.”

Work will begin shortly on planning and preparation for the new permanent stands.

HEAD TO HEAD

This afternoon’s game will be the fifteenth meeting of Cove Rangers and Montrose since our first head-to-head back in December 1992. We hold the upper hand, having won seven of the previous fourteen and drawn three.

Our first encounter with the Links Park side was in the Scottish Cup all of thirty-one years ago when, as a Highland League team, we won a second round tie at Allan Park by two goals to nil, the match coming just a few weeks after the gala friendly against Manchester United to celebrate the installation of the new floodlights at the stadium.

We would not meet again until July of 2016, in the final match of the newly introduced group stages of the League Cup. With both sides having lost their three previous games, it was Cove who ended on a high; Stuart Walker, Mitch Megginson and Daniel Park all finding the net to secure a 3-0 success in a tie played at Station Park, Forfar.

We next met two years later in the first round of the Challenge Cup at Balmoral Stadium. Paul McManus twice gave Cove the lead that night, but Montrose fought back to secure a 2-2 draw, and the visitors would progress, winning the penalty shoot-out 4-3.

Following the team’s promotion from League Two, the sides went head-to-head for the first time on league business in the truncated 2020/21 campaign.

Harry Milne put us ahead in the opening encounter, but goals from Webster and McLean earned the points for Stewart Petrie’s team.

They would also emerge victorious in the second meeting that season with Fraser Fyvie’s own goal enough to earn a 1-0 win at Links Park in which Ryan Strachan was red-carded late on.

Strangely, we were back in Montrose just nine days later, but the outcome was a happier one; Megginson grabbing a double to clinch a 2-0 victory.

The 2021/22 campaign saw four hardfought encounters with Cove emerging unbeaten, a crucial factor in our titlewinning push.

In the opener at Balmoral, Rory McAllister scored shortly after halftime, but Graham Webster levelled from the penalty spot. Despite Blair Yule being sent off soon after, the team held on for a 1-1 draw.

The next encounter finished goalless, a match ruined by high winds, during which defences were on top, and Stuart McKenzie pulled off a couple of vital saves to ensure we held on for the point. In mid-January 2022 it was top against second when the sides met at Balmoral Stadium. On a tense afternoon which saw Megginson, Logan and Vigurs all having to go off injured before halftime, Rory McAllister’s sixteenth goal of the season was enough to earn a crucial win. The team came close to adding to that and had to see out six minutes of stoppage time before being able to celebrate.

“The 2021/22 campaign saw four hard-fought encounters with Cove emerging unbeaten...”

The final meeting was the first of four successive away matches against our promotion rivals late in the campaign. Crosses from Shay Logan set up Mitch Megginson and Fraser Fyvie for first half goals, and although Johnston pulled one back, Cove secured an allimportant victory which set us up for the title run in.

We also came out on top in the earlier League One encounter this season, our front three of Rumarn Burrell, Scott Williamson and Mitch Megginson all on target as the side cruised to a comfortable win.

Montrose got their revenge three weeks later, Brown and Hester netting to send Montrose through to the next round of the Challenge Cup, but we were to make it back-to-back league wins in mid-November, Rumarn Burrell scoring the decisive goal at Balmoral Stadium.

The most recent meeting came in horrific conditions, both sides happy to settle for a 1-1 draw. Hester put the home side in front early on with Burrell snatching the leveller shortly before the interval.

PAST MEETINGS

HOSPITALITY NOW AVAILABLE!

With the Balmoral Lounge all but sold out for the entire league season, the club is now offering alternative hospitality in the Players Lounge, an option which has proved highly popular.

Already, we have had stag parties, work and family outings, and other large groups, and the package is also available to individuals.

Competitively priced as just £70pp, which includes VAT and the cost of the match ticket.

The afternoon is hosted by the club’s former kit-man, Adrian ‘Edser’ Thomson – a popular and well-known figure among Cove fans.

To find out more and to secure your places, please contact Angela Bruce at abruce@coverangersfc.com

Package includes:

• Arrival ninety minutes prior to kick-off

• Complimentary drinks

• Sandwich platter pre-match

• Reserved seating in the West Stand

• Half-time tea, coffee and pie

• Full-time bar for 45 minutes after final whistle

• Car parking

• No dress code

• One-off option or book for the season

We currently have availability for the following games...

Alloa Athletic

Saturday, April 20th

Edinburgh City

Saturday, May 4th

SPFL: 150 GAMES IN

This afternoon’s cinch League One encounter with Montrose represents a milestone for the club; it will be our 150th in the SPFL since gaining promotion from the Highland League just five years ago.

The adventure in the senior set-up began in notable fashion with a 5-0 thrashing of Edinburgh City at Balmoral Stadium, and it was entirely appropriate that Mitch Megginson netted our opening goal. The captain, of course, remains a key figure at the club, along with two others who started that afternoon, Blair Yule and Connor Scully.

Connor Scully142 games

Micth Megginson129 games

Blair Yule120 games

Leighton McIntosh holds the record for most substitute appearances in a single season, a total of twenty in the 2021/22 campaign, but Kyle Connell looks set to snatch that title this time round, having already been subbed-on nineteen times.

