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COVE RANGERS 1-3 ANNAN ATHLETIC

The League One campaign got off to the worst possible start as the side crashed to an opening day defeat. Annan made the breakthrough early in the second half, doubling their advantage with ten minutes remaining. Debutant Findlay Marshall gave us hope, but the visitors secured the points, netting a third after a breakaway deep into stoppage time.

The agony was compounded when Mitch Megginson was shown red in the wake of a melee following the final whistle.

Paul Hartley made two changes from the win over Dunfermline with Nick Suman replacing Balint Demus in goal and Fraser Fyvie returning from suspension in place of Milosz Ochmanski. New signings Marshall and Adam Emslie were on the bench alongside club captain Megginson, included for the first time this season. Grady McGrath completed his two-match ban.

Annan settled the better and carved out a half-chance in the third minute, Zaid cutting infield to shoot, his effort blocked by Finlay Murray. The visitors then forced a corner, and when Wullie Gibson swung the ball in, the towering Goss headed over from ten yards.

We got into the game soon after, Doyle linking with Harrington before Ryan flashed in a low cross which Connor Scully only just failed to connect with. The team kept up the pressure, and when Myles Gaffney took possession in the area, his angled shot was deflected just wide. From Fyvie’s resultant corner, Scully’s volley was on target but charged down by Todd.

In the nineteenth minute, Mikey Doyle chipped a ball over the top which Gaffney gathered and laid-off, but Glass’s low effort was wide of the left post.

Annan hit back, Zaid shooting from twenty-five yards, but Suman dealt with it comfortably.

We were enjoying most of the play though and Harrington had a shot blocked before Declan Glass skipped along the bye-line to cross low, his delivery just inches away from Blair Yule’s outstretched foot.

Adam Emslie came on for his debut at the interval, the manager removing Finlay Murray as he switched to a back four, and the winger was to enjoy an impressive half. He made an immediate impact, racing on to an excellent throw from Suman to play in an inviting pass. Myles Gaffney gave chase, but Jamie Smith was quickly off his line to smother the ball.

Emslie then linked up with Glass and Ryan Harrington to find Gaffney, the striker making a yard of space for himself before shooting narrowly wide into the side netting from fifteen yards.

Annan took the lead in their next attack. Gibson swung in a corner from the left and Tommy MUIR rose highest to glance the ball into the net. They might have gone two ahead from their next corner when the player-manager’s delivery bounced across the area, deflected off Harrington and rolled just wide of the back post.

Soon after Adam Emslie was involved again, benefiting from good link-up between Glass and Fyvie to send in another dangerous cross, which was cleared, and as the attack continued, he then cut-in to shoot, but dragged his effort wide.

Findlay Marshall and Mitch Megginson were thrown on for the last half-hour, but it was Emslie who was still catching the eye, driving in an excellent low delivery which Scully looked set to convert, only for Ryan Muir to nudge it behind.

Harrington shot over and Marshall had an effort blocked by Tommy Muir as we continued to press, but our task became harder with ten minutes remaining when Annan doubled their lead. Slackness at the back allowed Goss to gain possession, and the big striker rolled in Josh TODD who finished in composed fashion.

Emslie continued to make space and send in good deliveries, but the visiting defence stood firm until near the end when we finally made the breakthrough. From the second of back-to-back corners, Connor Scully went short to Megginson, and when he got it back, the midfielder crossed into the area where, after reacting quickly, Findlay MARSHALL rolled the ball into the net for a debut goal.

It should have been a Cove penalty in our next attack, Arron Darge caught by Aidan Smith in the box, but the referee stunned the home crowd by awarding Annan a free-kick. The team kept up the pressure, Glass and Megginson each being frustrated by desperate defending, but our hopes were extinguished in the sixth minute of stoppage time when, after Fraser Fyvie was robbed by Malik ZAID the midfielder rounded Nick Suman to slide home the decisive goal of the game.

As tempers flared after the final whistle, referee Grieve flashed a second yellow at Mitch Megginson, the Cove captain sent-off before leaving the pitch, and having just returned to the team, he now faces a suspension.

COVE RANGERS (5-3-1-1): Suman; Murray (Emslie 46), Gillingham, Doyle; Darge, Yule (Marshall 63), Fyvie (c), Scully, Harrington; Glass; Gaffney (Megginson 63)

Substitutes: Demus, Ochmanski, Strachan, Donaldson, Milnes

Goalscorers: Marshall (86)

Booked: Murray (10), Megginson (68), Marshall (83)

Sent off: Megginson (90)

ANNAN ATHLETIC (4-2-3-1): J. Smith; R. Muir (Quitongo 77), Kilsby, T. Muir (c), Gibson; McGowan (Dixon 72), P. Smith; Todd, Zaid, A. Smith (Quigg 90); Goss

Substitutes: G. Fleming, K. Fleming, Maxwell, Stevenson

Goalscorers: T. Muir (56), Todd (80), Zaid (90)

Booked: Kilsby (90)

Referee: Alastair Grieve

Attendance: 452

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