Kelty Hearts Matchday Programme - 27th September 2025

Saturday 27th September 2025 3:00pm KO

Kelty Hearts

Saturday 27th September 2025, 3:00pm KO

Features

FIXTURE ROUND-UP KELTY HEARTS HEAD TO HEAD LEWIS O’DONNELL

04 08 10

Regulars Upcoming Fixtures & League Table Stadium Advertising Season 24/25 Statistics Player & Management Sponsorship Upcoming Events View from the Dugout Club Partners Club Information Club Honours Club Shop Todays Team Lines

Match Sponsor

02 14 16 18 21 22 24 25 26 28 29

02 UPCOMING FIXTURES & LEAGUE TABLE SAT 4th OCTOBER | BAYVIEW STADIUM | 3:00PM KO SAT 11th OCTOBER | BALMORAL STADIUM | 3:00PM SAT 18th OCTOBER | BALMORAL STADIUM | 3:00PM KO SAT 25H OCTOBER | LINKS PARK | 3:00PM KO

William Hill League 1

P

W

D

L

GD

PTS

STENHOUSEMUIR

7

4

2

1

4

14

INVERNESS CT

7

6

0

1

10

13

ALLOA ATHLETIC

6

4

0

2

2

12

HAMILTON ACADEMICAL

7

3

2

2

7

11

EAST FIFE

7

3

2

2

-1

11

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH

7

3

1

3

1

10

MONTROSE

7

2

2

3

-3

8

PETERHEAD

7

2

1

4

-4

7

KELTY HEARTS

6

1

0

5

-9

3

COVE RANGERS

7

0

2

5

-7

2

03 MATCHDAY 50/50 TICKETS

The half-time 50/50 tickets are available from the 50/50 Stand beside the Home Pie Hut! Not only will you be in with a chance to win a cash prize, but your ticket also gives you 10% off at Sea Salt + Sole – valid on matchday onl

50/50 DRAW WINNER The half-time draw at the inverness Caledonian Thistle match was claimed

by Gary Wilson with winning ticket number 171948 .

04 FIXTURES ROUND-UP

FIXTURES ROUND-UP

05 The search for our first League One win of the season goes on after back-to-back defeats since the last match programme.

In the first of those, we matched promotion favourites Caley Thistle pretty much all of the way with a disciplined defensive performance, only to lose out to a deflected strike midway through the second half. Paul Hartley’s selection options had been further limited for that one with Blair Yule missing through illness and joining Fraser Fyvie and Arron Darge on the sidelines.

Declan Glass had returned but was forced to limp off after just seventeen minutes, meaning Mitch Megginson had to drop back into the heart of the midfield.

Seven days later we were at The Indodrill and despite creating a few chances early on, went in 2-0 behind as Alloa threatened to run riot. The manager changed formation with less than half an hour on the clock, which helped us settle, and the team went on to dominate after the interval. Megginson’s fine strike gave us hope, and there were a number of opportunities for the boys to snatch a leveller, but the home side held out to claim the points.

In midweek, we resumed our KDM Evolution Trophy campaign, but despite a dominant attacking display, the team had to settle for a draw. They fell behind after the interval, Ryan Harrington levelling the game with a powerful header, and although they continued to put the pressure on, and created numerous chances, were unable to find a winner.

06 FIXTURES ROUND-UP Sept 13 INV CAL THIS 0-1 (3-5-2) Mutch; J. Eguaibor, Doyle (c), Parker; Bisland, Glass (Mylchreest 17), Strachan, O’Donnell, Harrington; Megginson, D. Eguaibor Substitutes: Demus, Ochmanski, Donaldson, Milnes Sept 20 ALLOA ATH. 1-2 Megginson (69) (3-5-2) Mutch; J. Eguaibor (Mylchreest 29), Doyle (c), Parker; Bisland, Strachan (Ochmanski 65), Yule, O’Donnell, Harrington; Megginson, D. Eguaibor Substitutes: Demus, Donaldson, Milnes Sept 23 HIBERNIAN B 1-1 Harrington (73) (4-2-3-1) Demus; Bisland, J. Eguaibor, Parker, Ochmanski; Strachan (Yule 63), O’Donnell; Mylchreest, Milnes (Donaldson 63), Harrington (c); D. Eguaibor Substitutes: Mutch

08 KELTY HEARTS

HEAD TO HEAD

We take on Kelty Hearts on Saturday in what will be just a tenth meeting of the sides.

