Saints were eliminated from the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup this afternoon after a 2–1 defeat after extra time to Cove Rangers.
Saints put on a dominant display in the first half and they took the lead on 24 minutes thanks to a close-range finish from Uche Ikpeazu following a Stevie Mallan corner.
However, the visitors fought back in the second half and Mitch Megginson levelled the match on 73 minutes to take the match to extra time.
The turnaround was complete in extra time when Cove Rangers seized the lead as Adam Esmlie slotted the ball beyond Toby Steward after latching onto a Chris Maguire through ball.
Saints tried to get back into the match as Cheick Diabate saw his header comeback off the bar. The follow-up fell to Josh McPake however, the chance went begging as he squandered the rebound as Saints couldn’t get back into the game and bowed out of the cup.
Next up for Saints it is a return to league action as they welcome Raith Rovers to Perth next Saturday, kick off 3pm.
MATCH REPORT
Saints got their Scottish Gas Scottish Cup campaign underway this afternoon as they welcomed Cove Rangers to McDiarmid Park for a third round match. Simo Valakari made four changes to the side which lost at Partick Thistle last weekend as Matty Foulds and Adama Sidibeh dropped to the bench, whilst Morgan Boyes and Jason Holt missed out completely. They were replaced by Reghan Tumilty, Sven Sprangler, Stevie Mallan and Uche Ikpeazu. Cove Rangers manager Paul Hartley made one change to the side which battled out a goalless draw at home to Alloa Athletic last Saturday as former Saints player Michael Doyle came in to replace David Eguaibor who dropped to the bench.
It was a chilly but dry afternoon in Perth as Jamie Gullan got the match underway. Saints made a positive start to the match and on 6 minutes a cross from the byeline by Josh McPake was met by Uche Ikpeazu however, his header was well held by Robbie Mutch in the Cove goal.
A sublime touch by McPake on 14 minutes to bring the ball down saw the winger break away from Layton Bisland before seeing his ball into the box met by Sven Sprangler however, the strike from the midfielder was blocked by a Cove defender as the League One side cleared their lines. McPake looked to create another chance 3 minutes later as he sent another good delivery into the Cove Rangers box which Ikpeazu was inches away from connection with as the ball was gathered by Mutch.
McPake was causing Cove all sorts of problems down the left and on 22 minutes he sent another delivery into the box which was only cleared as far as Reece McAlear who brought the ball down before firing narrowly wide of the target.
The pressure from Saints eventually told 2 minutes later as they took the lead. Stevie Mallan sent an in-swinging corner in from the left and Gullan got a flick on the delivery as it broke to Ikpeazu who bundled the ball home from close range.
PHOTO: Uche Ikpeazu scores for Saints
The Uganda international came close to doubling Saints lead on 31 minutes as he got on the end of a McPake cross and then twisted and turned in the box before getting his shot away which was turned around the post for a corner by Mutch. Then a minute later McPake was the provider again, this time picking out Cheick Diabate in the box whose header went over the bar.
A rare attack forward by Cove Rangers on the stroke of half time saw a strike from Adam Emslie comfortably saved by Toby Steward.
On 52 minutes a quick throw-in from Reghan Tumilty played in Ikpeazu who showed great power to get away from Liam Parker before seeing his strike turned behind for a corner by Mutch. Then shortly after Ikpeazu turned provider as he played in Gullan however, Mutch made another good save to keep his side in the match.
PHOTO: Reghan Tumilty and Mitch Megginson
Ikpeazu linked up with Gullan again 2 minutes later as the Saints forward was again denied by Mutch. Then a minute later Mallan flashed a strike wide from distance as Saints continued their search for a second goal.
McPake was next to get a sight of goal on 58 minutes as he unleashed an effort from the edge of the box which went narrowly wide. The winger then was inches away from making a connection with a delightful cross into the box by Tumilty 3 minutes later as Doyle turned the ball behind for a corner.
Then against the run of play Cove came close to levelling the match as Emslie did well to beat Tumilty on the byeline before seeing his strike saved by Steward at his near post. The loose ball broke to Blair Yule however, the midfielder blasted his shot high into the North Stand.
PHOTO: Stevie Mallan’s shot is blocked by Michael Doyle
Saints kept pushing forward in pursuit of that elusive second goal and on 64 minutes Mutch was at full stretch to tip a header from Ikpeazu around the post for a corner following a ball into the box from McPake.
