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COVE RANGERS 1–1 MONTROSE

A spectacular strike from Findlay Marshall earned a well-merited point for the team, the midfielder’s quality effort flying into the net deep into stoppage time to break Montrose hearts. The visitors had gone in front at the start of the second half and looked set to end their winless run, but the boys refused to give up, and finally got their reward.

Paul Hartley had named an unchanged line-up from the Scottish Cup defeat at Livingston. Will Gillingham suffered a reaction following his substitute appearance at Almondvale, so missed out, but Quinn Coulson returned to the bench having been ineligible for the last two.

Mitch Megginson made his 150^th league start for the club since we gained promotion to the SPFL in 2019.

The game began quietly, Montrose just shading the possession, but there were no openings until the ninth minute when Stirton curled in an effort from seventeen yards, Nick Suman diving to his left to punch the ball to safety.

Cove hit back quickly, Blair Yule finding Megginson, but the striker’s shot from the edge of the area flew high over.

We were more of an attacking threat now and after Ryan Harrington surged forward and passed inside, Declan Glass let fly from twenty-five yards, his drive bouncing just wide of the right post.

Fraser Fyvie started our next move, rolling the ball wide for Dylan Lobban, and when the full-back crossed, Megginson got to it first, his header deflected wide by Steeves.

We came agonisingly close midway through the half when after a flowing move, Mitch laid a pass into the path of Findlay Marshall. The midfielder’s strike cannoned down off the underside of the bar, Glass failed to reach the rebound, and Fyvie’s attempt was half-blocked into Gill’s arms.

Lobban was again impressing, both at the back and offensively, the youngster maintaining his consistent form in recent months, and he did well to prevent Montrose from making headway in their latest attack with determined defending.

Webster had a dipping angled volley comfortably held by Suman, then we were back up the pitch, Steeves booked for a crude foul on Marshall. From the resultant free-kick, Arron Darge’s long range header was snatched under the bar by Gill.

We came close again shortly before half-time when, after more good build-up, Marshall played in Mitch Megginson. The striker spun into space, and his low shot flew past Gill, but also just wide of the back post.

Montrose caught us cold immediately after the restart when Steeves raced clear down the left and fired a low ball across the area. Owen STIRTON took a touch then hammered the ball into the net. There were just twenty-five seconds on the clock!

We might have levelled in the fiftieth minute when Blair Yule took control in midfield and fed in Megginson. Mitch cut inside to shoot, his attempt clearing the bar by no more than a foot.

There was a shout for a penalty soon after when Declan Glass controlled a pass from Lobban only to be upended by Steeves. Referee Calder waved away our claims.

The boys were playing plenty decent football, but lacking the killer touch in the final third. Megginson and Marshall again combined for our next opening; Mitch’s curling shot from the edge of the box saved by Gill.

Midway through the half, Quinn Coulson and Myles Gaffney came on for Glass and the limping Megginson as we kept up the pressure, Yule firing over from just outside the area.

Scully sent in a dangerous cross, grabbed by the keeper, then Coulson had a shot charged down, and we should have levelled in our next foray forward. Fyvie made for the byeline and whipped it across for Coulson, who headed it back towards the right post. Gaffney, perhaps unsure whether it was going in, failed to make contact, and the ball bounced inches wide.

Nick Suman came to our rescue with seven minutes remaining. Webster found space down the right to cross, Sandilands meeting the ball with a powerful point-blank header. The ball looked netbound, but the big Aussie threw up his left hand and somehow clawed it away. It was an outstanding save.

Marshall had a low delivery cut out then Yule shot over, and we looked to be running out of time.

With the ninety minutes come and gone, Montrose conceded a corner. That was put behind for another, and with Nick Suman up from the back, and the box packed with bodies, Fraser Fyvie looked up and pulled the ball back low to the eighteen yard line. Findlay MARSHALL, who had come so close in the first half, ran on to it, and swept a superb effort over the group of players and into the far corner, leaving Gill helpless.

It was to be the last action of a hard-fought encounter, and the point was the very least the team deserved for their efforts.

COVE RANGERS (4-4-2): Suman; Lobban, Darge, Doyle, Harrington; Yule, Marshall, Glass (Gaffney 67), Scully (McGrath 67); Fyvie (c) (Parker 90) Megginson (Coulson 67)

Substitutes: Demus, Murray

Goalscorers: Marshall (90)

Booked: Megginson (65)

MONTROSE (3-5-2): Gill; Freeman, Quinn, Steeves; Webster, Masson, Sandilands, Machado (Bertie 54), Lyons (MacIver-Redwood 90); Wighton (Gardyne 54), Stirton (Brown 76)

Substitutes: Matthews, Dillon, Shrive, Matthews, Martin

Goalscorers: Stirton (46)

Booked: Steeves (33), Freeman (40)

Referee: George Calder

Attendance: 452

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