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COVE RANGERS 2–0 QUEEN OF THE SOUTH

The team recorded back-to-back wins and clean sheets with a deserved victory over Queens. Fraser Fyvie was on target for the second game in a row with a finely judged first-half header, and top scorer Mitch Megginson settled any nerves with an excellent finish just eight minutes from the end.

With Nick Suman and Declan Glass still out injured, Paul Hartley had named an unchanged line-up from the impressive win at Alloa a fortnight ago. That meant Connor Scully starting for the 68^th competitive match in a row, moving ahead of Stuart McKenzie to set a new club record in the SPFL era.

After both teams had shown their support for the Show Racism The Red Card campaign, it was Cove who kicked-off and enjoyed most of the early possession. The closest we came was when Brydon was forced into a diving header to clear a dangerous Harrington delivery, and it was the visitors who created the best opportunity during that phase of the game, McIntosh failing to get enough power into his shot, allowing Balint Demus to make a comfortable save.

Harrington then had a shot charged down before Megginson came close to breaking the deadlock. After a clever free-kick routine, Scully headed into the box where the striker took possession, bought himself space, then curled in a superb effort only to be denied by the diving Stewart, the keeper pushing the ball to safety with his outstretched left hand.

We were dominating now, regularly testing the visitors without carving out any clear opportunities, but that changed ten minutes before the interval, and it was a goal of the highest quality. Liam Parker gathered inside the Queens half, looked up, and fired a pinpoint angled cross into the area where Fraser FYVIE moved clear to guide the ball beyond the keeper with a well-judged header inside the far post.

It might have been two almost immediately. Fyvie found Megginson, and Mitch threaded through an inviting pass for Connor Scully to run on to. The midfielder’s low shot beat Stewart, but went wide, and when the alert Adam Emslie reached the ball, MacIntyre slid in to clear.

Queen of the South were more in the game after the restart, but we still carried a threat, and Emslie saw his shot charged down at the edge of the box. The visitors continued to press and Cochrane let fly from thirty yards, but Demus saw it all the way, and dived to claim the ball.

From there, Cove stepped it up again, and took a grip on the game.

Megginson had an effort blocked and a dangerous Doyle cross was scrambled clear as the chances began to flow, and we came agonisingly close to doubling our advantage on the hour mark. Fyvie surged down the left, racing to the byeline, and when he cut the ball back, Will Gillingham – who was to be named man of the match – fired just wide into the side-netting.

Blair Yule was enjoying another fine game at the heart of the midfield, and he played a clever pass over the top for Megginson to run on to soon after. Mitch cut inside, and his curling shot looked netbound until Hannah dived full-length to head it away.

Dylan Lobban came on for his Cove debut in the sixty-eighth minute and was immediately involved. Fyvie teed him up, but the midfielder’s effort was charged down.

Our defence looked disciplined and organised, but Queens might have levelled out of nowhere when, after a short free-kick, Kennedy shot powerfully from thirty yards. Demus dived to his left to beat the ball away and Liam Parker was on hand to hack it clear.

Another fine move saw Lobban and Megginson combine to set up Fyvie, and when Fraser rolled the ball across the danger area, Scully was only inches from making contact. The second goal was however delayed only by seconds.

Yule pounced on to a loose ball played out by the Queens defence, and his quick pass found Mitch MEGGINSON who took a touch before curling an excellent effort beyond Stewart and in off the left post.

Mitch might have got another soon after, his effort deflected to safety, but the boys saw the game out comfortably for a result which ensures we are heavily involved in the promotion battle.

COVE RANGERS (4-2-3-1): Demus; Doyle, Gillingham, Parker, Harrington; Yule, Darge; Emslie (Lobban 68), Fyvie (c), Scully; Megginson

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

Goalscorers: Fyvie (35), Megginson (82)

Booked:

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH (4-2-3-1): Stewart; Hewitt, Brydon, Hannah, MacIntyre; Lyon (c), Cochrane (Walker 62); McKechnie (Luissint 88), O’Donnell, Kennedy (Willis 88); McIntosh (Doherty 75)

Substitutes: Hogarth, Church, Rogerson,

Goalscorers:

Booked:

Referee: Craig Napier

Attendance: 519

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