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COVE RANGERS 0-3 STENHOUSEMUIR

Following the drama and excitement of Saturday’s Scottish Cup win, the side slumped to a painful defeat, Stenhousemuir netting twice in six minutes during the first half and sealing the win with a stoppage time third.

To make things worse, top-scorer Mitch Megginson limped from the pitch and looks set for a spell on the sidelines.

With Liam Parker and Fraser Fyvie out, there was a further blow for this one with Blair Yule also absent because of a swollen ankle. Arron Darge was fit enough only for a place on the bench.

Finlay Murray made just his second league start and after his goalscoring cameo at the weekend, Declan Glass was restored to the line-up. Mikey Doyle captained the side on his 50^th Cove Rangers appearance, the 17^th player to reach that milestone during our time in the SPFL.

Cove kicked-off and might have been ahead within twenty-five seconds. The ball was played forward to Mitch Megginson who slipped in Adam Emslie and when the winger crossed low, Reuben McAllister slid in at the back post, but could only divert the ball over the bar.

McAllister set up our next chance, freeing Glass down the right. Declan collected and cut in, but his angled shot was blocked. He had another opportunity soon after, flicking wide of the near post from Emslie’s low delivery.

Stenhousemuir’s first opening came in the fourteenth minute, Yates shooting well over, but we were soon back on the attack, the front four linking-up well, but unable to find a way through the well-drilled visitors’ back-line.

The away side threatened again midway through the half, Bilham with a powerful angled strike which Demus beat away.

Emslie was next to have a go for us, drifting infield to shoot low, but his effort was comfortably saved by Jamieson.

The opener came at the other end immediately afterwards. From a long pass forward, the ball ran free to Matthew AITKEN and under no real pressure, the striker was able to curl an accurate shot into the top corner from twenty-three yards.

He came close again soon after, his long range effort deflected just wide, but Stenhousemuir did double their advantage a couple of minutes later. An incisive pass caught us out, and when Ryan Harrington just failed to intercept, Scott TOMLINSON ran in behind to roll the ball between Demus’ legs.

As we attempted to rally, Glass was inches from finding Emslie’s head with an inviting delivery then Megginson chased down a clever McAllister reverse pass, but his low drive was saved by Jamieson who threw out a foot to prevent the goal.

Glass blazed over from twenty-five yards, then McAllister had an effort blocked and Scully saw his saved, as we pushed to get back into the game, without seriously troubling the visiting keeper.

We started strongly after the resumption, Mitch Megginson laying the ball off for Glass who shot low from twenty yards. Jamieson dived to his right to push his effort to safety.

Stenhousemuir countered, Tomlinson’s angled drive beaten away by Demus, then we came close again when after a run and cutback by Emslie, Megginson took a touch and turned, his shot going agonisingly wide of the left post.

That was to be all but it for us as an attacking force in the game. There were a couple of shots charged down, but Jamieson was never called into action again, and the visitors always looked the more likely.

With twenty minutes remaining Megginson went down clutching his groin and hamstring, and after treatment, limped from the field. The early prognosis suggests he could be out for a period of time.

A sore night ended painfully when deep into stoppage time, substitute Corey O’DONNELL ran on to a cutback to lash the ball home.

COVE RANGERS (4-2-3-1): Demus; Darge, Doyle (c), Gillingham, Harrington; Marshall, Scully; McAllister (McGrath 63), Glass (Lobban 63), Emslie; Megginson (Gaffney 70)

Substitutes: Suman, Darge

Goalscorers:

Booked: Gillingham (75)

STENHOUSEMUIR (4-2-3-1): D. Jamieson; Meechan, Buchanan (c), Steele, Bilham; Anderson, Wedderburn (Banner 81); Tomlinson (Taylor 81), Yates (Cameron 89), O’Reilly (Berry 72); Aitken (O’Donnell 90)

Substitutes: Lyle

Goalscorers: Aitken (25), Tomlinson (31), O’Donnell (90)

Booked: Wedderburn (79)

Referee: Dan McFarlane

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