Saints made their first change of the game on 65 minutes as Stevie Mallan was replaced by Kai Fotheringham.
Mutch was called into action again on 68 minutes tipping a McAlear effort from just outside the box behind for a corner. Fotheringham took the corner from the right and his delivery was met by Jack Baird however, he couldn’t find the target with his header.
PHOTO: Sven Sprangler is closed down by Reuben McAllister
The visitors started to come more into the game and with 20 minutes remaining Mitch Megginson saw his left-footed effort turned behind for a corner by Steward. Then 3 minutes later Cove were level as Emslie slipped in Megginson who created space for himself in the box before despatching a right footed effort beyond Steward.
Saints then made another change as Adama Sidibeh replaced Uche Ikpeazu.
Cove Rangers now had their tails up and they created a chance to take the lead on 75 minutes as a strike from Emslie was saved by Steward. Then 4 minutes later the League One side created another chance as Yule received the ball on the edge of the box from Megginson and he looked to place his shot in the corner of the net however Steward made a good save to deny the on-loan Ross County forward.
With 7 minutes remaining Tumilty saw his delivery into the box from the right cut out however, the clearance only went as far as McAlear who sent his follow-up effort wide of the mark.
That would prove to be Tumilty’s last involvement in the match as he was then replaced by Matty Foulds.
PHOTO: Uche Ikpeazu and Michael Doyle
As the match moved towards the ninety Saints pushed for a winner as on 85 minutes McPake played in Fotheringham, but his shot was saved by Mutch. The Cove Rangers keeper was called into action again 2 minutes later as Gullan played the ball to McPake who cut inside from the left before unleashing a strike which Mutch comfortably saved.
Then shortly after Sidibeh brilliantly won the ball before releasing Fotheringham however, Mutch made a good save with his feet to turn the ball behind for another corner.
Saints almost shot themselves in the foot on 89 minutes as Cove substitute Greg Stewart intercepted a pass from Diabate and then slipped in fellow substitute David Eguaibor, but Steward got down well to save the strike from the forward.
The final chance of the match fell to Saints as Gullan saw his low effort deflected behind for a corner by Parker as the match had to be settled in extra time.
In the first half of extra time Emslie saw his left-footed shot on 96 minutes go wide of the target. However, the forward didn’t miss 4 minutes later as he put the visitors ahead. Foulds couldn’t deal with a pass from Cove substitute Chris Maguire as Emslie raced onto the through ball before firing a strike beyond Steward at his near post.
Saints pushed to get back on level terms and on 102 minutes a cross from Smith was met by Sidibeh however, his acrobatic effort was turned around the post by Mutch. Gullan took the resultant corner from the right and his delivery was met by Diabate however, his header came off the bar and the follow-up fell to McPake but he blasted his effort over from close range.
PHOTO: Josh McPake and Justin Eguaibor
Saints then made their final changes of the game as Fran Franczak and Louis Lloyd, who was making his competitive debut for Saints, came on to replace Liam Smith and Sven Sprangler.
Cove came close to extending their lead on 114 minutes as Stewart created space on the edge of the box however, the forward couldn’t find the target with his effort.
As the match entered the second half of extra time having already used all of their substitutes Saints were forced to play with 10 men when Gullan was unable to continue.
With 5 minutes remaining Saints were awarded a free kick out wide on the left after McPake was fouled by Doyle. McAlear took the free kick as he floated the ball into the box and it was met by Diabate however, the defender put his header wide of the mark as Saints were unable to find a way back into the match and bowed out of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup.
Saints: Steward, Tumilty (Foulds 84’), Diabate, Gullan, Baird, Ikpeazu (Sidibeh 74’), Mallan (Fotheringham 65’), Sprangler (Lloyd 103’), McPake, Smith (Franczak 103’), McAlear
Unused Substitutes: Sinclair (GK), Thomson (GK), Griffith, Wanner
Booked: McPake
Scorer: Ikpeazu (24’)
Cove Rangers: Mutch, Bisland (Stewart 45’), Doyle, J. Eguaibor, Harrington, Yule, Megginson (Strachan 91’), McAllister (Maguire 45’), Emslie, O’Donnell (D. Eguaibor 72’), Parker
Unused Substitutes: Demus (GK), Milnes
Booked: Megginson
Scorers: Megginson (73’), Emslie (100’)
Referee: Chris Graham
Attendance:
Match Report by Daryl Scott
Picture: Uche Ikpeazu and Blair Yule
