 |
Albion Rovers 5 v 1 East Stirlingshire |  |
|
Albion Rovers 5 v 1 East Stirlingshire | |
| Bell's League Third Division 9th March 2004 |
Attendance : 179
Scorers ~ Albion Rovers : Yardley (11), Bradford (20), McManus (21), Mercer (29, 90). East Stirlingshire : Ure (47).
On a cold night with live Champions League football on the TV 179 hardy souls turned up for what was billed as a basement battle. As the 'shire had lost their last 14 league matches Rovers were expected to win and did so rather stylishly. The home side had a few changes from the team which drew in Cowdenbeath on Saturday. Back from injury came captain Jim Mercer and David Farrell with Mark Yardley starting for the first time in 5 matches.
The visitors started brightly with a Stuart Kelly cross cum shot going past Rovers post in 3 minutes. Two minutes later the ball was in the back of the East Stirling net but it was ruled offside and nobody was arguing too vociferously. Kelly had another shot just after this when he struck a free-kick to the waiting Neil Bennett.
Goal-Fest
In 11 minutes Mark Yardley was well placed when a Paul McManus cross came into the box and the striker headed the ball home over 'keeper Todd who was off his line. Just 9 minutes later John Bradford made it 2 when he was one of 5 Rovers who beat the 'shire offside trap much to the annoyance of the visitors bench.
East Stirling weren't giving up yet but a Kelly shot was easily dealt with by Neil Bennett. In 21 minutes the game was tied up when a Mercer flick-on gave the ball to Paul McManus at the near post who volleyed it home. In 29 minutes Jim Mercer was on hand to put a McManus cross into the net.
Scott Crabbe, Paul McManus and Mark Yardley all had decent attempts thwarted before the half-time whistle sounded.
Second Half
Whatever manager Steve Morrison had said during the interval to his team seemed to pay off as Derek Ure latched onto the end of a Kelly cross to open his team's account in two minutes after the restart.
A fairly uneventful 42 minutes was to follow with Rovers and East Stirling both having some half-chances. The best chance was from Paul McManus when 'keeper Chris Todd did well to save the shot, the lead up play having come from Mark Yardley. With the game just about over an excellent long-range shot by Chris Kerr just missed the target.
In injury time Jim Mercer ran down the wing and lobbed Chris Todd to finish things in style.
Summary
An excellent performance by the rampant Rovers killed the game as a contest within the first half-hour which can only have pleased manager Kevin McAllister.
Newell and MacKay of the Falkirk side were booked.
Albion Rovers : Bennett, Paterson, Stirling, McCaig, Cormack, Farrell (Kerr 45), Bradford (Low 76), Crabbe, Yardley, McManus (Selkirk 86), Mercer. Subs not used - Sweeney, Carr.
East Stirlingshire : Todd, Maughan, McLaren, Livingstone, Newell, McGhee, Mulholland (MacKay 63), Miller, Lynch (Ford 76), Ure, Kelly. Subs not used - Reid, McAuley, Gilpin.
Referee : J Downie
Man of the Match - Jim Mercer
