Cove Rangers vs Inverurie Loco Works

The match was locked at 1-1 at the interval, with Inverurie matching their League One hosts in the opening 45 minutes. The visitors' goal, whose scorer was not confirmed in available match data, cancelled out an early Cove strike as both sides used the fixture to build fitness in the early stages of pre-season.

Cove manager Paul Hartley made several changes at half-time, and the impact was immediate. Destiny Oladipo, the Nigerian forward signed on a one-year deal on 21 June, took centre stage with two goals after the restart. The 22-year-old showed sharp movement and composure in the box to put Cove in control.

Jordan White, recruited from Stenhousemuir on 24 June and named captain for the opener against Aberdeen three days earlier, also got on the scoresheet. Tristan Stephen, the Aberdeen youth product who joined Cove on a season-long loan, rounded off the scoring.

Cove had lost their opening pre-season fixture 1-0 to Scottish Premiership side Aberdeen on 27 June, with Olusanya scoring the only goal after four minutes. This time, a much-changed lineup produced a far more convincing display.

The half-time break. Cove were level at 1-1 after a competitive first period in which Inverurie — playing their first pre-season friendly of the summer — more than held their own. Hartley's changes and a sharpened attacking focus after the interval turned the game decisively in the home side's favour. Oladipo's first goal early in the second half broke the deadlock and Inverurie never recovered.

Destiny Oladipo (Cove Rangers) — Two second-half goals on his home debut at Balmoral Stadium. The new signing demonstrated the finishing ability that convinced Cove to bring him in and was the clear difference-maker after the break.

Jordan White (Cove Rangers) — The experienced striker got his first goal for the club since arriving from Stenhousemuir. Led the line effectively and held the ball up well throughout.

Tristan Stephen (Cove Rangers) — The Aberdeen loanee capped an energetic display with a goal, showing why Hartley targeted him for a season-long loan.

The 4-1 scoreline — earned against a three-division gap (League One vs Highland League) — reflected Cove's superior fitness and depth more than any gulf in quality in the opening period. Both teams treated the match primarily as a fitness workout, with the scoring burst coming after substantial half-time changes. Cove's first pre-season game against Aberdeen was a tighter 1-0 defeat against top-flight opposition; this result suggests the League One side's preparations are progressing well.

Cove Rangers continue their pre-season schedule with a friendly against Turriff United on 2 July, before further tests against higher-division sides as they build toward the 2026/27 Scottish League One campaign. Cove finished 7th in League One in 2025/26 with 36 points — a mid-table finish they will hope to improve on under Hartley.

For Inverurie Loco Works, this was the first of a busy pre-season programme. They face Aberdeen East End on 4 July, Montrose on 8 July, and a marquee friendly against Aberdeen on 11 July at Harlaw Park, before the Highland League season begins on 1 August against Forres Mechanics.

A productive evening for Cove Rangers, whose new signings hit the ground running. Pre-season friendlies are often low on narrative — but the collective debut of three acquisitions on the scoresheet gives Hartley genuine encouragement for the campaign ahead. Inverurie will take heart from a competitive first half against a side three tiers above them before a fitness gap told after the break.