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EAST KILBRIDE 3–2 COVE RANGERS

The Lowland League side came out on top after a dramatic ending during which we looked to have won the tie, only to lose two late goals. East Kilbride had gone in front early, but Mitch Megginson quickly cancelled that out, and in a game we largely had the better of, Myles Gaffney appeared to settle things, finishing off a fine move. There were just six minutes to go then, but the home team managed to find two goals to secure a famous victory.

Paul Hartley made two changes from the win over Montrose, Balint Demus in for Nick Suman and Grady McGrath back for Liam Parker.

Liam, along with Adam Emslie, Findlay Marshall and Reuben McAllister were all cup-tied, the manager able to name just six substitutes, including the fit-again Finlay Murray.

The home side kicked-off on a blisteringly hot afternoon and forced an early corner which was half cleared, but they kept up the pressure, and when Stirling delivered from the right, Adam LIVINGSTONE rose highest at the back post to head goalwards. Demus got a hand to the ball but could not keep it out.

It might have been two in the seventh minute when a long ball over the top found Livingstone running clear in behind Doyle. The winger shot powerfully, but Demus was alert and dived to his left to make a fine save.

Fielding a team packed with SPFL experience, East Kilbride were playing with confidence after their strong start, but we began to enjoy more possession, albeit without finding a decisive pass.

That changed in the fourteenth minute when the ball was clipped forward to the edge of the East Kilbride box. Under pressure from Jamie Hamilton, Mitch MEGGINSON showed real strength to shrug off the central defender and his low angled shot was perfectly placed just inside the left post.

We looked the more threatening after that, and it took some last gasp defending to clear both a dangerous Megginson cross, then a Blair Yule delivery flashed in from the right. Soon after, Yule and Glass combined to set up Scully whose low driven pass was knocked out for a corner. From that, we again looked dangerous, but Megginson could only flick wide when the ball dropped behind him.

Blair Yule was getting plenty freedom down the right, his crosses causing major problems for the home defence, but the ball would not run for the front men, and clear cut chances were at a premium.

East Kilbride had fallen out of the game as an attacking threat, Demus only being called into action to gather a couple of crosses, and the half ended with Cove looking the more likely to score again.

They were more to the fore after the restart without causing us any real problems until Robertson picked the ball up twenty-five yards out. His shot took a wicked deflection, but flew wide, Demus scrambling across to prevent the corner.

East Kilbride assistant manager Simon Ferry was then sent off for foul and abusive language after the referee was alerted by his linesman.

McGrath and Megginson were working hard up front, the midfield trying to link up with them, but we were unable to create any real openings despite Cove largely dominating possession.

That changed following a raft of substitutions, when after just seconds on the pitch, Myles Gaffney raced in behind Fagan, but his angled shot was saved by Connelly. Arron Darge was next to threaten, driving into the area, and when his shot cannoned off a defender, Scully saw his effort deflected wide.

From the resultant Declan Glass corner, Will Gillingham headed just over at the back post. Connor Scully then flashed in an inviting delivery which Gaffney only just failed to reach.

Mitch Megginson went off injured with fifteen minutes to go, replaced by Milosz Ochmanski, which prompted a reshuffle at the back and Darge moving up into midfield.

East Kilbride threatened as the game moved into its later stages, Robertson cutting in from the right and shooting low, but Demus gathered comfortably down by his left post.

We snatched a deserved lead in the 84^th minute. Blair Yule broke clear on the right and crossed to the back post where Scully climbed above Ferguson to nod the ball across, and it was Myles GAFFNEY who was first to react, heading home.

It took an outstanding save from Balint Demus to keep out the home side immediately afterwards, Robertson shooting low with power following a corner, but the keeper dived full length to push it clear. The equaliser was however delayed only by seconds when, after a cross from the right, Jack LEITCH scrambled the ball in from close range.

East Kilbride won it in the third minute of stoppage time. Flannagan crossed from the right and it was fellow sub Stephen BOYD who stole in behind our defence to head the ball back across and into the net.

The defeat meant an early exit from the SPFL Trust Trophy for the third successive year.

EAST KILBRIDE (4-1-4-1): Connelly; Ferguson, McGregor (Fagan 65), Hamilton, Lockie (c); Spence; Stirling (Flannagan 65), Leitch, Balde, Livingstone (Boyd 76); Robertson

Substitutes: Wilson, McDonald, Biggar, Mimnaugh

Goalscorers: Livingstone (3), Leitch (87), Boyd (90)

Booked:

COVE RANGERS (4-4-2): Demus; Darge, Doyle, Gillingham, Harrington; Yule, Fyvie (c), Glass, Scully; Megginson (Ochmanski 75), McGrath (Gaffney 66)

Substitutes: Suman, Murray, Donaldson, Milnes

Goalscorers: Megginson (14), Gaffney (84)

Booked:

Referee: Joel Kennedy

Attendance: 253

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