Match Report

Saturday, 19th July, 2025

by Callum Law

Encouraging signs for Cove Rangers after taking Falkirk to penalties in League Cup

The Aberdeen side performed with credit against Premiership opposition.

Cove Rangers boss Paul Hartley was proud of his players after they earned a point against Falkirk in the Premier Sports League Cup.

The Aberdeen outfit, who are in League One, produced an excellent performance to draw 0-0 with Premiership opposition at the Balmoral Stadium, but it was the Bairns who claimed a bonus point by winning the penalty shoot-out 4-2.

With four points from their first two matches in group A, Cove are in the hunt to reach the last 16.

On Tuesday, they travel to Breedon Highland League Brechin City, before visiting Championship side Queen’s Park next Saturday.

Victory in both games may be enough to win their group, and if not, two wins would in all likelihood secure progression to the knockout phase as one of the three best group runners-up.

Manager Hartley said: “It’s a good point for us and we would have taken that before the game. I’m really proud of the players and their effort and attitude in the game.

Cove manager Paul Hartley praised his side after their display against Falkirk. “We’ve got a chance in the group, which is all we can ask for.

“Penalties are what they are – you pick a side, and if you miss, you miss, and if you score, you score.

“It’s a hard group. We haven’t got a big squad and we’ve got a couple of injuries, we’ve got young players and trialists in, but the players showed a really good side to them.

“It gives us a lot of encouragement. We’ve had to put another team together, which I tend to do every other year.”

New Cove Rangers faces impress

Five of Cove’s six summer signings started and they also fielded a trialist in 19-year-old former Rangers player Greig Allen, who played for an hour and put in a decent shift in central midfield as the home side worked hard to shut Falkirk down.

Hartley added: “He did fine. It’s not easy coming into a game against Falkirk. We’ve got another game on Tuesday so we may have another look at him.”

Justin Eguaibor, who signed on Friday, started at centre-back in the middle of a back three and impressed throughout as he kept Brian Graham and then Ross MacIver quiet.

Alongside Eguaibor, Liam Parker – who has signed for Cove on a permanent basis after a loan spell last term – and captain Michael Doyle also did well.

Behind them another new addition, goalkeeper Robbie Mutch, made five good saves during the 90 minutes.

He repelled Alfredo Agyeman and Brian Graham in the first half, while after the break he tipped over Sean Mackie’s 25-yard volley as well turning away another attempt from Graham and a Lewis Neilson header.

Cove’s other recruits who featured were Layton Bisland at right wing-back and Mackenzie Strachan in central midfield.

The former did an excellent job of shackling lively wingers Calvin Miller and Agyeman, while Strachan was an energetic and enthusiastic presence in the middle of the park.

Shoot-out goes visitors’ way

Over the piece it was a disciplined and determined display to keep a clean sheet and Cove did also have a couple of sights of goal.

Declan Glass fired wide from 25 yards on 76 minutes, and six minutes later, Bisland got into the box on the right and could have shot, but instead his low cross just evaded sub Grady McGrath.

In the penalty shoot-out, Scott Bain saved from Glass and Parker, which meant, despite Cole Donaldson and Ryan Harrington scoring for Cove, conversions from Liam Henderson, MacIver, Brad Spencer and Gary Oliver earned Falkirk the bonus point.

Reflecting on the performance of some his signings, Hartley said: “I thought Justin was excellent, but I can’t fault any of the players.

“Justin showed last week against a good Aberdeen team that he can defend, and if he keeps it simple, I think he’s going to be a really astute signing for us.

“Mackenzie is doing well – he’s a good kid who works hard and he’s got a terrific attitude towards the game.”