Late Leveller Denies Cove Opening Win

12/08/25

Late Leveller Denies Cove Opening Win

COVE RANGERS 1–1 THE SPARTANS

The team kicked off the KDM Evolution Trophy with a draw, Spartans snatching a point thanks to a late equaliser from Mark Stowe. Cove had led through a superb Arron Darge finish and looked set to see the game out, only for defensive frailty to cost us dear.

The injury hoodoo struck again too, our trialist striker limping off after just nine minutes, replaced by Blair Yule, who the manager had hoped to rest.

With Fraser Fyvie and Declan Glass sidelined through long-term injuries, the manager made three changes from the weekend defeat at Stenhousemuir. Balint Demus replaced Robbie Mutch, and with Yule and Mitch Megginson dropping out, there were also places for Justin Eguaibor and Milosz Ochmanski.

Cove got the game underway wearing the new red top bearing the logo of local cancer charity UCAN, but it was the visitors who threatened first, forcing a corner down their right. When the delivery came in, Tapping was first to meet it, but he was closed down and the ball cleared.

We hit back, Layton Bisland fouled as he attempted to find space down the wing. Mackenzie Strachan swung in an inviting free-kick, and there was a half chance for the trialist striker, but his effort was blocked at the back post.

It was to be his last involvement as he picked up an injury and had to leave the pitch, Blair Yule getting an early call from the bench.

Just before that, Arron Darge had let fly from twenty yards, keeper Carswell leaping to tip the midfielder’s well-struck effort over the bar.

Yule got involved immediately, shooting wide from the edge of the area, then having two efforts charged down, and we looked to have taken the lead when Liam Parker crossed from the left and David Eguaibor expertly guided the ball beyond the keeper, only for the assistant to signal for offside.

He came close again before the interval, gathering Ryan Harrington’s pass before skipping away from his marker, but shot over.

The breakthrough came in the fifty-sixth minute.

In a swift counter, Blair Yule played a well-measured pass and Arron DARGE brushed aside a defender before racing into the box and smashing the ball high past Carswell. It was just his third goal for the club.

Cove were well on top now and David Eguaibor picked up from Harrington only to shoot over from twenty yards. He might have been in again soon after when Yule and Bisland linked-up, the wing-back firing in a dangerous cross which Tapping just managed to cut out with the striker ready to pounce.

There was controversy with fifteen minutes remaining when Eguaibor’s deflected effort dropped into the path of Ryan Harrington, who took a touch, then looked to be clipped in the box. With the home fans and players demanding a penalty, referee Murdoch instead booked Ryan for diving.

The frustration over that decision intensified when Spartans drew level in a rare second half attack. Booth’s long free-kick was not well defended, and when the ball was returned across the area, Mark STOWE was on hand to sweep it home.

Paul Hartley threw on Mitch Megginson for the closing stages, and he looked lively, but we were unable to create any opportunities for him, and the game ended all-square.

COVE RANGERS: (3-5-2) Demus; Doyle (c), J. Eguaibor, Parker; Bisland, Strachan (Megginson 84), Darge, Harrington, Ochmanski; Trialist (Yule 9), D. Eguaibor

Substitutes: Mutch, Donaldson, Milnes

Scorers: Darge (56)

Bookings: Yule (41), Parker (70), Harrington (75), Darge (87), Megginson (90), Doyle (90)

THE SPARTANS: (3-5-2) Carswell; Tapping, Sonkur, Waugh (c) (Stowe 59), Dishington, Wylie (Ndlovu 76), Welsh (Booth 59), Walls, Dall (Drysdale 53); Scott (Whyte 59), Henderson

Substitutes: Martin

Scorers: Stowe (81)

Bookings: Walls (17), Dall (41)

Referee: Sean Murdoch

Attendance: 256

Darge And Doyle Enter Top Ten »