The first encounter was a League Cup tie in July 2022 when our visitors raced into a 2-0 lead and went on to secure the points with a 3-2 victory, despite goals from Fraser Fyvie and Robbie Leitch.

The eight fixtures since have followed a bizarre pattern with the four games at Balmoral ending in draws – three of them finishing 2-2 – and Cove emerging successful from all four trips to New Central Park.

The initial league head-to-head came in September 2023, and having won just once in our opening five matches, we found ourselves two behind after just thirty-five minutes. Mitch Megginson hauled us back into it before the break, and grabbed his second from the penalty spot to set up a dominant half, but we were unable to find the winner. That draw did however set up an eleven game unbeaten run.

Our first ever trip to Kelty ended in a 1-0 victory, Rumarn Burrell grabbing the only goal in November, and two months later the Fife side secured another 2-2 draw at Balmoral, but this time it was the visitors who had to mount a comeback.

09

Burrell and Megginson had us coasting, 2-0 up at the interval, but Alfie Bavidge reduced the arrears and Adam Corbett netted the leveller soon after.

We were back in Kelty in March 2024, and again Mitch Megginson scored against the Fifers, expertly guiding home an inch-perfect Fyvie free-kick to clinch the victory early in the second half.

Six months later, the side earned a 3-1 success down there. Mitch again netted, bundling home the opener, but Ross Cunningham levelled, and the game looked to be heading for a draw when Blair Yule unleashed a rocket into the top corner. Findlay Marshall’s fine finish minutes later was the icing on the cake.

The next meeting, in December 2024, was a drab goalless affair, but when we ventured south the following March, it was anything but, the team romping to a 4-0 stroll. Mitch Megginson maintained his fine record against Kelty, heading home what was his 100th league goal for the club in the SPFL. Fraser Fyvie netted twice after the break and Adam Emslie notched his tenth of the season, rubber-stamping a win which moved us second in the table.

The most recent encounter was back in April at Balmoral, and it followed what has become a familiar pattern. This time it was Cove who went 2-0 ahead, Emslie opening the scoring and Mitch netting for the sixth time in eight league meetings to double our advantage. The visitors hit back after the break, Johnston and Cunningham securing yet another 2-2 draw.

10 LEWIS O’DONNELL

22

11 We were delighted earlier this month to announce the signing of highly-rated Dundee United midfielder Lewis O’Donnell, who joined us on loan, initially until January.

Lewis was well known to Cove Rangers fans, having played regularly against us for both Kelty Hearts and Queen of the South during loan spells in each of the past couple of seasons. He now has more than sixty first team games under his belt and made his United debut in the Premier Sports Cup in July 2024.

Having had to be patient in the transfer market this summer, Paul Hartley was delighted to have bolstered his squad: “Lewis was a player I have been tracking since his Kelty days, he caught my eye then and always did well against us, so I’m really pleased to have finally got him here.

“He’s a box-to-box midfielder who will fit in really well with the way we want to play, and I have no doubt he has the talent to make a big impression with us. On top of that, he has picked up a fair bit of experience now and knows the league and the teams we’ll be playing against, which is a big help.”

Lewis, who has taken the number twenty-two shirt, has already made a real impact in the four games he has so far played, and said he was keen to make the move as soon as he heard Cove were interested: “Definitely, I remember playing against Cove in the past and they played some really good football, which suits me, so I was delighted, and it’s been great getting back out on the pitch again.

