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ALLOA ATHLETIC 0-2 COVE RANGERS

We rounded off the first quarter of the campaign with another excellent away performance, ending Alloa’s unbeaten run in the process. The goals came early through Connor Scully and Fraser Fyvie, and our cause was helped when Luke Donnelly was sent-off before half-time. Thereafter, the team managed the game comfortably, and might well have added to the winning margin.

With Nick Suman and Declan Glass again sidelined through injury, there was one change from last week’s disappointing defeat to Arbroath, Fraser Fyvie returning in place of Findlay Marshall. Fraser adopted a more forward role with Blair Yule anchoring the midfield alongside Arron Darge.

It was a special day for Scully, the midfielder making his 67^th successive start, matching the club record in the SPFL era, held by legendary goalkeeper Stuart McKenzie.

Fyvie got the game underway for Cove, and we started on the front foot, Adam Emslie running at the home back line before being closed down in the box, but it was Alloa who created the first clear opening.

In the second minute, Buchanan raced clear on the right and his cutback found Scougall, the midfielder’s low angled effort bouncing narrowly wide of the far post.

We came even closer in our next attack when Fraser Fyvie turned in behind McKay, and despite being at a tight angle, shot powerfully towards goal, the ball rebounding off the upright with Morrison beaten. Blair Yule took possession, feeding Mitch Megginson, but the striker was blocked before he could shoot.

There was another chance in the thirteenth minute, Arron Darge picking out a superb pass which saw Megginson set free in behind, but Morrison made a fine one-handed stop to avert the danger.

We broke the deadlock soon after. Ryan Harrington surged down the left, shrugging off two challenges, and his cross found Megginson who took a touch and laid the ball off. Connor SCULLY ran on to it, and with his right foot, guided his shot beyond the despairing keeper and inside the far post; the perfect way to celebrate his latest appearance milestone.

Alloa might have levelled almost immediately, Buchanan firing a low delivery across the six yard box, but there were no takers at the back post.

The home side were to be punished for that, with Harrington again the provider. Once more, the full-back made space on the left and his delivery was pinpoint, Fraser FYVIE in the perfect place to head home from close range, the midfielder’s first goal of the season.

We threatened again with ten minutes remaining in the half when after Megginson was fouled, Fyvie rolled the free-kick wide and Emslie crossed from the right. Gillingham, under pressure, just failed to make contact.

The home side were then reduced to ten men when Luke Donnelly made a reckless challenge on Mitch Megginson midway inside the Alloa half. Referee Grainger did not hesitate in brandishing the red card, clearly the correct decision. Thankfully, the striker was able to continue after prolonged treatment.

Alloa were still dangerous, Taggart sliding a pass through for Rankin to chase, but Balint Demus was alert, quickly off his line, and dived to gather the ball.

Back came Cove, and when Mikey Doyle passed down the line, Adam Emslie fired in an excellent delivery. Fyvie made a good run to the near post, but McKay just beat him to the ball, diverting it behind.

The hosts made a triple substitution at the interval, and tried immediately to get back into the game, but we looked dangerous on the counter, and Emslie forced an early corner. Scully’s delivery was headed out, but Yule was quickly on to it, teeing up Fyvie, and the midfielder’s twenty-five yard strike caused a problem for Morrison, the keeper snatching it at the second attempt.

Megginson then set up Emslie in our next attack, the winger shooting over from the angle, and we continued to press without carving out any goalscoring opportunities.

The intensity had gone out of the game at this stage, but we looked controlled and composed, and were comfortably maintaining our advantage, with Blair Yule pulling the strings in what was a polished man of the match performance. Alloa were now offering little in the way of a threat.

The points should have been secured in the seventy-fourth minute when Adam Emslie found space on the right and sent in an inviting cross. Megginson, six yards out, attempted to cushion the ball, but it bounced through to the keeper.

Alloa might have had a lifeline in a rare attack soon after. When the ball came in from the right, Stefan Scougall rose highest, but Will Gillingham reacted quickly to clear his header off the line.

Doyle then surged clear on the right, and delivered into the box, where Fyvie took a touch before shooting, his effort charged down by the home defence.

Emslie had to be replaced following a robust challenge, Myles Gaffney coming on for the last nine minutes, and Liam Parker was next to have a go for us, his twenty yard volley flying wide.

It was to be the last serious action of an impressive ninety minutes as the team put in perhaps their best performance of the season to date.

ALLOA ATHLETIC (4-2-3-1): Morrison; Taggart (c), McKay (Thomson 78), Neill (Devine 46) (Virtanen 87), Waters; Scougall, Hetherington; Buchanan (Sammon 46), Donnelly, Cawley (McDonnell 46); Rankin

Substitutes: Ogayi, Graham, Nevans, Mullen

Goalscorers:

Booked: Thomson (90)

Sent off: Donnelly (37)

COVE RANGERS (4-2-3-1): Demus; Doyle, Gillingham, Parker, Harrington; Yule, Darge; Emslie (Gaffney 81), Fyvie (c), Scully; Megginson

Substitutes: Robertson, Murray, McGrath, McAllister, Marshall, Lobban,

Goalscorers: Scully (16), Fyvie (24)

Booked: Yule (69), Darge (74)

Referee: Graham Grainger

Attendance: 652

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