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COVE RANGERS 2–0 ALLOA ATHLETIC

The team brough the curtain down on 2024 at Balmoral Stadium with a fine, if hard-fought, victory in the most testing of conditions.

Arron Darge was able to celebrate his first Cove goal with a neat header midway through the first half, the win secured late on when Myles Gaffney flicked in from close range. The defence deserve great credit for withstanding an Alloa onslaught after the interval, goalkeeper Nick Suman – who would be named man of the match – particularly impressive.

With Liam Parker and Blair Yule still sidelined, there was a further injury blow when Mitch Megginson was ruled out after pulling up in training on Thursday night. Grady McGrath replaced the striker with Dylan Lobban also coming in for Reuben McAllister.

That meant at the halfway stage of the League One campaign four players – Connor Scully, Michael Doyle, Will Gillingham and Ryan Harrington – were all ever-presents.

On a freezing cold, blustery afternoon, Alloa got the game underway, but with the wind behind us we were to enjoy most of the possession during the opening forty-five minutes.

The first clear opening came in the ninth minute when Declan Glass and Fraser Fyvie linked-up, Declan found Connor Scully, and the midfielder played in Ryan Harrington. He whipped in an inviting cross which Grady McGrath controlled, but his shot on the turn bounced wide of the post.

There was another fine move soon after, Glass playing a one-two with McGrath before feeding the ball into Adam Emslie. Adam laid it off for Dylan Lobban, but his low left-footed shot was saved by Morrison.

Out of nowhere, Alloa might have gone in front when Buchanan’s cross from the right deflected off Mikey Doyle’s chest, but Nick Suman was alert and made a fine instinctive save on the line.

Within seconds we had taken the lead. Fyvie let the ball run out for a corner on the right, and when Scully curled in his delivery Arron DARGE netted with an accurate header from six yards. It was the midfielder’s first goal for the club.

The conditions were difficult for both sides, the strong wind making passing difficult, but we might have doubled our advantage nine minutes before the break when after a pass from Glass, Fyvie crossed from the right and Connor Scully headed goalwards, his effort going inches wide of the upright.

Nick Suman was booked for a challenge on Buchanan just outside the area, O’Donnell’s resultant free-kick deflecting wide off the wall, then we were back on the attack after Darge won a challenge and rolled the ball to Declan Glass. The midfielder chipped a pass forward for Emslie to run on to, his right-foot shot flying past the near post.

With the wind now at their backs, Alloa began strongly in the second half, creating a number of opportunities.

Firstly, O’Donnell shot wide from the angle of the area, then Donnelly unleashed a dipping thirty-yard volley which brought an outstanding save out of Nick Suman, the Australian keeper touching the ball on to the crossbar and over. From the following corner Morgan Neill’s header was collected on the line by Suman.

Declan Glass weaved into the box in our next attack, leaving Neill floundering, but could only shoot wide, then O’Donnell tried again for Alloa, his drive flying past the left post.

Adam Emslie flashed in a dangerous cross which Morrison gathered with McGrath in attendance, and we threatened again in our next foray forward. From a corner for the visitors, Nick Suman threw to the halfway line allowing Emslie to race clear down the right and from his delivery McGrath took a touch then shot, Morrison beating away the angled effort.

We then had to survive three Alloa corners in a row, the second of those leading to an almighty scramble in the penalty area, but our back line, impressive all afternoon, held firm, helped by the on-form Suman who pulled off another excellent stop diving to clutch Rankin’s powerfully-hit low twenty-yarder.

There was controversy with eight minutes to go when Morrison wiped out substitute Myles Gaffney in the box. It looked a clear penalty, but referee Craig Napier inexplicably waved play on.

Connor Scully just failed to connect with a Fyvie cross and Marshall was then closed down while attempting to shoot, but seconds later we got that nerve-settling second goal. Adam Emslie found space on the right and fired in a low cross, Myles GAFFNEY stealing in front of his marker to cleverly flick the ball beyond the keeper.

It was our 299th goal in league football since Cove Rangers joined the SPFL.

Rankin hit the bar for Alloa in stoppage time, and O’Donnell shot wide, but we saw the game out from there, securing a big win and a second successive clean sheet.

COVE RANGERS (4-4-2): Suman; Lobban, Doyle, Gillingham, Harrington; Fyvie (c), Darge, Glass (Marshall 77), Scully; Emslie, McGrath (Gaffney 69)

Substitutes: Demus, Murray, McAllister

Goalscorers: Darge (22), Gaffney (88)

Booked: Suman (41)

ALLOA ATHLETIC (4-2-3-1): Morrison; Taggart (c), McKay, Neill, Thomson; O’Donnell, Virtanen; Buchanan (Cawley 69), Donnelly, McDonnell (Sammon 63); Rankin

Substitutes: Ogayi, Graham, Honeyman, Nevans, Bruin, Mullen, Watkins

Goalscorers:

Booked: Neill (86)

Referee: Craig Napier

Attendance: 323

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