Match Report

MATCH REPORT

Stenhousemuir v Cove Rangers at Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir  on 29.02.20

SPFL Ladbrokes League Two             Att 559

Stenhousemuir 0 Cove Rangers 3 [Megginson 33, 50 pen, McAllister 42]

Stenhousemuir – Smith, Tiffoney, Wilson, Armstrong, Burns [A.Munro 53], Hopkirk, McLaughlin, Moore, Harkins [so 80][McGuigan 78], Biabi [McBrearty 55] and Spence [b37].  Subs not used – Terry, Massouaghou, McIlduff and Watters , 

Cove Rangers – McKenzie, Milne, Scully, Ross, Strachan, Yule [Mulligan 83], Megginson, Watson [Meekinson 80], Higgins, McAllister [Brown 64] and Fyfie [b32]. Subs not used – McCafferty, Leighton and  Redman

Referee – Craig Napier                      Assistants – Craig Ferguson and Jonathan Bell

The last time these teams met at Ochilview the Warriors inflicted Cove Rangers first ever SPFL defeat. On this occasion though Cove were to get their revenge after they outplayed Stenhousemuir in the key stages of the game.

One of their additions to the squad in the transfer window was Rory McAllister and the prolific goalscorer almost made his mark within the first minute of the game when he crashed a shot off the post. Minutes later Graeme Smith came to the rescue saving a shot low down.

Gradually though Stenhousemuir came into the game and they saw a Greig Spence shot blocked after a swift interplay of passes around the Cove box. Two minutes later Spence was on the end of a long ball by Jonathan Tiffoney that caught the defence out but there were no takers for the Stenhousemuir player’s cross.

That however was the closest that the Warriors came as Cove started to up their game again with Fraser Fyfie conducting the midfield and McAllister and Mitch Megginson causing problems with their free roles up front.

The latter is the top scorer in the league and he showed just why when he pounced on a defensive mistake in the 33rd minute  and showed composure to pick his spot to put Cove ahead. They were to double their lead in the 42^nd minute when a Brogue Watson cross eluded Sean Burns and Blair Yule was able to play the ball back into the path of McAllister to dispatch into the net from close range.

Any team talk that Stenhousemuir had about getting back into the game were made obsolete five minutes after the resumption when referee Craig Napier awarded Cove a penalty after Jordan Armstrong was adjudged to have handled in the box. Megginson scored with the spot kick despite the best of efforts by Smith.

That decision effectively finished the game as a contest though it was not the end of the drama as the home side made changes to try and shore up their defence.  Stenhousemuir also had the sight of Gary Harkins being sent off two minutes after being subbed for comments made to the officials.

Cove showed exactly why they are leading the division by a clear margin as they managed to play at the tempo that they dictated and this never mind anything else was a major disappointment to David Irons. The opposite scenario was true for Paul Hartley who felt that it was their best performance

#BackYourWarriors