Albion Rovers 1 v 2 Elgin City

Attendance : 212

Scorers ~ Albion Rovers : McManus (13). Elgin City : McKenzie (45), Bone (87).

Although the league table would suggest that neither side had much to play for both teams were out to prove a point. Elgin had only won a single away game all season and it was at Cliftonhill which is a venue they've never lost at. Kevin McAllister was looking to win his first match since being given the Cliftonhill managers job on a permanent basis.

The first action of the match came in 2 minutes when Alex Bone tried to chip Chris Fahey in Rovers goal but the ball went past the far post. Jim Mercer was first to attack  the visitors goal 4 minutes later when his header went over the crossbar, Rovers were in the ascendancy now.

In 13 minutes Rovers took the lead when Paul McManus raced onto a Yardley pass, nicely beating the offside trap at the same time. He raced goalwards and fired the ball into the bottom corner of the visitors net.

Elgin didn't sit back, Bone had another shot in 23 minutes after Willie Martin went on a run and provided him with the ball. 4 minutes later Steve McCormick found himself through on goal but the ball was stifled by Chris Fahey. In 31 minutes a cross-goal header from Mark Yardley to Jim Mercer caused the captain to head past the visitors goal.

In 36 minutes a City corner whizzed across Rovers goal but nobody touched it.

Just as everybody was expecting the half-time whistle, there a was bizarre incident. An Elgin player went down injured about 10 yards outside the Rovers penalty area, play continued into the box and the referee blew his whistle. This incensed the Elgin players who had a reasonable chance to progress towards the goal. Fans assumed he'd stopped the match to allow treatment for the injured player and that a bounced ball (most likely uncontested) in the penalty area would restart the match. After the player was treated it emerged that Mr. Gilmour had in fact, awarded an indirect free-kick to Elgin for what we later found was a "high foot". Steve McCormick flicked the ball to Jamie McKenzie who blasted the ball into the roof of the net to equalise.

Second Half

The second period started quietly and the first thing of note was when Neil Bennett replaced Chris Fahey in Rovers goal. The fans' favourite had picked up a shoulder injury just 55 minutes into his second match back after a long-term ankle problem. Seconds later opposition 'keeper Martin Pirie was forced into punching clear a Rovers assault on his goal and then he saved the shot from the rebound.

In 58 minutes City had a shot which just missed the target. Soon after it was Rovers turn to attack, a cross from Paul McManus was volleyed just past the post by Jim Mercer. In 67 minutes Jim Mercer headed the ball into the net following a Yardley header, unfortunately he was offside when the ball was played to him. Mercer was on hand yet again a short while later when his overhead kick from the penalty spot was saved by Pirie.

Following a poor Elgin header which was well over, John Bradford was at the other end of the pitch and turned quickly but his snap-shot was deflected out for a corner.

In 73 minutes Alex Bone tried his luck from 20 yards after a long run down the pitch produced a cross to him, the shot wasn't worthy of the cross. Seconds later play switched to the visitors goal and an excellent cross to Mark Yardley in the middle of the goal was hit straight at Pirie, the veteran striker was adjudged offside into the bargain.

A spate of substitutions followed, as did several half chances for each side. 3 minutes from time City snatched all three points, a one-two between McMullan and Bone ending with Bone slotting the ball past Bennett.

Once more former Rovers players have returned to haunt their former employers at Cliftonhill, McKenzie and McCormick in particular, McMillan also having been on the books at Coatbridge.

Next Saturday Albion Rovers visit the worst team in British senior football having already lost 105 league goals and only having won a single game. Rovers have scored no less than 19 goals against the Falkirk side in three previous meetings this season so Kevin McAllister will be looking to improve the teams flagging goal difference. Having said that it took an own goal and a last minute goal from Mark Yardley the last time they visited Firs Park.

Albion Rovers : Fahey (Bennett 55), Paterson, Stirling, Potter, Cormack, Smith, Bradford (McKenzie 84), Patrick, Yardley, McManus, Mercer. Unused Subs: Sweeney, Farrell, Valentine. 

Elgin City : Pirie, Allison, Dempsie, Hind, Dickson, McKenzie (McMillan 86), Martin (McMullan 60), Tully, Bone, Campbell, McCormick (Reid 82). Unused Subs: McLean, Hamilton.

Referee : John Gilmour

Man of the Match - Paul McManus

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