Leitch Marks Boxing Day Return With A Goal

Cove Rangers finished 2021 off with a bang defeating Clyde 4-2 in a thrilling match at Balmoral Stadium in Scottish League One, while securing a five-point gap at the top of the league from second place Montrose. Midfielder Robbie Leitch who made his return from a foot injury after four weeks out, was quick to make an impact as he entered the field for the latter stages of the game.

Paul Hartley’s men showed no weakness early on after previously winning all five of their league games ahead of this afternoon’s match. After continuous pressure in the first half and good chances which fell to Megginson, Masson and Yule the home side were unable to break the deadlock. The best chance fell to Ross whose header fired over the crossbar to keep the score line goalless at the break.

The quality of the league leaders did prove to be too much for Clyde and not long into the second period the opener did eventually come. Shay Logan fired a low free kick over from the right-hand side where Leighton McIntosh headed beyond Campbell to open the scoring from around fourteen yards out.

Not long after, Cove doubled their lead. A blunder from the visiting keeper created the opening after Ross delivered a long ball into the danger area. Campbell couldn’t collect and Mitch Megginson was on hand to roll the ball into an empty net. A further goal for Blair Yule, his first SPFL goal for the club, made it three and a score line which looked a lot more promising for Hartley’s men.

However, four minutes later, Scott Mercer’s free kick was played into the box. Just as a clean sheet looked to be on the cards, an unfortunate deflection came off full-back Harry Milne and crossed the line making it 3-1.

Robbie Leitch made his return for the club after making way for Jamie Masson on the 79th minute. The leaders seemed to make a more tentative approach however Leitch made an immediate impact four minutes later and calmed the nerves with an audacious effort. McIntosh found Scully on the left who played it on for Leitch to score with a perfectly placed curling shot from the edge of the box which deflected in off the post.