“You grow in confidence the more games you play, and this will be my third year in League One and it’s a very good level in my opinion. I will be doing what I can to try to help push the team back up the league table.”

Pick the team We do the rest Play for free Registered UK/IE players. Runs EPL season. Free to play. Enter and make first pick by Round 1 start. Pick new team before each Round; each team can be picked once per League. Prizes vary and apply to Public Leagues only. Min prize £1,000. 1 active League at a time unless prize is £100k or more. Winner takes all if 1 left; Prize split if all lose in same Round or if multiple players left at end of League. Paid within 48h. Online. T&Cs apply.

14 STADIUM ADVERTISING

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS

15 Balmoral Stadium is the ideal place for local businesses, large and small, to increase their visibility and reach out to a wider client base With thousands of supporters visiting each season, it is an opportunity to attract attention and get your company noticed perimeter adverts can be custom made and sized to suit your requirements, and we have limited spaces available now for further information please contact our commercial team at mmilne@coverangersfc.com

16 25/26 SEASON STATS Date

Fixture

Competition

H/A

Score

15/07/2025

The Spartans

PSC

H

1-0

19/07/2025

Falkirk

PSC

H

0-0

22/07/2025

Brechin

PSC

A

3-0

26/07/2025

Queen’s Park

PSC

A

1-2

02/08/2025

Queen of the South

SPFL 1

H

0-2

09/08/2025

Stenhousemuir

SPFL 1

A

0-1

12/08/2025

The Spartans

KDM Trophy

H

1-1

16/08/2025

Montrose

SPFL 1

H

3-3

23/08/2025

Peterhead

SPFL 1

A

1-3

26/08/2025

Dundee B

KDM Trophy

H

1-0

30/08/2025

Hamilton Academical

SPFL 1

A

0-0

06/09/2025

Elgin

KDM Trophy

A

0-1

13/09/2025

Inverness C Thistle

SPFL 1

H

0-1

20/09/2025

Alloa Athletic

SPFL 1

A

0-2

23/09/2025

Hibernian B

KDM Trophy

H

1-1

27/09/2025

Kelty Hearts

SPFL 1

H

04/10/2025

East Fife

SPFL 1

A

11/10/2025

Dundee Utd B

KDM Trophy

H

18/10/2025

Stenhousemuir

SPFL 1

A

25/10/2025

Montrose

SPFL 1

A

01/11/2025

Peterhead

SPFL1

H

08/11/2025

Inverness C Thistle

SPFL 1

A

11/11/2025

Forfar

KDM Trophy

H

Robbie Mutch

Layton Bisland

Michael Doyle

Mackenzie Strachan

Appearances - 10

Appearances - 15

Appearances - 14

Appearances - 15

00

00

00

00

04

00

06

00

00

00

01

00

Justin Eguaibor

Ryan Harrington

Blair Yule

Mitchel Megginson

Appearances - 13

Appearances - 14

Appearances - 10

Appearances - 12

00

00

00

01

01

00

04

00

Declan Glass Appearances - 07

01

01

00

01

03

04

00

17 Date

Fixture

Competition

H/A

15/11/2025

Hamilton Academical

SPFL 1

H

22/11/2025

Alloa Athletic

SPFL 1

H

06/12/2025

Queen of the South

SPFL 1

A

13/12/2025

East Fife

SPFL 1

H

20/12/2025

Kelty Hearts

SPFL 1

A

27/12/2025

Peterhead

SPFL 1

A

03/01/2026

Montrose

SPFL 1

H

10/01/2026

Inverness C Thistle

SPFL 1

H

24/01/2026

Hamilton Academical

SPFL 1

A

31/01/2026

Alloa Athetlic

SPFL 1

A

07/02/2026

Queen of the South

SPFL 1

H

14/02/2026

East Fife

SPFL 1

A

21/02/2026

Kelty Hearts

SPFL 1

H

28/02/2026

Stenhousemuir

SPFL 1

A

07/03/2026

Peterhead

SPFL 1

H

14/03/2026

Inverness CT

SPFL 1

A

21/03/2026

Hamilton Academical

SPFL 1

H

