Poor Cove Showing As Hosts Take The Points

06/09/25

Poor Cove Showing As Hosts Take The Points

ELGIN CITY 1-0 COVE RANGERS

The team fell to a first defeat in the KDM Evolution Trophy, the hosts claiming a deserved victory thanks to a fine finish by Josh Walker in the first half. We offered little up front, home goalkeeper Tom Ritchie only rarely called into action throughout a disappointing ninety minutes, and there could be no complaints about the outcome.

There were three changes from the draw at Hamilton last week with Mitch Megginson dropping out altogether due to illness, and Robbie Mutch and Mikey Milnes reverting to the bench. Balint Demus returned in goal, Blair Yule from suspension, and there was a debut for Lewis O’Donnell.

Layton Bisland, Liam Parker and Mikey Doyle all maintained their records of starting every game so far this season, the captain making his 76^th successive start in competitive matches. It was his 89^th Cove Rangers outing all told, moving him ahead of Mark Reynolds into 9^th place in the appearances list during our SPFL era.

Elgin kicked-off, and after an even start, had the first attempt on goal, McDonald’s long-range angled effort comfortably held by Demus.

We hit back immediately, Jackson Mylchreest threading a pass through for David Eguaibor, but the striker was crowded out as he tried to wriggle free inside the area.

David again posed a threat soon after when Harrington drove an excellent long pass forward for him to chase, and having controlled it, he fired goalwards, Ritchie making a smart save.

Mackenzie Strachan then found Mylchreest with a superb pass over the top, and Jackson managed to shrug off Murray, but could only shoot into the side-netting.

After some nice interplay, there was another opening midway through the half when Layton Bisland found O’Donnell free down the right, but Lewis’s cross was overhit and Elgin cleared. In our next attack, Ryan Harrington had a shot blocked, then Bisland got in at the back post, Ritchie saving the header with his foot, although the flag then went up for offside.

Having been on the back foot, the hosts countered, and got more into the game, Hester shooting wide from fifteen yards. They had better luck soon after when Cameron chipped the ball forward and Josh WALKER found too much space in the box, wheeling away from our defence to find the net with an angled effort across Demus.

Harrington forced a corner soon after, driving on to an O’Donnell pass, and Justin Eguaibor got his head to Strachan’s delivery, but before we could capitalise, referee Luke blew for a foul on the home keeper. Layton Bisland then found David Eguaibor in the area, but his shot took a deflection and Ritchie gathered easily.

Elgin looked dangerous when they came forward, and would have doubled their advantage but for Balint Demus. Hyde played in Olly McDonald and his low shot looked netbound only for the big keeper to dive low to save with his right hand. The forward was again in the clear seconds later but shot wide of the left post.

The manager made a change at the interval, Milosz Ochmanski on at left wing-back with Ryan Harrington moving forward, and Lewis O’Donnell up to support David Eguaibor. Jackson Mylchreest was the player to come off.

It was Elgin who came closest to scoring upon the resumption, Jack Murray getting on the end of an inswinging corner, but his header was straight at Demus.

We were offering nothing going forward, the home side managing the game comfortably, and in a bid to change that Paul Hartley withdrew Justin Eguaibor, reverted to a back four, and threw on Mikey Milnes, who had impressed last time out at Broadwood.

There was an immediate spark, Harrington flashing in a free-kick which he had himself won, but David Eguaibor could only head over at the back post. The striker was then fouled as he tried to turn twenty-three yards out, and Liam Parker skimmed the bar with the resultant dead ball.

There was another free-kick soon after, Virtanen booked for bringing down Ryan Harrington, but we could make nothing of it, and Elgin cleared.

We were seeing plenty of the ball, but finding it difficult to play through the home side who were organised and well-drilled, and still carried a threat on the break, and they proved that when their two substitutes combined in the eighty-fourth minute. Sargent got his head to Dingwall’s dangerous delivery, Balint Demus having to leap to tip the ball over.

And he was called into action again deep into stoppage time, making an excellent stop to prevent Walker from completing his double.

The final whistle went immediately afterwards, ending a match the team had started well enough, but fell out of, and Elgin City picked up a deserved three points.

ELGIN CITY: (4-2-3-1) Ritchie; Cameron (c), Ewan, Murray, Booth; Virtanen, Hyde (Dingwall 78); McDonald (Sargent 74), Spalding (MacDonald 90), Walker; Hester

Substitutes: McHale, O’Connor, Grieve, Obasoto

Scorers: Walker (30)

Bookings: Virtanen (72)

COVE RANGERS: (3-5-2) Demus; J. Eguaibor (Milnes 64), Doyle (c), Parker; Bisland, Yule, Strachan, O’Donnell, Harrington; Mylchreest (Ochmanski 46), D. Eguaibor

Substitutes: Mutch, Donaldson

Scorers:

Bookings: Bisland (40), D. Eguaibor (56), Doyle (83)

Referee: Stewart Luke

Attendance: 475

Photographs (c) Bob Crombie

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