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COVE RANGERS 1–0 THE SPARTANS

The team got their Premier Sports Cup campaign off to a winning start thanks to an early strike from Declan Glass, and the margin might have been greater with both Mitch Megginson and David Eguaibor hitting the post. But the latter was sent-off late on and the boys had to battle to see the game out.

With Blair Yule and Ryan Harrington still injured – the first game Ryan has missed since joining the club last summer – and Saturday’s two trialists ineligible to play, the manager had a restricted squad to choose from. The big plus was the return to central defence of Mikey Doyle.

As Paul Hartley watched on from the back of the main stand – suspended after being red-carded against Airdrieonians in the playoffs – the team made a bright start to the match, threatening from the off, and a Mitch Megginson pass looked to be setting-up David Eguaibor only for Booth to make a vital interception. The goal was however delayed only briefly.

Fraser Fyvie chipped an inviting ball over the top which Eguaibor flicked inside. Megginson was quickly on to it, and when he rolled a short pass, Declan GLASS pounced to lash the ball low past Martin.

The visitors hit back, Dishington shooting wide of the far post, but we were soon back on the front foot and came agonisingly close to doubling our advantage in the eleventh minute. Glass threaded a pass through, and Megginson raced clear, but the keeper sped off his line and got an all important touch to divert the striker’s shot just wide.

Craigen lifted a long-range effort just over as Spartans chased an equaliser, and they were enjoying a better period, but we still looked dangerous, Eguaibor and Fyvie both having efforts charged down before Declan Glass let fly from thirty yards, Martin getting his fingertips to the ball to divert it over.

There was another chance early in the second half when Fyvie fastened on to a loose clearance and found Mitch Megginson in the area, but his shot was blocked.

Spartans countered immediately and Robbie Mutch had to be alert, diving to his left to make a fine stop, pushing away a powerful Dishington strike.

From their next attack, Mutch gathered the ball and threw it out to Fraser Fyvie, the captain driving a long diagonal into the path of Glass, and Megginson was inches from making contact with Declan’s delivery.

Fyvie had to go off injured just past the hour mark, Grady McGrath his replacement.

Arron Darge created our next opportunity, passing to Mitch Megginson, and the striker’s shot flew just over. Mitch was again to the fore as the game moved into its last ten minutes, his effort crashing off the inside of the left post after McGrath had linked-up with him.

Mackenzie Strachan impressed throughout, and after taking possession, he rolled a pass into the path of David Eguaibor. The Irishman took a touch to make some space and was unlucky to see his drive rebound off the near upright.

The striker blotted his copybook soon after, making a needless challenge to earn a second yellow, but although the referee played more than six minutes additional time, the team remained composed to secure three deserved points.

COVE RANGERS: (4-4-2) Mutch; Bisland, Doyle, Parker, Ochmanski; Glass, Darge Strachan, Fyvie (c) (McGrath 62); Megginson, Eguaibor

Substitutes: Demus, Donaldson, Milnes

Scorers: Glass (4)

Bookings: Eguaibor (64, 89), Glass (87)

Sending-off: Eguaibor (89)

THE SPARTANS: (4-3-3) Martin; Watson, Sonkur, Waugh (c) (Nair 57), Booth (Dall 63); Whyte, Welsh (Stowe 83), Craigen; Dishington (Scott 83), Henderson (Walls 67), Russell

Substitutes: Carswell, Wylie, Ndlovu

Bookings: Nair (58), Watson (90)

Referee: Jordan Curran

Attendance: 331

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