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Cove Rangers were beaten 4-1 by last season’s William Hill League 1 Champions Inverness Caledonian Thistle this evening in our penultimate pre-season fixture.

Despite the scoreline, the side produced another encouraging display, creating a number of good opportunities, particularly in the opening 45 minutes. A superb solo goal from Destiny Oladipo brought Cove level in the first half, but the visitors pulled away after the break.

Robbie Mutch started in goal behind a back four of Layton Bisland, Arron Darge, Liam Parker and Ryan Harrington. Two trialists partnered each other in midfield (#4 & #14) while Reuben McAllister and Trialist (#18) operated on either flank in support of captain Jordan White and Oladipo.

Inverness took the lead after 10 minutes when a turnover in possession allowed the visitors to counter quickly. Alfie Bavidge picked out Inverness Trialist (#14) who was left unmarked and had time to take a touch to compose before slotting beyond Mutch.

Cove responded well, and began causing the Inverness defence problems, A long ball over the Inverness defence sent Oladipo through on goal, but despite appearing to be brought down as he raced clear, the referee waved away the appeals.

The team continued to build into the match and came close to an equaliser after 20 minutes. Trialist (#4) collected the ball on the halfway line before exchanging a neat one-two with McAllister and driving forward, only to see his strike cannon back off an Inverness defender.

The loose ball fell kindly for Trialist (#14), whose dipping effort from 30 yards forced Logan Ross into an excellent fingertip save to turn the ball behind for Cove’s first corner of the evening.

Cove’s equaliser arrived two minutes later and it was a goal worthy of drawing the sides level. Destiny Oladipo showed superb control to bring down a high ball on the halfway line before turning and driving directly at the Inverness defence. Shrugging off several challenges and gliding beyond others, the forward chopped inside before finding the far corner, with a slight deflection taking the ball beyond Ross to complete a brilliant individual effort.

Inverness threatened to regain the lead shortly after the half-hour mark when Alfie Stewart slipped Bavidge through on goal, but Mutch was equal to the striker’s effort with a smart save.

The manager made two changes at the half-time interval, with Max Barry and Mark Souter replacing Arron Darge and Trialist (#18).

The visitors restored their advantage just three minutes into the second half. Ryan Duncan cut inside from the right before unleashing a powerful strike beyond Mutch to make it 2-1.

Oladipo continued to cause problems and almost produced another moment of brilliance on 55 minutes. Picking the ball up on the halfway line once again, he surged beyond three Inverness players before opting to shoot instead of squaring for the unmarked White, but his effort was comfortably gathered by Ross.

Inverness extended their lead after 65 minutes when Morgan Bates rose highest to meet a corner, his header crashing in off the underside of the crossbar.

Cove continued to push for a way back into the contest and came agonisingly close after 72 minutes. Aaron Fraser capitalised on a misplaced pass from Ross but could only fire straight at the goalkeeper, before the rebound fell to Tristan Stephen, whose goal-bound effort from 10 yards out was brilliantly kept out by Ross with an instinctive save using his foot.

Inverness pushed for a fourth, and the opportunity came when Graeme Shinnie’s inviting cross found Hamzad Kargbo inside the penalty area, but the substitute could only guide his header over the crossbar.

Cove were denied again with eight minutes remaining. Stephen won possession in the centre of the park before McAllister released Cole Donaldson down the left. The youngster’s powerful effort beat Ross and looked destined to find the net until Remi Savage recovered superbly to head the ball off the line.

Inverness completed the scoring four minutes from time. Ex-Cove Rangers player Luis Longstaff’s deep cross found Liam Sole at the back post, who knocked the ball back across goal for Hamzad Kargbo to finish from close range and make it 4-1.

Despite the final score, Cove once again showed plenty of encouraging signs against strong opposition and will take confidence from another competitive pre-season performance ahead of Saturday’s final friendly against St Johnstone before the new campaign gets underway.

COVE RANGERS: MUTCH; BISLAND, DARGE, PARKER, HARRINGTON; MCALLISTER, TRIALIST, TRIALIST, TRIALIST; OLADIPO, WHITE

SUBS: DEMUS, ENEM, SOUTER, TRIALIST, BARRY, STEPHEN, DONALDSON, FRASER

GOALSCORERS: OLADIPO (22′)

INVERNESS CT: ROSS; MACLEOD, DEVINE, TRIALIST, BOUTIN; CHALMERS, WOTHERSPOON; DUNCAN, STEWART, TRIALIST; BAVIDGE

SUBS: MUNRO, SHINNIE, SAVAGE, ALLAN, MACKINNON, LONGSTAFF, SOLE, BATES, KARGBO, CLARK, KEOGH

GOALSCORERS: TRIALIST #14 (10′), DUNCAN (48′), BATES (64′), KARGBO (86′)

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