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QUEEN’S PARK 2-1 COVE RANGERS

Despite taking an early lead through a fine Mitch Megginson finish, and creating a number of excellent chances during a dominant second half, the team lost out to a stoppage time Queen’s Park winner, the result ending our hopes of making history by reaching the knockout stages of the Premier Sports Cup.

Paul Hartley had made just the one change from the comfortable win at Brechin midweek, Robbie Mutch returning in goal in place of Balint Demus. Fit-again Blair Yule was back on the bench leaving Fraser Fyvie as the only injury absentee.

Captain Mikey Doyle made his 68^th straight start, a figure bettered only by Connor Scully (93) since we joined the SPFL.

It was an evenly balanced start to the match, the only early attempt on goal a Declan Glass strike from thirty yards which bounced wide of the left post.

The midfielder turned provider in the seventh minute, and we came agonisingly close to opening the scoring. Having taken a short corner, Declan picked up the return from Ryan Harrington and swung in an inviting delivery; David Eguaibor rose highest, but his header crashed off the bar.avign

It was not until the thirteenth minute that the home side threatened, and they too were denied by the frame of the goal. Fieldson raced clear down the left and his cutback found Michael Ruth in space, the striker hitting the face of the crossbar with his well-struck effort.

The opener came in our next attack.

Harrington gathered a loose ball on halfway, drove forward, then rolled through a superb pass for David Eguaibor to run on to. The striker fired in a low cross, Mitch MEGGINSON cleverly getting ahead of his marker to flick the ball high into the net.

Queen’s hit back, Doyle coming to the rescue when he cleared a Ruth header off the line, but they drew level soon after. Justin Eguaibor was adjudged to have fouled Scott deep in the box, referee Graves pointing to the spot. Michael RUTH stepped up confidently to hammer the ball low into the net, sending Mutch the wrong way.

We enjoyed a period of sustained possession in the wake of that, without creating any openings, and Robbie Mutch was called into action again when, after a quick counter, the keeper had to save a Bradley snapshot at his near post.

There was a chance in the thirty-fifth minute when Glass burst through the middle, eased past two challenges and fed in Eguaibor on the right. David had options in the middle, but chose to cut in and shoot, his effort blocked by Shiels.

It was to be Declan’s last involvement, and after treatment, the midfielder limped off to be replaced by Blair Yule.

Layton Bisland sent an inch-perfect pass through for David Eguaibor just before the interval and having taken possession in the area, this time the striker opted to try to find Mackenzie Strachan, but rolled the ball just behind the midfielder.

We then won a free-kick twenty-five yards out which Strachan took, his dipping effort clearing the bar by inches in what was the last action of the half.

Blair Yule was heavily involved early in the second, his promptings leading to a couple of corners, but the home side were able to clear their lines to avert any danger.

Mitch Megginson looked to have restored our lead just past the hour mark, clinically finishing from twelve yards after Strachan and David Eguaibor had combined to set him up, but the celebrations were cut short when the main stand assistant raised his flag for offside.

There was a huge chance immediately after when Mackenzie Strachan pinched the ball and rolled it through for Eguaibor to chase down. The striker got there first and shot low, Wills making the save with his right foot.

The keeper was called into action again with twenty minutes remaining, diving to grab Strachan’s long-range drive.

The pressure was mounting now, Cove dominating play as the boys chased what could be an all-important second goal, and Doyle forced another corner, but nothing came of it.

There was a big opportunity in the eighty-fifth minute when, after good build-up, David Eguaibor and Mitch Megginson linked-up, Mitch threading a pass into the box. Blair Yule took a touch to open up some space, then let fly, but Wills threw up his right hand deflecting the ball over the bar.

The boys continued to press forward, desperate for the goal that would clinch a first ever qualification from the group stages, but they were hit by a late sucker-punch, the ball falling free in the area for Josh FOWLER to lash it past Mutch.

Despite that sickener, the team never gave up, and Cole Donaldson smashed in an angled free-kick which Wills had to scramble away.

The final whistle sounded soon after, and while disappointed to miss out, the team deserve much credit for a fine campaign, one which sets them up nicely for next week’s kick-off to the League One season.

QUEEN’S PARK: (4-2-3-1) Wills; Carrick, Murray (c) (Fox 53), Shiels, Fieldson; Pignatiello (MacGregor 46), Waugh; Scott (Drozd 65), McGinlay (Connolly 65), Bradley (Fowler 74); Ruth

Substitutes: Ferrie, Longridge, McDonnell, Burke

Scorers: Ruth (pen 20), Fowler (90)

Bookings: Waugh (90)

COVE RANGERS: (3-5-2) Mutch; Doyle (c), J. Eguaibor, Parker; Bisland, Strachan (Trialist 84), Darge, Glass (Yule 42), Harrington; D. Eguaibor, Megginson (Donaldson 87)

Substitutes: Demus, Ochmanski, Milnes

Scorers: Megginson (15)

Bookings: Darge (30), Strachan (81)

Referee: Daniel Graves

Attendance: 453

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