Match Report

MATCH REPORT

Cove Rangers v Stenhousemuir at Balmoral Stadium, Aberdeen on 14.12.19

SPFL Ladbrokes League Two             Att 391

Cove Rangers 2 [Scott 53, Robertson 87] Stenhousemuir 1 [Tiffoney 57]

Cove Rangers – McKenzie, Leighton [Robertson 83], Scully, Ross, Strachan, Yule [b65], Megginson, Scott, Masson, Aird [Brown 80] and Fyfie [Redman 90]. Subs- Redford and McCafferty.

Stenhousemuir – Smith, Armstrong, Dykes, Hopkirk [b24][so 80], Cook, McLaughlin, McBride [b82][Anderson 88], Blair, A.Munro, Tiffoney [b63] and Biabi [McGuigan 82]. Subs – Potter, Marsh, Scullion, Watters and Terry

Referee – David Lowe            Assistants – Alastair Mather and Andrew Craven

Stenhousemuir had been the first team to inflict defeat on Cove Rangers since they joined the league and were hoping to complete the double on their first ever visit to a bitterly cold Balmoral Stadium.

This was no to be a happy occasion for the Warriors though who had fought back from a goal in arrears only to succumb to defeat in the closing stages of the game.

The first half was fairly forgettable from a Stenhousemuir point of view and the home side probably should have been ahead by the half time interval.  The danger signs were there from the start and Fraser Fyfie just failed to get on the end of a cleverly placed free-kick after three minutes. Fraser Aird struck the top of the crossbar with a 25 yard free-kick in the 15^th minute. Stenhousemui were defending more than they would have liked and David Hopkirk was cautioned in the 24^th minute for a nudge on an advancing player. Graeme Smith saved from Mitch Megginson before the half hour but gradually Stenhousemuir were coming more into the game as time progressed.

Stuart McKenzie in the Cove goal was called upon for the first time in the 33^rd minute when he pushed out an Alan Cook shot. A better chance came Dylan Dykes way in the 43^rd minute but his placed shot went the wrong side of the post.

After that promising spell in the latter stages Stenhousemuir found themselves in arrears in the 53^rd minute. Graeme Smith did well to stop a Megginson shot but he was unable to stop ex-Warrior Martin [Jimmy] Scott from following up to tuck the rebound home. Connor McBride came close with an effort just wide before Stenhousemuir equalised in the 61^st minute of the game when Jonathan Tiffoney smashed a Cook cross into the net.

In the 78^th minute the game changing play of the game took place. Botti Biabi had a chance to score but pulled a hamstring whilst in the process of shooting. McKenzie saved with ease and started a counter attack than ended when Hopkirk committed a foul when he misjudged a tackle from behind and picked up his second caution of the game.

Stenhousemuir were unable to keep Cove out for the remainder of the game with John Robertson scoring the winner in the 87^th minute with either a cross cum shot from the right side or a superbly executed effort that sneaked in at the back post depending on which team the person making the verdict supported.