News

PETERHEAD 3-1 COVE RANGERS

Our defensive frailties were again exposed as Peterhead claimed the three points to leave us struggling at the wrong end of the League One table. The home side were two-nil up and coasting by the interval, and although David Eguaibor pulled one back, we were down to ten men soon after when Blair Yule was red-carded. They then sealed the victory with a third late in the game.

With Fraser Fyvie a long-term casualty and Arron Darge missing after picking up an injury against Montrose, Paul Hartley made two changes as he reverted to a back four. Justin Eguaibor also dropped out with Mackenzie Strachan restored and Jackson Mylchreest handed his first start.

Cove kicked-off on a bright, gusty afternoon and were to enjoy the bulk of the possession in the early stages without threatening. There was scare when Mitch Megginson went down holding his hamstring as he attempted to chase a through ball from Blair Yule, but the striker was able to continue after treatment.

Peterhead made the breakthrough in the tenth minute in their first serious attack when McGuffie flicked an inviting pass over the top and Max BARRY ran on to it to lash the ball high past Robbie Mutch.

There was a further injury scare soon after when Shanks caught Mutch as he attempted to reach another McGuffie delivery, but thankfully the keeper was quick to recover.

The game then entered a frustrating phase, the team pushing to get back into it, but unable to find a decisive pass to set up any opportunities. David Eguaibor ran behind the back line on a number of occasions, but his team-mates just could not find him.

That inability became all the more damaging in the twenty-sixth minute when the home side doubled their advantage, and in keeping with the season to date, it was another cheap goal to lose. Barry and McGuffie were afforded too much space in the box, McCarthy got a shot away which Mutch could only parry, and Kieran SHANKS was on hand to slide the ball into the net.

There was an opening at the half-hour mark when Megginson was fouled outside the area after being found by Declan Glass, but Steele half-cleared the resulting free-kick, and although we kept the pressure on, there was still no way through the Peterhead rearguard.

Glass won a corner when his twenty yard strike was deflected wide, but we made nothing of it, and our next attack, well-constructed from deep by Blair Yule and Mitch Megginson, again foundered when we reached the box.

Shanks should have made it three when he inexplicably found himself in acres of space behind our defence, but after rounding Mutch, his shot was weak, and Liam Parker was able to clear off the line.

Megginson very nearly got through as we countered, but Danny Strachan slid in to make a vital challenge and Newman was able to gather in the last action of what had become a painful first half.

It was a little brighter after the restart, Declan Glass flashing in an angled effort which the keeper clutched at his near post, and the midfielder almost got on the end of a loose ball after Eguaibor had wriggled free in the area, but Goldie made an important clearance.

Bisland then whipped in a cross which Mitch Megginson controlled before trying to set-up David Eguaibor, but again it was a Peterhead foot which got there first.

Just past the hour mark, Mitch had a go himself, Newman tipping over the striker’s blistering drive, and from the resulting corner we finally made the breakthrough. Glass swung it into the near post, Parker had a shot half-blocked, and when the ball looped into the air David EGUAIBOR rose highest to nod it beyond the keeper.

Our hopes took a hit when Blair Yule got involved with Seb Ross, earning a second yellow card within the space of five minutes, and leaving us with ten men for the closing stages.

Peterhead took a firm grip soon after when substitute Jack BROWN raced clear and stroked home their third with a composed finish.

The boys tried to hit back, Megginson cleverly finding Eguaibor in the box, and after spinning his marker the striker shot goalwards. It looked netbound, only for Newman to get his fingertips to the ball and divert it over.

Substitute Colloty had one final opportunity for the home side, shooting from twenty yards, but Mutch was able to get across to push the ball wide.

Overall, it was a game Peterhead won comfortably, helped in part by our defensive deficiencies, and another chastening afternoon in what has been a hugely disappointing start to the campaign.

PETERHEAD: (4-2-3-1) Newman; Strachan, Steele, Goldie, Duffy; Forrest, McCarthy (c); McGuffie (Ross 64), Smith (Brown 74), Barry (Colloty 81), Shanks (McGinn 81)

Substitutes: Oluyemi, Carnwath, Mackie

Scorers: Barry (10), Shanks (26), Brown (79)

Bookings: Smith (72), Forrest (86)

COVE RANGERS: (4-4-2) Mutch; Bisland, Doyle (c), Parker, Harrington; Strachan, Yule, Glass, Mylchreest; Megginson, D. Eguaibor

Substitutes: Demus, J. Eguaibor, Ochmanski, Donaldson, Milnes

Scorers: Eguaibor (62)

Bookings: Doyle (13), Bisland (52), Yule (67), (71), Megginson (72)

Sending-off: Yule (70)

Referee: Daniel Graves

Attendance: 897

Match Gallery | Peterhead (A) »