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We take on Kelty Hearts on Saturday in what will be just a tenth meeting of the sides.

The first encounter was a League Cup tie in July 2022 when our visitors raced into a 2-0 lead and went on to secure the points with a 3-2 victory, despite goals from Fraser Fyvie and Robbie Leitch.

The eight fixtures since have followed a bizarre pattern with the four games at Balmoral ending in draws – three of them finishing 2-2 – and Cove emerging successful from all four trips to New Central Park.

The initial league head-to-head came in September 2023, and having won just once in our opening five matches, we found ourselves two behind after just thirty-five minutes. Mitch Megginson hauled us back into it before the break, and grabbed his second from the penalty spot to set up a dominant half, but we were unable to find the winner. That draw did however set up an eleven game unbeaten run.

Our first ever trip to Kelty ended in a 1-0 victory, Rumarn Burrell grabbing the only goal in November, and two months later the Fife side secured another 2-2 draw at Balmoral, but this time it was the visitors who had to mount a comeback.

Burrell and Megginson had us coasting, 2-0 up at the interval, but Alfie Bavidge reduced the arrears and Adam Corbett netted the leveller soon after.

We were back in Kelty in March 2024, and again Mitch Megginson scored against the Fifers, expertly guiding home an inch-perfect Fyvie free-kick to clinch the victory early in the second half.

Six months later, the side earned a 3-1 success down there. Mitch again netted, bundling home the opener, but Ross Cunningham levelled, and the game looked to be heading for a draw when Blair Yule unleashed a rocket into the top corner. Findlay Marshall’s fine finish minutes later was the icing on the cake.

The next meeting, in December 2024, was a drab goalless affair, but when we ventured south the following March, it was anything but, the team romping to a 4-0 stroll. Mitch Megginson maintained his fine record against Kelty, heading home what was his 100^th league goal for the club in the SPFL. Fraser Fyvie netted twice after the break and Adam Emslie notched his tenth of the season, rubber-stamping a win which moved us second in the table.

The most recent encounter was back in April at Balmoral, and it followed what has become a familiar pattern. This time it was Cove who went 2-0 ahead, Emslie opening the scoring and Mitch netting for the sixth time in eight league meetings to double our advantage. The visitors hit back after the break, Johnston and Cunningham securing yet another 2-2 draw.

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