An inspired substitution gave Cove Rangers’ prospects of remaining in the Championship a major boost with a dramatic 1-0 win at Arbroath.
Defender Morgyn Neill came off the bench and was deployed as a makeshift attacker as Paul Hartley’s side pressed for a late winner.
Three minutes after coming on and with only six minutes remaining, Neill nodded home an Iain Vigurs corner to give the Aberdeen side all three points.
The result leaves them level on points with Hamilton Accies with a game in hand as they head into their final fixtures away to Dundee and at home against Morton.
Arbroath could have guaranteed their survival with a win but now face a nervy end to the campaign as they sit three points above the bottom two ahead of their final two matches.
It was a deserved victory for Cove who defended resolutely and made the best of the difficult conditions at a blustery Gayfield.
Playing against the wind in the first half, they were immediately under pressure with the reinstated Scott Fox forced into an early save to deny Scott Stewart.
Luis Longstaff impressed for the visitors and he went close early on with his low drive turned round the post by Derek Gaston.
Former Ross County and Peterhead winger Ryan Dow passed up a couple of decent chances soon after, firing over inside the penalty area when he should have hit the target before his header was clawed away by Fox at Arbroath’s next opening.
Cove looked dangerous on the break with Michael O’Halloran’s driving run setting up Longstaff. He picked out McIntosh who showed great composure to turn his marker before seeing his shot deflected over.
That was O’Halloran’s last meaningful involvement as he limped off and was replaced by Cieran Dunne.
As Cove adjusted to the change, Arbroath almost made the breakthrough when Stewart beat Fox to a forward pass but his looping header bounced just wide.
The visitors were forced into a second change in the final minute of the half when Leighton McIntosh was replaced by Tony Weston after suffering an injury.
The home side thought they were taking a lead into the break after David Gold poked home a Dow cross from close range but the goal was ruled out for a foul on Fox.
Arbroath passed up a good chance early in the second half when Michael McKenna had a free sight at goal but sliced his attempt wide.
The second half proved a tense and nervy affair with both sides struggling to create until Cove upped the ante in the closing stages when Neill was thrown on as an additional forward.
He went close almost immediately from a Vigurs cross before Jason Naismith nodded over from close range when a goal looked almost certain.
But Cove were not to be denied as Neill powered home a header from an in-swinging corner to spark scenes of jubilation in the away support.
Talking points
All to play for in final two games
This was a huge result for Cove who picked a good time to chalk up their first victory since the start of February.
Dundee and Morton await in their final fixtures but Hartley’s side will take plenty of confidence from grinding out a crucial victory at Pittodrie.
Steven Lawless’ injury time equaliser for Partick Thistle in their 2-2 draw against Hamilton Accies was also a major boost for Cove.
Accies are on the same points as Cove but with only one game left – a trip to Arbroath a week on Friday.
😍 GET IN BOYS!!!#CRFCLive pic.twitter.com/YHtWijMged
— Cove Rangers FC (@CoveRangersFC) April 22, 2023
Injuries continue to mount
Cove were again missing a host of key players, including Fraser Fyvie and Blair Yule, so Hartley must have been cursing his luck when two more limped off during the first half at Gayfield.
O’Halloran and McIntosh both suffered hamstring injuries and are unlikely to feature again this season.
Cove were only able to name six of a possible nine substitutes on Saturday and they can’t afford to lose any more players to injury.
Anxious times at Arbroath
There was a large and expectant home crowd at Gayfield who were hoping to see their team guarantee another season of Championship football with a victory against the team bottom of the table.
But Dick Campbell’s men struggled to assert themselves during the 90 minutes. They didn’t make the most of the wind advantage in the first half and were unable to seriously test Cove goalkeeper Fox in the second period despite getting into some decent positions.
A nervy end to the season awaits, especially if they lose at Partick next weekend and Cove can take something from their game at Dundee.
Talking tactics
Cove made two alterations from the side beaten 2-1 by Caley Thistle with Scott Fox replacing Kyle Gourlay in goal, while Jason Naismith stepped in for Morgyn Neill.
Scott Ross moved from his usual right back berth to partner Mark Reynolds at the heart of the Cove rearguard with Naismith at right back.
The visitors’ main tactic was to get the ball out wide to Luis Longstaff on the right wing and it worked particularly well in the first half.
Referee watch
Matthew MacDermid had a couple of big calls to make. He kept his cards in his pocket following a collision between Iain Vigurs and Joao Balde in the first half which had tempers rising. He also chalked off an Arbroath goal at the end of the first half which appeared to be the correct decision.
Player ratings
ARBROATH (4-2-3-1) Gaston 5; Banks 6, Little 6, O’Brien 6, Hetherington 5; Balde 6 (Allan 90), Gold 6 (Tait 77); Stewart 6, McKenna 6, Dow 6 (Linn 57); Hilson 5. Subs not used: Jacobs, Komolafe, Olusanya, El-Mahnni, Bitsindou, Gill.
COVE RANGERS (4-4-2) Fox 7; Naismith 7, Ross 7, Reynolds 7, Longridge 6; Longstaff 8, Scully 7, Vigurs 7, O’Halloran 6 (Dunne 30, Neill 81); Megginson 7, McIntosh 6 (Weston 45). Subs not used: Gourlay, Bangala, Glass.
ATTENDANCE: 2,451
Star man
Luis Longstaff: The Cove Rangers winger was a real bright spark for Cove on the right flank. He caused Arbroath left back Steven Hetherington real problems and looked the most likely route to a goal for a long period.
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