3pm 16 July 2022
Scottish Professional Football League Cup, Group G
Cove Rangers 1 Livingston 2 (att 797)
Cove Rangers' climb from the Highland League to the second tier of the Scottish League has been remarkable, whatever the financial backing that has made it possible.
Their Balmoral Stadium has only been open for a few years, and still has the feel of a well-appointed non-league ground rather than the home of an established SPFL club. It'll need more development to keep pace with Cove's on-field progress,
Group games in the League Cup - the Premier Sports Cup with its sponsored title - provide competitive football in what would otherwise be pre-season. It also gave me an opportunity to recomplete the full set of SPFL grounds.
It was a lively game, albeit it one that was slow to get going. The two moments of note in the first half were both crucial, a straight red card after 25 minutes for Livingston's Esmael Goncalves, and a well-taken Cove goal in the final minute of the half.
But Premiership Livingston ultimately made light of being both a goal and a man down. They bundled the ball home for an equaliser soon after the break, then after soaking up Cove pressure they won the game thanks to terrific late goal.
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