Only three players have recorded everpresent seasons with Stuart McKenzie having done so back-to-back in our first couple of campaigns. The big keeper started fifty matches in a row, a total being targeted by Connor Scully, who has kicked-off the last thirty-six league games since missing the defeat to Dundee just over a year ago.

Connor played every game in 2019-20, and has emulated that feat so far in 2023/24, and the third ever-present was Blair Yule, who did not miss a game in the truncated 2020/21 campaign. Morgyn Neill was absent for one match

“In total, seventy-six players have featured in league matches for the club in the last five years...”

in 2021/22 and Scully suffered the same fate in our Championship campaign. Rumarn Burrell is also in line to play every game this season, albeit his total includes one substitute appearance.

In total, seventy-six players have featured in league matches for the club in the last five years with fifteen playing fifty or more games. At the other end of the scale, half a dozen have come on as substitutes without ever starting an SPFL match.

Shay Logan started fifty league games, but never came on as a sub, while Mitch Megginson has made a single substitute appearance in his 129 SPFL matches, being called from the bench in the 2-2 draw with Raith Rovers in January 2023.

Mitch Megginson (70)

Rory McAllister (24)

Jamie Masson (22)

Rumarn Burrell (19)

Fraser Fyvie 15)

It will shock no-one to learn that Mitch Megginson has been Cove Rangers’ top scorer across our SPFL journey; his total of seventy league goals has the skipper well clear of the chasing pack.

Rory McAllister and Jamie Masson are the only two others to have climbed into the twenties, although Burrell will surely join them in the coming weeks.

Only three other players, Leighton McIntosh (14), Connor Scully (13) and Harry Milne (12) have amassed double figures in the league.

Up until this season, Mitch Megginson had also recorded the hottest scoring streak of any Cove player in the SPFL when between December 2019 and January 2020 he netted in six successive games, finishing that campaign by scoring in nine of our last ten matches.

That record stood until last winter when Rumarn Burrell was successful in eight straight games.

Mitch is the only player to have scored in each of the five seasons since we stepped up from the Highland League, having netted more than a quarter of the 258 total we have amassed in Leagues One, Two and the Championship.

Surprisingly perhaps, we have achieved just four hat-tricks during our time in the SPFL. Unsurprisingly, it was Mitch Megginson who got the first, with Rory McAllister and Rumarn, twice in the space of three weeks during the run mentioned above, following in his wake.

“The unbeaten sequence spanned a remarkable twenty-seven games...”

Our longest run without defeat in the SPFL stretched from a 4-2 loss at East Fife in League One on the 16th of October 2021 all the way through to the 6th of August 2022, when we went down 1-0 to Morton at Cappielow. The unbeaten sequence spanned a remarkable twenty-seven games and saw us clinch both the League One title and promotion to the Championship.

Our record defeat came in January 2023, a painful 6-0 loss at the hands of Queen’s Park, while our biggest win in the SPFL was on March 10th, 2020, on the final evening of that shortened season, when courtesy of an outstanding performance, the side thrashed Stirling Albion 7-1 with Megginson and Masson each scoring twice.

We also hit seven earlier this season in the 7-2 success over Edinburgh City, the highest scoring match we have been involved in since joining the league.

OVERALL RECORD

**In addition, we have featured in two playoff matches, the 4-3 aggregate defeat to Airdrieonians at the end of the 2020/21 season. Those have not been included in any of the above statistics, which relate to regular league games.

Paul Hartley

Tam Ritchie

1. Nick Suman

4. Connor Scully

5. Mouhamed Niang

2. Jacob Jones

8. Blair Yule

9. Mitch Megginson

Management Sponsors

Player Sponsors

7. Paul McGowan

6. Will Gillingham

3. Michael Doyle

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

22. Mark Gallagher

21. Balint Demus

24. Fraser Fyvie

20. Myles Gaffney

11. Kyle Connell

10. Rumarn Burrell

16. Iain Vigurs

18. Tyler Mykyta

17. Josh Kerr

27. Cameron Stewart

26. Mark Reynolds

19. Dayshonne Golding

15. Arron Darge

14. Luke Strachan

The midweek defeat at the hands of Falkirk was a hard one to take, especially when we learned afterwards we’d had a perfectly good goal ruled out. It was a well-worked move, Arron Darge playing a nice ball over the top and Rumarn timing his run to perfection before finishing.

Looking over from the bench, my gut feeling was that he had been onside, and that was confirmed when we saw the replays afterwards. I know it was pretty tight, but the linesman had the edge of the penalty area to help him, and it’s really disappointing he got it wrong.

It is however important we do not let that affect us in any negative way after what was a strong, disciplined performance against what is clearly the best team in the league.

Falkirk attempted to take the game to us and given the attacking players and the pace they have; they were always going to pose a threat. I thought the boys stood up to that very well throughout. The manager went for a back three, and Doyley, Josh and Mark proved a really good unit on the night.

Falkirk did obviously create a few openings, but not as many I’m sure as in most of their other games this season, and when they did get through, Bal was equal to the task.

