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Gretna 3 v 0 Albion Rovers |  |
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Gretna 3 v 0 Albion Rovers | |
| Bell's League Third Division 14th February 2004 |
Attendance : 426
Scorers ~ Gretna : Cameron (2), Stevens (29), Townsley (39).
Along with a reported 37 wedding parties Rovers and their fans headed to Gretna on St. Valentines day. Visiting fans weren't best pleased when they were herded into small enclosures which seems unnecessary in 3rd division football. The on-loan Scott Crabbe from Alloa and assistant to manager Kevin McAllister made his debut up front alongside Paul McManus.
Bad Start
It only took Gretna 2 minutes to flex their muscles when skipper Mick Galloway took a short corner which was crossed into the box by Ryan Baldacchino for Martin Cameron to head home from close-in.
The game then went quiet until 20 minutes when a low shot by Ian Stevens didn't trouble 'keeper Bennett too much. A couple of minutes later an excellent run down the wing by an unidentified Rovers player which resulted in an excellent shot on goal from the edge of the box which was thwarted by an equally excellent save by Mathieson.
Another couple of minutes later Paul McManus laid off the ball to Scott Crabbe whose shot from the edge of the box was wide of the target. In 28 minutes it was new boy Crabbe again who got onto the end of a long cross to head just past the post.
In the 29th minute Borderers striker Ian Stevens picked up a pass inside the box from Danny Lennon, he shot low into the corner of the net to double the hosts lead.
Paul McManus didn't take long to get a shot in when he got his head to a long pass around the penalty spot but once more it was past the post. Just after this a long run down the wing by perennial thorn in the Rovers side Ryan Baldacchino produced a cross which a reasonably placed dustbin could have scored but there was nobody there.
Game Over
In 39 minutes the game was put beyond Rovers when Derek Townsley scored on his home debut with a side-footed shot. The ball had been supplied by Baldacchino who waltzed past defender Andy Paterson seconds earlier.
In the closing couple of minutes of the opening period Neil Bennett tipped shots by Lee Maddison and Mick Galloway over his crossbar.
Second Half
Manager Kevin McAllister threw on striker Marc McKenzie at half-time who replaced Tony Low to try and turn the tide. Seconds after the restart a header from youngster Ricky Patrick rebounded off the Gretna crossbar.
In 52 minutes Jered Stirling foiled a Gretna attack by clearing with a overhead kick. Neil Bennett was then called into action when he saved a Derek Townsley header at point blank range.
Play was hotting up now and captain Jim Mercer tried his luck from distance, it was deflected slightly and caught by 'keeper Mathieson whose poor clearance had caused the situation in the first place. The action immediately switched to the other end of the pitch and Neil Bennett was again on hand to save a Baldacchino shot. In 57 minutes a Paul McManus shot whizzed across the Gretna goal after 'keeper Mathieson had flattened defender David Holdsworth who was also trying to get to the ball.
In 61 minutes Marc "Squib" McKenzie showed that he can also defend when he deftly tackled Baldacchino who was on a trademark run into visitors territory. The next few minutes saw Gretna on the attack missing an open goal and then having a Cameron header saved by Bennett.
Jordan Smith headed over from a corner then referee Thomson incurred the wrath of the home support when he warned substitute Cohen for going down too easily in the Rovers penalty area.
Gretna were then frustrated by a series of offside decisions before a Cohen header landed on top of the net. In the dying seconds of the match Charles "Chic" Connolly, ironically listed on the team-lines as the substitute goalie blocked another Cohen shot on the line to keep the score at 3-0.
Low and Smith of Rovers were booked, as was Cameron of Gretna.
Summary
Perhaps it was no surprise that Gretna were the better team on the day as they reportedly have a wage bill of half a million pounds per season and have been bidding up to £50,000 for players recently which is quite a lot for a club with an average attendance of 429. Neil Bennett was instrumental in his team avoiding a St. Valentines Day massacre, pulling off save after save.
Gretna : Mathieson, McGuffie, Maddison, Lennon, Irons, Holdsworth, Baldacchino, Galloway (Prokas 89), Cameron (Cohen 70), Stevens, Townsley. Subs not used - Skelton, Gordon, Summersgill.
Albion Rovers : Bennett, Paterson (Connolly 77), Kerr, Sweeney, Smith, Stirling, Low (McKenzie 46), Patrick, Crabbe, McManus, Mercer. Subs not used – Yardley, Bradford, McCaig.
Referee : Craig Thomson
Man of the Match - Neil Bennett