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STENHOUSEMUIR 3–2 COVE RANGERS

Goals either side of half-time saw Stenhousemuir snatch the initiative and turn the game round, consigning us to a third defeat in four games to kick-off the League One campaign. Findlay Marshall had given Cove the lead, but the home side netted three times after that, rendering Grady McGrath’s late strike nothing more than a consolation.

There was one change to the starting line-up, Fraser Fyvie restored in place of the unavailable Blair Yule. Megginson and Murray were also out, but all three should be back in the squad next week. New signings Reuben McAllister and Liam Parker were on the bench.

It was a 100^th league start for captain Fyvie, while Connor Scully hit two major milestones; his 150^th league start and 200^th appearance overall in the SPFL era.

The home side were first to threaten, Meechan driving in a cross from the right, but Marshall got a touch, and Suman was able to gather. Taylor then had an opening in the box, his effort blocked for a corner which came to nothing. Stenhousemuir continued to press, and when O’Reilly delivered from the left, O’Donnell shot wide of the near post.

We were struggling to secure any sustained possession, but finally did so in the eleventh minute when, after a move which involved half the team, Declan Glass wriggled clear and shot just wide from the edge of the area.

Marshall and Fyvie were now seeing plenty of the ball, and when Fraser clipped a pass into Scully, Connor laid it off for McGrath to score. The referee however whistled for handball to quickly halt any celebrations.

We had to defend again soon after, O’Reilly crossing from the right for Taylor to volley goalwards. Fortunately, Mikey Doyle was alert and made an acrobatic block.

Adam Emslie fired in a dangerous delivery which Buchanan did well to clear, but we kept the move going and looked to have taken the lead. Fyvie crossed from the right and Grady McGrath reacted quickly at the near post to net, only to be denied by the assistant flagging for offside.

Findlay Marshall picked up the game’s first booking for a trip on Ross Taylor, and from the resultant free-kick Bilham fired over from twenty-five yards.

Taylor was then cautioned for a reckless challenge on Nick Suman. With the ball already out, the midfielder barged into him from behind, forcing the big keeper to crash into the perimeter wall. Thankfully, Nick was able to resume after treatment.

We deservedly went in front in our next attack.

Declan Glass fed an accurate pass into the area, and Findlay MARSHALL took a touch beyond Wedderburn before lashing in a twelve yard shot which Jamieson got a hand to, but could not keep out.

The swirling wind caused a problem for Arron Darge in the 40^th minute, catching the defender out and allowing Taylor to sneak in behind. His close range header found only the side-netting.

Fyvie then drove down the right and after exchanging passes with Emslie, fired in an inviting delivery, but Scully, straining to make contact, nodded wide from ten yards.

The home side equalised on the stroke of half-time. Taylor got in behind on the left, and when he crossed, Corey O’DONNELL converted from close range despite Suman’s best efforts.

It was a scrappy start to the second half, but the goal which gave Stenhousemuir the lead was of the highest quality. Buchanan sent a long pass forward which Michael ANDERSON controlled before cutting infield. Having found a yard of space, he curled an outstanding twenty yard effort beyond Suman and inside the far post.

The game was now being played in a torrential downpour as Cove attempted to level. Marshall and Glass linked-up nicely to force a corner, but Declan’s eventual delivery was overhit. He then played in a cross from the right as we kept up the pressure, but Jamieson gathered with McGrath lurking.

Stenhousemuir were more clinical and increased their advantage in the fifty-eighth minute. From a needlessly given away corner, Taylor found the head of the unmarked Nat WEDDERBURN and the diving midfielder beat Suman with ease from six yards.

Paul Hartley made a triple substitution with twenty-five minutes remaining. Gillingham, Marshall and Emslie left the pitch to be replaced by debutants Liam Parker and Reuben McAllister, and Myles Gaffney.

The changes produced little in the way of scoring opportunities, and the home side came closer to adding to their tally, Bilham shooting powerfully from the edge of the box and bringing out a fine save from Nick Suman.

We snatched a lifeline in stoppage time when from McAllister’s corner, the ball rebounded off the near post, and after a scramble, was driven home from eight yards by Grady McGRATH, the striker’s first goal for the club.

It was to be the last action of the match and the home side held on for the three points.

STENHOUSEMUIR (4-1-4-1): Jamieson; Meechan, Buchanan (c), Banner, Bilham; Wedderburn; O’Reilly (Berry 76), Anderson (Brown 90), Alston (Aitken 76), Taylor (Jacobs 76); O’Donnell (Yates 88)

Substitutes: Lyle, Ewen, Allan

Goalscorers: O’Donnell (45), Anderson (48), Wedderburn (58)

Booked: Taylor (30), O’Donnell (61)

COVE RANGERS (4-2-3-1): Suman; Darge, Doyle, Gillingham (Parker 65), Harrington; Marshall (McAllister 65), Fyvie (c); Emslie (Gaffney 65), Glass, Scully; McGrath

Substitutes: Demus, Ochmanski, Donaldson, Milnes

Goalscorers: Marshall (33), McGrath (90)

Booked: Marshall (26)

Referee: Steven Kirkland

Attendance: 561

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