28/03/2026

Montrose

SPFL 1

A

04/04/2026

Alloa Athletic

SPFL 1

H

11/04/2026

Queen of the South

SPFL 1

A

18/04/2026

Stenhousemuir

SPFL 1

H

25/04/2026

Kelty Hearts

SPFL 1

A

02/05/2026

East Fife

SPFL 1

H

Score

Milosz Ochmanski

Jackson Mylchreest

Arron Darge

Cole Donaldson

Appearances - 07

Appearances - 08

Appearances - 08

Appearances - 05

01

01

00

00

02

00

01

04

00

00

00

David Eguaibor

Balint Demus

Lewis O’Donnell

Fraser Fyvie

Appearances - 14

Appearances - 05

Appearances - 04

Appearances - 02

07

05

01

00

00

00

00

00

Mikey Milnes

Liam Parker

Appearances - 04

Appearances - 15

00

01

00

00

04

00

00

00

00

00

00

18 SPONSORSHIPS Management Sponsors

Paul Hartley

Player Sponsors

Home Sponsor

Away Sponsor

Home Sponsor

Away Sponsor

Home Sponsor

Available

1. Robbie Mutch

8.Blair Yule

Home Sponsor

Away Sponsor

Available

2. Layton Bisland

3. Michael Doyle

Away Sponsor

Home Sponsor

Away Sponsor

Available

Available

Available

Bill Nicholson

6. Justin Eguaibor

7. Ryan Harrington

4. Mackenzie Strachan

Home Sponsor

Away Sponsor

19

Home Sponsor

Away Sponsor

8. Blair Yule

Home Sponsor

Away Sponsor

9. Mitchel Megginson

Home Sponsor

Away Sponsor

10. Declan Glass

Home Sponsor

Away Sponsor

Home Sponsor

Away Sponsor

Home Sponsor

Away Sponsor

Available

Available

Available

Available

Available

Available

14. Jackson Mylchreest

19. Cole Donaldson

Home Sponsor

8.Blair Yule

Home Sponsor

15. Arron Darge

Away Sponsor

20. David Eguaibor

18. Adam Emslie

Home Sponsor

Away Sponsor

RichardBrooks.org Aberdeen South

21. Balint Demus

20 SPONSORSHIPS

Home Sponsor

Away Sponsor

Available

Available

22. Lewis O’ Donnell

Home Sponsor

Home Sponsor

Away Sponsor

24 . Fraser Fyvie

Available

32. Liam Parker On Loan

Away Sponsor

Available

Available

11. Grady McGrath

Away Sponsor

Available

Away Sponsor

Home Sponsor

Home Sponsor

Home Sponsor

Away Sponsor

23. Jack Robertson

25. Mikey Milnes

21 UPCOMING EVENTS

22 A VIEW FROM THE DUGOUT Good afternoon and welcome to Balmoral Stadium for what promises to be a huge match for us against Kelty Hearts.

Given how the league table stands, even this early it looks like being an important ninety minutes for both sides, and if we can finally secure our first league win of the campaign it would be a massive boost for everyone.

There’s no getting away from it, it’s a big game.

We’re in a position we don’t want to be in, but that’s where we are, and we’re all in it together fighting hard.

The focus all week has been on resting the players, keeping them nice and fresh, and getting it right against Kelty, and we need to go into the game with the right mentality.

We do so having played some really good football over the past game and a half.

It was pleasing to recover in the way we did down at Alloa last week, when we might easily have snatched a draw from 2-0 down, and despite being understrength, the team carried that into the midweek cup-tie.

23 There was a lot of good play, and we created so many chances; now it’s about turning that into goals. We need to be a bit more ruthless in the final third, and that would help to breed confidence. It might be a scrappy goal that sets us off, that might be all we need, and then hopefully it will build from there.

