Cove Rangers 0 Caley Thistle 0: Stoppage time spot kick save earns Caley Jags a point

Caley Thistle manager Scott Kellacher hailed goalkeeper Ross Munro for earning his side a point with a stoppage-time penalty save at Cove Rangers.

Cove were awarded a spot kick in injury time but Munro denied Cove substitute Reuben McAllister to ensure the game ended goalless.

Kellacher believes a third league defeat in a row would have been harsh on his side.

He said: “We’ve probably controlled large parts of the game and we created enough chances to win the game.

“But I think the way the game played out in terms of them getting the penalty late on, a draw is a fair result.

“To go from thinking we’ve done well enough in the game, maybe to shade it, then to concede a penalty in the last minute, probably makes a draw fair.”

Kellacher was aggrieved his side were not awarded a penalty themselves after Paul Allan was fouled.

He said: “I think we should have a stonewall penalty ourselves. It was on the line, and if it’s on the line it’s in the box, so I think we should have had a penalty.”

Caley Thistle have ground to make up in League One

The point gained at Balmoral Stadium keeps Caley Jags in second place in League One,three points behind leaders Stenhousemuir who stretched their advantage with a 5-0 win against East Fife.

Kellacher, however, believes the point gained from Cove is a good one for his side.

He said: “You could tell that we’ve not played in a few weeks. It’s sort of caught up as we looked a wee bit rusty in the final third.

“But after the few weeks that we’ve had it’s something for us to build on and that’s what we’ll try to do.

“This is our sixth away game out of seven so it’s a hell of a schedule for us.

“We’re taking on a lot, and I think it’ll be two games out of 11 we’ll have at home. We’re on the road a hell of a lot, which is taxing on the boys.

“It takes it out of them, do you know what I mean? But I can’t ask for more today in terms of trying to get going again after the lay-off that we’ve had.

“We could have won it. We could have lost it. So probably over the piece, a draw is probably the right result. We’ll build on that.”

Mixed emotions for Cove Rangers boss

Cove manager Paul Hartley was frustrated his side did not capitalise on their chance to win the game in stoppage time.

But the Cove boss believes the disappointment felt by his players shows the improvement in results and growing confidence the club in recent weeks.

He said: “They’re a very good team, but I think we’re a different team than we were six weeks ago. I’m really pleased with the progress.

“We could have won it in the end, but it is what it is, isn’t it? Everybody misses penalties. It’s just unfortunate for the young man.

“We’re not going to be too hard on him. Obviously, Mitch Megginson, who is our penalty taker, was off the pitch, but Reuben stepped up and took it.

“It’s a good save. But overall, I’m really pleased with how we performed.

“But I think overall, it’s another clean sheet. I’m pleased with how we performed, and I can see the momentum building.

“We’ve got some players back and you can just see how we’re playing. Some of the football was really good and how we played through them.

“Once we get everybody fit and once we get ourselves going and playing, we’re a good team.”

Both sides hit the woodwork in the first half

Since scoring nine goals at Dumbarton in the KDM Evolution Trophy, Caley Thistle have lost twice in the league, at Stenhousemuir and Montrose.

The title challengers faced a Cove side which had scored nine goals in their last two wins against Peterhead and Kelty Hearts, and the home side should have been ahead in the fourth minute.

Chris Maguire gathered possession 10 yards in his own half and the former Don sent Mitch Megginson clear on goal. The striker raced away from the Caley Jags defence but with visiting goalkeeper Ross Munro to beat he struck the post, and Inverness scrambled the ball clear.

Inverness responded with a Mitchell Robertson ball across goal which just evaded Chanka Zimba. Luis Longstaff’s cutback from the byline then found Adam Mackinnon but his sidefooted effort went wide.

The visitors then hit the post too as Paul Allan‘s curling free kick into the box missed everyone before coming back off the post. The ball fell for Zimba but the Caley Thistle striker fired the rebound straight at Robbie Mitch in the Cove goal.

In a tense first half Cove were pinned back but stood up well to the Caley Thistle pressure before enjoying a good spell in the final minutes before the break.

Lewis O’Donnell teed up Megginson whose turn and shot was held by Munro.

The Cove striker had another chance from the edge of the box with a powerful drive which stung the hands of the Inverness keeper.

Late drama at Balmoral Stadium

The home side looked to maintain their momentum after the break, but Inverness had a chance on the break when Allan played Zimba in on goal, however, Mutch did well to save the striker’s shot at his near post.

Mutch then denied Zimba again as he tried to convert David Wotherspoon’s ball across goal.

The visitors appealed for a penalty in the 55th minute when Allan was sent tumbling by Justin Eguaibor but referee Jordan Curran deemed the offence had taken place outside the box.

Mutch saved the resulting free kick from Joe Chalmers.

There was little to separate the sides as they both chased a late winner.

Megginson blazed a first-time shot over the bar for Cove while Caley Jags captain Danny Devine saw his header from a corner saved by Mutch.

Then, in the final seconds of stoppage time Cove were awarded a penalty after substitute David Eguaibor was bundled over by Mitchell Robertson.

McAllister stepped up to take the penalty but Munro dived low to his left to make the save with McAllister’s rebound going wide.

Player ratings

Cove Rangers (4-4-1-1) – Mutch 7, Bisland 6, J. Eguaibor 6, Parker 5 (Strachan 46), Doyle 7, O’Donnell 6 (Fyvie 72), Yule 7, Harrington 6, Emslie 6, Maguire 6 (D. Eguaibor 72), Megginson 6 (McAllister (90). Subs not used – Demus.

Caley Thistle (4-2-3-1) – Munro 7, MacLeod 6, Devine 7, Savage 7, Robertson 6, Allan 7, Chalmers 7, Wotherspoon 5 (Bavidge 67), Mackinnon 6 (McKay 80), Longstaff 5 (Sole 67), Zimba. Subs not used – Ross, MacIntyre, Alonge, Thompson.

Referee – Jordan Curran 6.

Attendance – 575

Man of the match – Ross Munro.

[Source: Press and Journal]