Positive Signs, But Wait For Cove Win Goes On

20/09/25

Positive Signs, But Wait For Cove Win Goes On

ALLOA ATHLETIC 2-1 COVE RANGERS

A disappointing first half showing cost us dear in Clackmannanshire, Alloa romping to a two-goal lead by the interval. The boys picked things up after the break, Mitch Megginson firing us back into the game, but despite piling on the pressure, they were unable to find what would, in the end, have been a deserved equaliser.

With Fraser Fyvie, Arron Darge and Declan Glass all out, Paul Hartley at least got some good news with the return from illness of Blair Yule, who replaced Declan from last week’s meeting with Inverness.

The home side threatened to open the scoring with just thirty seconds on the clock when, after good link-up down their left, Orsi swung in a pinpoint cross. Thankfully, despite being unmarked six yards out, Kurtis Roberts headed wide of the near post.

The boys settled after that scare and enjoyed some possession, a nice move sending Ryan Harrington free down the wing. His delivery was dangerous, but there were no takers. Having regained the ball, Megginson laid it off to Lewis O’Donnell, and after making space, the midfielder let fly from twenty yards, Ogayi shuffling across his line to gather.

Seconds later we had a golden chance when David Eguaibor dispossessed an Alloa defender on the halfway line and ran clear. The keeper was swiftly off his line, but David elected to shoot low rather than try to chip him, and Ogayi saved with his foot.

O’Donnell then had another long-range effort, the ball flying wide of the right post, before Alloa were back on the front foot. A cross from the right found Luke Donnelly and the striker caught his ten-yard strike sweetly, only to be denied by Robbie Mutch who pulled off an outstanding save, touching the ball wide.

The opening goal was however delayed only briefly. From the resultant corner, Mutch got a punch on the ball, but it fell for Kurtis ROBERTS who cleverly lifted it over the entire Cove defence and into the net.

It might have been two almost immediately when Scougall was played in, but Mutch advanced quickly to parry his shot, and after a scramble in our box, Taggart eventually blazed high over.

There was another worrying moment minutes later when Donnelly found himself in space in the area, but delayed, and shot straight at Justin Eguaibor, who had fallen over in front of him. The ball was finally hacked clear.

We at last got some respite, and after Yule had been brought down inside the Alloa half, O’Donnell swept in a free-kick, but after escaping his marker, Mitch Megginson could only head over from ten yards.

A ricochet in our box caused a further scare, Scougall’s deflected pass almost landing at the feet of Orsi, but Mutch reacted well, and was able to fall on the ball.

In the wake of that, the manager shook things up, taking off Justin Eguaibor and reverting to a back four, with Jackson Mylchreest coming on down the left.

We were more of a force in the game following that change, enjoying more possession, but unable to create any clear-cut opportunities, and paid for that in the thirty-seventh minute when O’Donnell swung in a corner from the right and David DEVINE somehow bundled the ball past Mutch.

We might have got a foothold in the game when Mylchreest raced to the byeline and flashed in a low cross, but Eguaibor could not get a decisive touch, and Ogayi dived to clutch the ball.

O’Donnell then surged forward to tee-up Megginson, but the striker’s shot lacked power, and trundled wide. The team maintained the pressure, Eguaibor wriggling past two defenders, and his cutback found Strachan who blasted goalwards, but his shot was charged down.

Alloa got the game back underway and might have made it three soon after the restart, Orsi getting in behind Bisland, but he could only nudge the ball wide.

Liam Parker tried to get us going, surging forward after winning possession deep inside his own half and playing the ball in for Mitch Megginson to run on to, but Ogayi raced out to make a brave save at the striker’s feet. Mitch required treatment after a heavy fall but was able to continue.

Bisland ventured into the Alloa box in the sixty-fourth minute, and when the ball was half-cleared, Ryan Harrington’s shot was deflected for a corner, which came to nothing. Ryan was then pushed up into midfield with Strachan coming off and Milosz Ochmanski on at left-back.

We snatched a lifeline shortly afterwards when, after a period of possession, Blair Yule chipped a delightful pass forward and Mitch MEGGINSON took a touch to steady himself before rifling the ball high past Ogayi.

Alloa were now much less of an attacking threat, Cove largely dominating possession, and there was a big penalty shout when Cameron O’Donnell clearly hauled Layton Bisland to the ground just inside the area. Referee Grainger simply waved play on.

An Ochmanski cross was knocked behind by Charlie Dewar as the boys maintained the pressure, but the corner was cleared by the home defence. We came agonisingly close to the leveller soon after, Eguaibor showing great strength to hold off Dewar before turning on the edge of the box. His powerful drive fizzed inches over the bar with the keeper beaten.

Alloa might have clinched it, Robbie Mutch pulling off an outstanding save to push a powerful Dewar header on to the crossbar, then at the other end, Megginson saw his shot deflected wide.

In stoppage time, David Eguaibor almost bundled his way through, but the home side were able to scramble the ball to safety, and Ogayi killed off our hopes when he snatched an inviting Mylchreest cross.

That was to be our last attempt at goal, but although the team fell to another defeat, a much-improved second half at least gave hope that our fortunes will soon change.

ALLOA ATHLETIC: (4-3-3) Ogayi; Taggart (c), Dewar, Devine, O’Donnell; Roberts (Adamson 74), Hetherington, Scougall; Buchanan (Stewart 74), Donnelly (Sammon 73), Orsi

Substitutes: Parry, Graham, Rankin, Easdon, McKay, Bruin

Scorers: Roberts (11), Devine (37)

Bookings: Hetherington (90)

COVE RANGERS: (3-5-2) Mutch; J. Eguaibor (Mylchreest 29), Doyle (c), Parker; Bisland, Strachan (Ochmanski 65), Yule, O’Donnell, Harrington; Megginson, D. Eguaibor

Substitutes: Demus, Donaldson, Milnes

Scorers: Megginson (69)

Bookings: Doyle (87), D. Eguaibor (90)

Referee: Graham Grainger

Attendance: 513

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