One win can turn your season around, we’ve seen that happen so many times, and our first objective is to catch Kelty. If we get the victory, that puts us ahead of them, and we can start looking to get right back into the pack.

They will see the match as being just as important for them because they’ve also had their struggles, but we need to make sure we take care of ourselves, use the home advantage, and secure that first win.

The one thing I would say is that I cannot fault the players. Their attitude has been first-class, they know the position we’re in, and the spirit in the camp remains high.

They’re working ever so hard and I hope they get the reward they deserve this afternoon.

Enjoy the game!

24 CLUB PARTNERS Principal Club Partner

Official Club Partners

Principal Stadium Partner

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

T: 01224 392111 F: 01224 392859 coverangersfc.com

Facebook Twitter Instagram @coverangersfc

Honorary President

Alan McRae OBE

Directors

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

Football Manager

Paul Hartley

Goalkeeping Coach

Derek Soutar

Performance Analyst

Rhys Sutcliffe

Physiotherapist

Joe Dawson

Sports Therapist

Mia Paul

Kit Manager

Ian Sellar

Assistant Kit Manager

Gary Hake

Club Doctor

Michael Anthony

General Manager

Alan Booth

Sales & Marketing

Morgan Milne

Head of Media & Communications

Richard Gordon

Digital Media

Andrew Jamieson

Club Photographer

Finlay Thom

Supporter Liasion Officer

Michael Coull

Child Wellbeing & Protection Officer

Kate Dean

Club Chaplain

Dougie Simpson

26 CLUB HONOURS Scottish League 1 Winners

Scottish League 2 21/22

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 Runners-Up

‘90-’91, ‘00-’01 ‘88-’89, ‘91-’92, ‘01-’02, ‘03-’04

Highland League Cup Winners Runners-Up

‘94-’95, ‘99-’00, ‘04-’05, ‘14-’15, ‘16-’17, ‘18-’19 ‘90-’91, ‘92-’93, ‘95-’96, ‘97-’98, ‘05-’06, ‘07-’08, ‘11-’12

Aberdeenshire Cup Winners Runners-Up

‘01-’02, ‘10-’11, ‘18-’19 ‘92-’93, ‘94-’95, ‘16-’17, ‘17-’18

Aberdeenshire Shield Winners Runners-Up

‘90-’91, ‘00-’01, ‘08-’09, ‘17-’18 ‘94-’95, ‘12-’13, ‘15-’16

CLUB SHOP

29 TODAYS TEAM LINES

Cove Rangers

Kelty Hearts Manager: Thomas O’Ware

1 Robbie Mutch 2 Layton Bisland 3 Michael Doyle 4 Mackenzie Strachan 6 Justin Eguaibor 7 Ryan Harrington 8 Blair Yule 9 Mitch Megginson 10 Declan Glass 11 Grady McGrath (On loan to Brechin City) 14 Jackson Mylchreest 15 Arron Darge 18 Adam Emslie 19 Cole Donaldson 20 David Eguaibor 21 Balint Demus 22 Lewis O’Donnell 23 Jack Robertson 24 Fraser Fyvie 25 Mikey Milnes 32 Liam Parker

1 Cole Miller 2 Murray Thomas 3 Brody Paterson 4 Thomas O’Ware 6 Alex Ferguson 8 Aaron Arnott 9 Craig Johnston 10 Innes Murray 11 Robbie Cole 12 Lewis Carroll 14 James Graham 15 Craig Clay 16 Ricco Diack 19 Clark Bexfield 20 Scott Mercer 21 Ryan Adamson 23 Cooper Masson 24 Joe Teasdale 27 Jack Wyllie 29 Bailey Campbell 30 Grant Leitch 35 Jack Brydon

Manager: Paul Hartley

Today’s Referee - Josh Hay Today’s Assistant Referees - Colin Drummond, Kevin Totten

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