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Welcome to today’s first game of the season where Cove Rangers host Raith Rovers at the Balmoral Stadium. It’s overcast but warm
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We have starts for new signings Nolan and Connell. Easton also starts. Ngwenya starts on the bench.
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Cove Rangers will unfurl their League One Champions flag before the games starts
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As Cove take kick off let’s the the season started
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Early freekick for Raith as Ross is fouled
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Scott Brown is your team Captain for the day
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Early threat from Cove but Raith clear for the ball to fall back to Cove but they blast over the bar
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Stanton brings the ball in just to try a tight cross but ball is out for a goal kick
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Easton tackles well to win the ball, ball is eventually played to Connell but he’s judged to be offside
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Easton with a good ball on to Gullan but it’s a tad too heavy
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Cove score.. ball is played short then put in the mix and Megginson scores
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Fyvie is given a warning after a foul on Ross
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Connolly gets the ball to Liam Dick you finds the through ball to Connell who stretches to try and score but Gourlay gets down to save
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Nice wee flick on to Ross but it’s a tad heavy again and ball out for a throw in to Cove
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Gullan tries for a low cross to Connolly but Cove intercept
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Liam Dick with a powerful shot but it’s straight to Gourlay
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Raith settling in to a passing game, fine play between Gullan and Connolly there with the latter unable to keep the ball under control and ball goes out of play
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Corner Raith as Gullan takes the ball to the corner and plays the ball off a Cove player
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Ross to to Connell who brings the ball in, tries for a shot but it’s sky high
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Gullan takes the ball to the byline, cuts it back to Ross how has a ping but ball out for a corner
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Megginson goes for a run, Connolly does well to put him off. Ball falls to Cove in the box and Brown challenges well, corner Cove
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From the corner there has been a clash of heads Liam Dick and Stanton receiving treatment. All is now okay
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Ball falls to McIntosh for Cove but he’s judged offside
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Stanton has a long range low shot but ball wide
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Connolly to Ross who goes for the shot but ball is blocked
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Ball is played into the box but Gourlay punches clear
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A push on Connell who goes to ground but ref says get up
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Raith freekick on the halfway line as Connell is on the ground
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Freekick Raith on edge of the box, Scully booked
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Ball flies across the box but there must have been a deflection as corner Raith
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10 min to go until half time Cove Rangers 1 (Megginson 7’) Raith Rovers 0
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Agnew giving directions to Brown from the bench
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Ball clear for Connell and he looks clean through but Logan outstretches and makes a timely tackle
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Freekick Cove which looked no different from the foul 10sec before on Connell
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Long ball falls just in front of Vigurs thankfully his big toe stretch puts the ball over the bar
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Ooooffttt… Ross’ shot hits the cross bar
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As a Cove player receives treatment both teams take a well earned water break
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Play gets back underway and Megginson returns to the field of play
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Free kick Raith on half way line as Cove receive a yellow.. not sure who tho
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+1 Raith close as Ball is touched over the bar by Gourlay
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+2 Ref blows for half time Cove Rangers 1 (Megginson 7’) Raith 0
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Raith get the second half underway.
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For info it was Cove’s Ross who was booked just before half-time
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Connell tries to go for a run down the left side but Reynolds covers
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Brown is down injured in the Raith box, couldn’t see what happened as hospitality make their way back. He’s back in his feet tho
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Fyvie with the short pass to Megginson who slots home for Cove’s goal number two
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Freekick Raith on the halfway line
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Ross tries to get the ball into the box, he needs someone to show but can’t keep a hold of the ball
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Connolly l’s hugh ball is looking Connel but the latter is being heavily marked
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Stanton with the ball tries to get the ball to the box to cross but he’s man marked all the way to the byline
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Fyvie booked after man handling Ross just in the Rovers half
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From the corner ball placed to far end of the box, ball eventually falls to Nolan but his shot is weak
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McIntosh is through Brown can’t tackle but Millen comes in with a timely tackle
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Brown this time does make a timely tackle as Cove again threaten
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Raith sub off Millen and bring on Zanatta
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Connolly with a strong ball into the box but Cove clear
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Connell on the edge for the box takes aim but his shot is low and direct to Gourlay
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Megginson is given a warning
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Leitch is close as his ball goes just wide
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Cove sub off Ross and bring on Neill
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Free kick Cove as Ross stumbles into Megginson
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Cove sun off McIntosh and bring on Masson
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Cove from the edge of the box but McDonald gets down to save
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Masson has a wee shot but Brown is there to interfere
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Raith sub off Connell and bring on Mitchell
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Easton to Brown who has a shot but it’s blocked
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Cove sun off Leitch and bring on McDonagh
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Reynolds booked after a foul on Connolly
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Raith corner again as Connolly’s ball is headed out
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Second corner played short to Zanatta but his shot is blocked and cleared
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Raith sub off Easton and bring on Coulson
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Raith fighting for that elusive goal but Cove defence holding tight
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5 min to go Cove 2(Megginson 7’, 49’) Raith 0
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Brown with the long ball to Connolly but he’s been marked and can’t win it
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Freekick Raith after Mitchell is fouled
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Raith in the box but they just can’t get anyone to turn and shoot
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Connolly with a shot but its wide
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Ref blows for full time Cove 2(Megginson 7’, 49’) Raith 0
Cove are the deserving side. Raith just couldn’t find a way through.
Next week’s game is at home to Dundee
Cove Rangers: Gourlay, Logan, Towler, Scully, Ross, Megginson (C), McIntosh, Vigurs, Leitch, Fyvie, Reynolds
Subs: McKenzie, Neill, McDonagh, Masson, Thomas
Raith Rovers: MacDonald, Dick, Millen, Nolan, Connolly, Gullan, Stanton, Connell, Brown (C), Ross, Easton
Subs: Thomson, Zanatta, Ngwenya, Mahady, Arnott, Mitchell, Coulson, Young, Masson
