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COVE RANGERS 0–2 KELTY HEARTS

Despite enjoying the bulk of the possession throughout, and creating numerous chances, the team feel to another defeat, one which left us four points adrift at the foot of the League One table.

Kelty went ahead early thanks to a penalty, then defended for virtually the entire ninety minutes, securing their win after a breakaway deep into stoppage time.

With Fraser Fyvie, Mikey Doyle and Declan Glass all ruled out, the manager made five changes from the midweek cup-tie.

Mitch Megginson was back from injury, Blair Yule off the bench, and Arron Darge returned after missing the last seven games. There was a Cove Rangers debut second time round for Adam Emslie, who re-joined the club yesterday on loan from Ross County, and Robbie Mutch was also restored, replacing Balint Demus who was listed among the substitutes alongside Mackenzie Strachan, Jackson Mylchreest and Mikey Milnes.

The game could not have got off to a worse start.

Alex Ferguson burst from halfway, slipped past Liam Parker and raced into the box, and as he did so, Darge clipped the Kelty midfielder conceding what was a clear penalty. Innes MURRAY looked composed as he stepped up, and he sent Mutch the wrong way from the spot.

The boys responded well, Layton Bisland setting Yule free down the right, and when his cross was half-cleared by Clay, Lewis O’Donnell fired over from the edge of the box.

Megginson was next to have a go, his shot unluckily hitting David Eguaibor, then O’Donnell tried again, but his effort was straight at the keeper.

Eguaibor spun into space but shot over, then Yule’s low sidefooter was deflected past.

Megginson had a low powerful cross beaten away and Ryan Harrington was inches from connecting with the skipper after delivering from the left before Emslie, who was lively throughout, sent in another delivery which Blair Yule, on the stretch, could only head over.

The midfielder might have had a penalty when Carroll looked to pull him back, but the referee waved play on, then Mitch ran across the Kelty back line and into the area, his angled strike flying just over.

Kelty were on the front foot briefly after the restart, threatening on a couple of occasions, but Cove quickly resumed what had been the trend for most of the first half, and David Eguaibor might have had an opening as he burst clear, but was pushed to the ground by Bryden. Inexplicably, referee Hay ignored our claims.

The striker almost got on the end of a Yule cross, keeper Adamson snatching the ball, then Bisland and Megginson combined to set up the striker, but Bryden made an important intervention.

Emslie and O’Donnell were a constant worry for the visitors, and after Adam teed-up Lewis, the midfielder cut inside before reversing a well-struck effort saved well by the keeper low at his right post.

Mitch Megginson had a shot saved and Eguaibor’s follow-up was deflected wide before we looked to have finally levelled when Emslie again linked-up with O’Donnell and his strike was beaten out by Adamson. Both strikers were in on the rebound, Eguaibor hitting the crossbar before Megginson bundled the ball into the net, only for the assistant to signal offside.

Mitch had another shot just wide and Eguaibor was denied by the keeper as the team maintained what was almost incessant pressure, but we just could not find the killer pass or clinical finish, Kelty emerging from a series of goalmouth scrambles with their goal still intact.

There was one final opportunity, Megginson firing in a twenty-yard shot which flew just wide of the left post, and in the wake of that, the Fifers countered with pace, Joe TEASDALE getting away to shoot from inside the box. Robbie Mutch got a touch on the ball but could not prevent in from looping into the net.

That was the end of what proved to be another frustrating afternoon for everyone, the defeat extending our disappointing run to eight without a win.

COVE RANGERS: (4-2-3-1) Mutch; Bisland, J. Eguaibor, Parker, Harrington; Darge (Strachan 58), O’Donnell; Yule, Megginson (c), Emslie; D. Eguaibor

Substitutes: Demus, Mylchreest, Donaldson, Milnes

Scorers:

Bookings: J. Eguaibor (2), Parker (22), Darge (33)

KELTY HEARTS: (3-5-2) Adamson; Clay; O’Ware (Carroll 18), Brydon; Wyllie, Masson, Ferguson (McInally 72), Murray, Graham (Moore 73); Diack (Teasdale 65), Johnston (c)

Substitutes: Miller, Bexfield, Campbell, Leitch, Ritchie

Scorers: Murray (pen 2), Teasdale (90)

Bookings: Diack (31), Clay (60), Adamson (88), Carroll (90)

Referee: Josh Hay

Attendance: 376

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