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Cove Rangers got their 2026/27 Premier Sports Cup campaign off to the perfect start with a thrilling 3-2 victory over East Kilbride at Balmoral Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Paul Hartley’s side showed great character to come from behind and claim all three points in an entertaining Group C encounter. Destiny Oladipo scored the equaliser before turning provider for Reuben McAllister to put Cove ahead, and after the visitors levelled midway through the second half, Max Barry struck the winner five minutes from time to seal a memorable opening-night victory.

Robbie Mutch started in goal behind a back four of Victor Enem, Liam Parker, Arron Darge and Ryan Harrington. Edimond Oppong, who signed on Sunday, and McAllister occupied the wide areas, while Chris Maguire and Max Barry anchored the midfield behind strike partnership Jordan White and Destiny Oladipo.

After a confident opening spell from East Kilbride, Cove began to grow into the contest and fashioned the first clear opportunity after 19 minutes. Good play from Oppong released Enem down the right, his cross being deflected wide of the goal. The resulting corner eventually dropped to Maguire, who stretched to knock the ball back towards Barry before being caught by an East Kilbride defender. Despite strong appeals for a penalty, play continued and Barry curled narrowly over from the edge of the area.

A minute later, Oppong was again involved as he found Oladipo just inside the East Kilbride half. The striker’s clever first touch took him through on goal, and after holding off Darragh O’Connor as he advanced, he fired narrowly into the side-netting.

The visitors threatened on 29 minutes when Malek Zaid found space on the edge of the area, but Mutch was equal to his powerful effort, producing a strong save to push the ball over the crossbar.

Mutch was called into action again just before the break. Craig McGuffie was slipped through on goal and forced the Cove goalkeeper into an excellent save with his foot, before O’Connor scuffed a shot straight into Mutch’s arms from the resulting corner.

Hartley made one change at the interval, handing Joseph Teasdale his second debut for the club following his return from Aberdeen earlier in the day, replacing Oppong.

The visitors started the second half brightly and Mutch was required once again within a minute of the restart, getting his body behind Sean Fagan’s low strike after the defender had been released down the right.

East Kilbride broke the deadlock on 49 minutes. A long ball down the line was missed by Parker as he looked to hook it out of play, allowing Finlay Gray to race onto possession before delivering a teasing low cross that evaded Cameron Elliott and found KEIR FOSTER arriving at the back post to finish beyond Mutch.

Cove responded in superb fashion and were back on level terms just four minutes later. Parker stepped in to win possession inside the East Kilbride half before threading an excellent pass into the path of DESTINY OLADIPO, who held off his marker before calmly slotting into the far bottom corner.

Three minutes later, we completed the turnaround. Oladipo again proved the catalyst, spinning away from his marker on the halfway line before driving towards goal. With REUBEN McALLISTER making an intelligent run through the middle, the striker timed his pass perfectly and the midfielder took a touch before curling a composed finish beyond Shay Kelly to make it 2-1.

East Kilbride almost found an immediate response when Foster unleashed a powerful effort from distance that crashed back off the woodwork.

The visitors eventually found their equaliser after 72 minutes. White was dispossessed in midfield, allowing a TRIALIST to drive into the penalty area before poking a finish beyond Mutch at his near post.

Cove continued to press for a winner and came close after 81 minutes when Darge ventured forward and forced Kelly into a superb fingertip save with a powerful effort from the edge of the area.

The decisive moment arrived five minutes from time following an excellent flowing move. A throw-in on the left was worked back to Dylan Ross, who fired into the feet of Tristan Stephen. The substitute produced a clever lay-off into White, whose first-time pass found McAllister on the opposite flank. The winger’s clipped cross picked out MAX BARRY inside the box and, after taking a touch to set himself, the midfielder rifled beyond Kelly to restore Cove’s advantage.

There was still time for another chance to put the result beyond doubt. Barry turned provider this time, slipping Stephen through on goal, but Kelly stood tall to deny the substitute with a smart save.

The final whistle brought celebrations around Balmoral Stadium as Cove opened their Premier Sports Cup campaign with a deserved three points. Attention now turns to Saturday’s second Group C fixture, when St Mirren make the trip to Balmoral Stadium.

COVE RANGERS: MUTCH; ENEM (ROSS, 63′), DARGE, PARKER, HARRINGTON; OPPONG (TEASDALE, 46′), BARRY, MAGUIRE (SOUTER, 67′), MCALLISTER; OLADIPO (STEPHEN, 67′), WHITE

SUBS: DEMUS, BISLAND, FRASER

GOALSCORERS: OLADIPO, MCALLISTER, BARRY

EAST KILBRIDE: KELLY; FAGAN, HAMILTON, O’CONNOR, KYLE; ZAID, ARMSTRONG; MCGUFFIE, FOSTER, GRAY (TRIALIST 66′); ELLIOTT

SUBS: TRIALIST, STEELE, SPALDING, ROSS, CALDER, MCKENNA

GOALSCORERS: FOSTER (49′), TRIALIST (72′)

ATTENDANCE: 305

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