ARBROATH FC 1 – 0 COVE RANGERS, Saturday 29th March 2025, William Hill League One
Arbroath moved eight points clear at the top of League One following a hard fought but deserved 1-0 win over Cove Rangers at the Greenversity Stadium at Gayfield Park on Saturday afternoon.
Aaron Muirhead’s early finish from a pinpoint Fraser Taylor cross was enough to help the Lichties defeat the visitors, who saw Mitch Meggginson sent off late on, as results elsewhere saw Arbroath stretch their lead at the top.
Colin Hamilton and David Gold made three changes to the side that drew with Kelty Hearts last weekend, with Callum Penman, Tam O’Brien and Billy King all in from the start, as Aaron Steele and Keith Watson were on the bench, with Gold himself missing out.
Despite having to contend with the gusty wind blowing against them in the first half, it took the Lichties just eight minutes to take the lead. Scott Stewart was fouled on the right, with Fraser Taylor sending a brilliant free kick into the middle where Muirhead was waiting to volley home his second for the club.
The wind was playing a huge factor and almost caused goals at both ends, with Aidan McAdams having to be alert to tip Fraser Fyvie’s cross over before Andy Winter shot wide after nipping in on a defensive mix-up in the Cove box.
Arbroath would go in a goal to the good at the break, with the second half really failing to spring into action, Taylor’s shot past the post in the 70th minute the first real effort of the half.
Ryan Dow replaced Billy King just moments later and really should have put the game to bed almost immediately, racing onto a long ball before lobbing over Nick Suman, but also the bar.
The Lichties had further chances to make the scoreline more comfortable with Dow again and Stewart seeing efforts easily kept out by Suman, before Dow turned provider late on for Kieran McKechnie who was also denied by the Cove keeper.
There was some drama in stoppage time when the visitors were reduced to ten men, Megginson picking up a second booking for a foul on Dow, but there would be no further scoring as Arbroath held on to strengthen their grip on first place.
Arbroath: McAdams; Penman (Watson, 80), Muirhead, O’Brien, Wilkie; Flynn, Stanton; Stewart, Taylor, King (Dow, 73); Winter
Cove Rangers: Suman; Lobban, Doyle, Parker, Harrington; Darge (McGrath, 85), Yule; Emslie (Gaffney, 69), Fyvie, Scully (Marshall, 69); Megginson
Attendance: 1432