We defended as a team though, everyone putting in a real shift, but although it was backs-to-the-wall for large spells, we did manage to carve out a few opportunities ourselves. Apart from Rumarn’s ‘goal’ there were a number of other occasions when, if the ball had run kindly for us, we might have scored.

“...you always have to battle all the way if you’re to come out on top in this fixture.”

Overall, while obviously disappointed to have lost, we have to take the positives from the game, of which there were plenty, and use them this afternoon against our visitors from just down the road.

Montrose have been regular opponents in recent years, we know them well and how they play, and also that you never get an easy ride against them.

I first played against Montrose for Cove back in 2016, scoring in a 3-0 win in the League Cup, and I’ve found the net on a few occasions since. We also won 3-0 down at Links Park in the early part of this season, but those kind of scorelines are rare when the sides meet.

No matter the outcome, you always have to battle all the way if you’re to come out on top in this fixture.

They have an experienced team, some very solid defenders, and they also carry a threat. Montrose have been on a good run, just one defeat in the last six weeks – a 3-0 loss at Falkirk – and came out on top in a seven goal thriller last weekend against Alloa.

That put them into pole position in the race for the playoffs, just ahead of ourselves and Alloa, but we know that if we win today, we’ll be back in the top four, and that’s what we are aiming for.

The final quarter is going to be demanding, but we would much rather have it that way, and all the boys are fired-up for the run-in

Mitch COYC!

PAUL HARTLEY

It was a tough game for us in midweek against Falkirk, but I thought we competed really well against a good team, twenty-eight games unbeaten, and we gave it a good go.

I changed the shape because I felt that was the right way to approach the game and our organisation was excellent. I was really pleased with our attitude and the overall performance.

We needed to be a bit more solid at the back given the threat their front four carry, and while that meant we gave up the sides a wee bit, it was the right thing to do, and the boys worked so hard; I could not have asked any more of them.

Moments change games, and we should probably have cleared our lines better when they got the goal late on, we should have been quicker to close them down, but that apart, everything they threw at us, we handled, and Bal didn’t have too many saves to make.

It was a tight match, as it can be at this stage; they’re going for the title, we’re pushing for the top four, and I knew that even a point might be vital with the pressure on. We very nearly got that.

We should have equalised at the end, Burrell was clearly onside, but that’s what happens in the game sometimes, and you just have to take it on the chin. Sometimes these things go for you; on Tuesday night, it didn’t.

If we had VAR, it’s a goal, and that decision certainly went against us. We just have to hope things even out in the coming weeks.

“ There’s plenty experience in both sides, players who know what is needed...”

Now, we have to move on. It was a quick turnaround for this afternoon’s meeting with Montrose, and we have had to patch up the squad a bit, given how light we were for the Falkirk match, just four outfield subs on the bench.

We are into the last quarter, it’s really the business end of the season where we’re fighting to get into the playoffs, and be in no doubt, I know my players, and we will be ready for the battle. They will be fired-up and ready to go.

We have played Montrose so often, they’re always tight games, but we’ve done alright against them in the league this season. I expect another tough encounter today, they’ve put in a lot of good performances, and they’ll be making the trip up the coast with confidence.

There’s plenty experience in both sides, players who know what is needed at this stage of the season. We’ve certainly got guys who have that knowhow, can draw on the success they’ve achieved, winning promotions and titles, and that can be crucial when the heat is on, particularly in helping the younger ones along the way.

I try to pass on my experience too, what I’ve gained over the years both as a player and manager; do everything I can to support the boys and give them the tools they need.

We have strengths at both ends of the pitch, we have good defenders and we carry a goal threat; when our strikers are firing on all cylinders they are difficult to handle, and we are going to need to get it right all over the park this afternoon if we’re to get the win we all want.

Enjoy the game!

Paul Hartley

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 me et with him and discuss any matters that you feel he can be of assista nce with , please contact Richard on 07977 399 537 or email rbrooks@aberdeencity.gov.uk

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CLUB HONOURS

Scottish League 1

Winners ‘21-’22

Scottish League 2

Winners ‘19-’20

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

Scottish Qualifying Cup (North)

Winners ‘90-’91, ‘00-’01

Runners-up ‘88-’89, ‘91-’92, ‘01-’02, ‘03-’04

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 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 ‘86-’87

Inter-League Trophy

Winners ‘01-’02

Cove Rangers

Manager - Paul Hartley

1 Nick Suman

2 Jacob Jones

3 Michael Doyle

4 Connor Scully

5 Mouhamed Niang

6 Will Gillingham

7 Paul McGowan

8 Blair Yule

9 Mitch Megginson

10 Rumarn Burrell

11

12 Milosz

14 Luke Strachan 15

Montrose

Manager - Stewart Petrie

1 Cammy Gill

2 Ryan Williamson

3 Andrew Steeves

4 Aidan Quinn

5 Kerr Waddell

6 Terry Masson

7 Graham Webster

8 Paul Watson

10 Michael Gardyne

11 Blair Lyons

12 Kane Hester

14 Seán Dillon

16 Craig Batchelor

29