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Albion Rovers 1 v 2 Gretna |  |
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Albion Rovers 1 v 2 Gretna | |
| Bell's League Third Division 27th March 2004 |
Attendance : 287
Scorers ~ Albion Rovers : Stevens (o.g. 37). Gretna : Baldacchino (7), Stevens (25).
Knowing that a win was essential to keep their slim promotion hopes alive Rowan Alexander brought his side to Cliftonhill in an attempt to beat Albion Rovers for the fourth and final time this season.
The visitors started strongly and a Gary Cohen cross into the box was cleared in 6 minutes. A minute later Gretna took the lead when Baldacchino and Cohen combined on the edge of the box, Baldacchino eventually being the one to score.
Gretna kept up the pressure with a Martin Cameron shot testing Bennett in the Rovers goal. In 13 minutes a Gary Cohen cross to Ryan Baldacchino in the Rovers box proved harmless when the midfielder failed to control the ball.
Two minutes later Gray Cohen was rightly booked by referee Allan for diving on the edge of the Rovers penalty area. In 18 minutes Mark Yardley had the ball in the opposition 6 yard box but stumbled and lost the opportunity to get Rovers back into the match.
In 19 minutes Gretna top scorer Martin Cameron limped off to be replaced by Ian Stevens who was to have an eventful match. Six minutes later the replacement scored from 30 yards when Sean Sweeney and Neil Bennett who had raced out of his box failed to stop the Gretna striker.
The next couple of minutes saw Gretna come close with an overhead kick and then a Scott Crabbe shot from 30 yards just miss the target. In 35 minutes captain Jim Mercer a his strong shot from 6 yards parried by 'keeper Mathieson.
Rovers hopes of salvaging the match were boosted in 37 minutes when Ian Stevens got his head to a Jered Stirling corner, unfortunately for Gretna he put it past his own 'keeper. On the stoke of half-time Jim Mercer spotted 'keeper Mathieson off his line and had a shot at goal from 40 yards, he was foiled when the 'keeper managed to get back just in time to catch the ball.
Second Half
A Gretna shot over the bar a couple of minutes in was the only thing of note until 54 minutes when John Bradford shot from the edge of the visitors box but his was also over the bar. Seconds later a Cohen shot from the edge of Rovers 6 yard box was scrambled away and the resulting Baldacchino shot went well over the bar.
In 63 minutes Gary Cohen was lucky not receive a second yellow when he seemed to go down too easily in the Rovers box.
Three minutes later a Mercer through ball just failed to find Paul McManus who was in on the visitors goal. Gretna moved quickly and Gary Cohen was again on the attack, he tangled with Stirling and the ball went out for a Rovers goal-kick.
In 69 minutes referee Allan caused some consternation when Richard Prokas plainly was holding Paul McManus by the arm for about 15 yards in the Gretna box. No action was taken by Mr. Allan except to calm down things once the ball had left the pitch, some players understandably being unhappy with the decision.
A minute later a weak John Bradford shot failed to trouble the Gretna 'keeper. Just after this a Mark Yardley attempted lob from 25 yards was saved by Mathieson who managed to get back in time.
The last act of note came 8 minutes from time when a Stevens shot was saved by Neil Bennett. Both teams tried to score once more but neither came close.
Rovers assistant manager Scott Crabbe was booked during the game for a foul.
Albion Rovers : Bennett, Paterson, Stirling, McCaig, Smith, Sweeney, Bradford, Crabbe, Yardley, McManus, Mercer. Unused Subs : Kerr, McKenzie, Patrick, Farrell, Carr.
Gretna : Mathieson, Townsley, Maddison (Lennon 84), Prokas, Irons, Holdsworth, Baldacchino, Galloway, Cameron (Stevens 19), Cohen (Wake 76), Skelton. Unused Subs : McGuffie, Summersgill.
Referee : Crawford Allan
Rovers Man of the Match - Mark Yardley
