East Stirlingshire 1 v 8 Albion Rovers

Attendance : 223

Scorers ~ East Stirlingshire : Kelly (25). Albion Rovers :  Bradford (38,51), Stirling (43) McManus (47,66), Crabbe (49), McKenzie (76), Mercer (85).

Albion Rovers were expected to win this match, after all East Stirling had lost their last 21 league games and had the worst record in senior British football. Not that Rovers recent record is overly impressive, having lost their last five.

'Shire started strongly with Jordan Leishman shooting at Bennett in 3 minutes after Mulholland and Kelly had created the opportunity for him. 3 minutes later Livingstone crossed the ball to Millar who fluffed his shot from 6 yards and gave Rovers a goal-kick. Another 3 minutes later a Livingstone corner produced a bullet header by Ure which luckily for Rovers went just past the post.

In 10 minutes Rovers had their first attempt at goal. Mark Yardley's weak header didn't give 'keeper Todd any trouble. 'Shire hit back seconds later when Brian Mulholland hit a free-kick from 30 yards but it was well over the target.

In 12 minutes a Jered Stirling pass upfield was flicked on by Mark Yardley for Paul McManus to volley from 25 yards. The ball struck the outside of the home goalpost, had it gone in it would have undoubtedly been a candidate for goal of the season.

Next Mark Yardley was fouled deep into opposition territory and took the free-kick before the home side were ready. Their players looked at the referee to make Rovers take it again, meanwhile Paul McManus was taking advantage of their laxity, unfortunately his shot was stopped by 'keeper Todd.

In 21 minutes a cross by Jered Stirling from wide met the head of Mark Yardley whose header went straight to Chris Todd. 2 minutes later a high header by Yardley made Todd stretch to pluck it out of the air at the junction of his post and bar.

Goal

In 25 minutes it was the home side who opened the scoring. The ball broke to Stuart Kelly who hit a sweet volley from 25 yards past the helpless Bennett.

In 32 minutes Cliftonhill assistant manager Scott Crabbe was booked for a silly foul. A minute later Neil Bennett caught the ball whilst just outside his penalty area giving 'Shire a free-kick in a dangerous position. Sensibly Mr. Boyle used his discretion and didn't penalise the 'keeper further. The kick was taken by Kelly but it rebounded off the Rovers wall for Scott Livingstone to blast well over the crossbar.

With 8 minutes left until the break captain Jim Mercer flicked the ball to Paul McManus whose shot came close. A minute later Rovers were level when John Bradford scored from close-range after Paul McManus who had been trying to make a shot himself passed to the unmarked striker.

After a Jered Stirling free-kick was unproductively headed towards goal by a couple of Rovers players another Stirling free-kick gave the visitors the lead in 43 minutes. He curled the kick from about 20 yards into the home net with 'keeper Todd helpless to prevent it.

With a minute to go some good work by Yardley led to Jim Mercer having his low shot stopped by Todd. With just a few seconds left Brian Mulholland launched the ball into space over Rovers goal from 35 yards.

Goalfest

Just 2 minutes after the restart Mark Yardley laid on the ball for Paul McManus to hit home from 25 yards. A mere 2 minutes after that Rovers went further ahead when assistant manager Scott Crabbe bagged his first goal for the club with a diagonal shot into the corner of the 'Shire goal. 2 minutes later the Coatbridge side made it 3 goals in just 4 minutes when Jim Mercer passed to Mark Yardley who in turn provided a pass to John Bradford to score.

In 66 minutes it was 6-1 when a diving header from McManus went in after Crabbe's cross from the right set it up. Manager Kevin McAllister took the chance to replace the injured Stirling with David Farrell and the precious but tired Paul McManus with Marc McKenzie.

In 71 minutes East Stirling made a rare second half attempt on goal but McAuley's shot from distance didn't trouble Neil Bennett. 5 minutes later young striker Marc "Squib" McKenzie got his first senior goal for Rovers to make it 7-1.

A minute later substitute McLaren hit the ball across Rovers goal just inches from the line but nobody got a foot to the ball. Youngster Jamie Valentine replaced veteran Scott Crabbe to complete Rovers use of replacements.

Seven minutes from time McLaren completed a one-two with Ure but the resultant shot was easily saved by Bennett. 'Shire manager Dennis Newall who was until recently a Rovers coach replaced a couple of front men a minute later, presumably in the hope of reducing his sides goal deficit.

Unfortunately it didn't work and Rovers got their eighth and final goal of the match with 5 minutes left to play. A Jamie Valentine corner was flicked on by Mark Yardley for Jim Mercer to knee the ball into the net.

Summary

It didn't start (or finish for that matter) as expected as 'Shire went a deserved goal up but Rovers got their biggest ever league victory away from home. Rovers have only ever had four better league victories, the last being against 'Shire at Cliftonhill in the 1958/59 season when it finished 8-0. The last time they scored as many was at home against Gala Fairydean in the Scottish Cup in 1985, final scoreline 8-1. The scoreline matched East Stirlings worst ever home scoreline which was to another Rovers, Raith in 1938.

Sean Sweeney picked up a booking during the course of play.

It wasn't easy to single out a player this week but the man of the match award goes to Mark Yardley who despite being a major playmaker didn't manage to bag a goal himself.

East Stirlingshire : Todd, Livingstone, Mulholland (McLaren 72), Oates, Newall, McGhee, Leishman, McAuley, Ure (Kane 84), Kelly (Rodden 84), Millar. Unused Subs : Baldwin, Gilpin.

Albion Rovers : Bennett, Paterson, Stirling (Farrell 66), Potter, Sweeney, Smith, Bradford, Crabbe (Valentine 78), Yardley, McManus (McKenzie 69), Mercer. Unused Subs : Carr, Patrick.

Referee : Chris Boyle

Man of the Match - Mark Yardley

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