Cove Carbon Copy

Bottom side Cove Rangers poor season continued at the Caledonian Sarens PSG Stadium as the Caley Jags remained top of the table. Billy Mckay and Ross Millen were out for Scott Kellacher's side with last weeks match winner Chanka Zimba leading the line and Calum MacLeod continuing at right back. Paul Hartley was without Fraser Fyvie, Mikey Doyle, Declan Glass and Mitch Megginson. After an impeccably observed minutes silence for the fallen and those that gave their all, we were ready for kick-off. Considering it was the first week in November, the inclement weather had relented and it was a calm Saturday afternoon as the teams took to the pitch. Oh no it wasn't said the pantomime voices as a constant heavy shower that lasted for the whole first half engulfed the stadium and then continued to p!ss down after the break. It was a Carbon Copy of last weeks squeaky bum game against Montrose where failure to put the game to bed almost resulted in dropping points. In a half dominated by the hosts, Chanka Zimba missed a sitter early on with just the keeper to beat, firing high over the bar from ten yards. We only had a solitary goal to show for our endeavours when Mitchell Robertson met an inswinging corner by Joe Chalmers in the six yard box to crash the ball into the roof of the net. Calum MacLeod came in from the right but Mutch was equal to his parting shot to keep the Caley Jags player out. Soon after, a blow for Cove when captain Aaron Darge was replaced by Mackenzie Strachan. Just on the half time whistle, Adam Mackinnon was denied by keeper Mutch who pulled off a superb low save from a thunderbastard of a daisy cutter on the sodden surface.

HALF TIME: 1-0

Similar to last week, the visitors started the second half brighter than they did in the first but without troubling the home defence. Inverness gradually got themselves back on top and Robertson headed over, as did substitute Alfie Bavidge. Ten minutes from the end Liam Sole eventually got a decent shot away as he cut in from the left but again Mutch was able to keep the ball out. As keekie winkers started to twitch, Adam Emslie was able to make his way out of Calum MacLeod's back pocket and found himself shooting goalwards. However, Ross Munro kept focussed on the job in hand and was able to usher the slippery ball over the bar as we all held our breath. We saw out the game mostly on the front foot and MacLeod was unfortunate to be nudged off balance after cutting in from the right before his effort sliced wide of the target. Still time for the gangly and awkward David Eguaibor to shoot over the bar to bring proceedings to an end. The stats will show something like 70%/30% possession for the hosts, but to be honest, once again we made hard work of putting away a poor Cove side who were there for the thrashing. No bogies were harmed in the making of this result... Well, at first we thought it was a bogie.... but it's not

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We shouldn't complain too much really, but that's another nervy ending to a game we were well in control of. But 1-0 is never enough going into the final few minutes when the opposition suddenly get forward in numbers. Maybe that says more about the fear we are putting into other teams, but it would be nice to get a comfortable victory to ease the nerves.

Calum MacLeod was immense again today only letting Emslie out for air on a couple of occasions. And that's no mean feat against a tricky, pacy winger.

More match reaction to follow>>>

No Listen!

Date:  08/11/2025  Venue: Caledonian Stadium Attendance: 2102 Referee: Gary Hanvidge
 
Inverness CT: 1

• Manager: Scott Kellacher

• Lineup: Munro; MacLeod, Devine, Savage, Robertson, Sole (MacIntyre 88), Allan,

• Chalmers (Alonge 88), MacKinnon (Stewart 72), Wotherspoon (Longstaff 72), Zimba (Bavidge 63)

• Subs (not used):  Ross; Clark, S Thompson

• Scorers: Robertson (18)

• Booked: none

• Sent Off: none

Cove Rangers: 0

• Manager: Paul Hartley

• Lineup: Mutch; Bisland, Darge (Strachan 37), J Eguaibor, Parker, Harrington, McAllister, Yule,

• O'Donnell (Donaldson 83), Emslie, D Eguaibor

• Subs (not used): Demus; Milnes

• Booked: Yule (33)

• Sent Off: none