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Montrose 3 v 1 Albion Rovers |  |
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Montrose 3 v 1 Albion Rovers | |
| Bell's League Third Division 20th March 2004 |
Attendance : 359
Scorers ~ Montrose : E. Smith (59), Michie (75, 82). Albion Rovers : McManus (79).
Albion Rovers went into this match trying to extend a run of four unbeaten games knowing that a win would see them leapfrog Montrose into 6th spot in the league.
Rovers started strongly dominating the first quarter hour, the highlights of which were a weak Mark Yardley shot deflecting for an unproductive corner in 5 minutes and an excellent John Bradford strike from 20 yards which was saved by 'keeper Jim Butter two minutes later.
In 15 minutes a cross found Scott Michie inside Rovers box but his header was too weak to trouble Neil Bennett. Seconds later Craig Smart crossed the ball to Martin Wood who went down in the Rovers area to some half-hearted shouts for a penalty.
Just after that a Scott Crabbe shot from 20 yards was a couple of feet over the Montrose crossbar. Crabbe was at it again shortly afterwards when his shot was redirected by Mark Yardley but Jim Butter got down quickly to save.
The Gable Endies hit back through the perennial thorn in Rovers side Steve Kerrigan whose shot from the edge of the box was slightly too high. Craig Smart made a weak attempt on the Rovers goal which inexplicably Neil Bennett was unable to hold, luckily nobody in blue shirts was on hand and the 'keeper gained control of the ball.
Scott Michie launched the ball into the Rovers area onto the head of Kevin Webster right in front of the goal but the header went wide. In 25 minutes Montrose had another free header which also missed the goal.
36 minutes into the match Paul McManus saw his shot deflected for a corner. Montrose were quick to turn the play around and forced Neil Bennett to rush out of his penalty area to clear the ball from an onrushing attacker. Bennett was on hand once more to save a weak Montrose shot and then saved a Michie header at point-blank range.
The half ended with a Crabbe free-kick from 30 yards going two feet over the homesters crossbar.
Second Half
Paul McManus was first to do anything noteworthy in the second period when he found himself through on goal but was well tackled by Butter two minutes in.
Montrose had no less than three decent attempts on goal within 5 minutes before Elliot Smith opened the scoring in 59 minutes. His quality strike from the corner of the penalty area gave Neil Bennett no chance.
Rovers tried to rally and captain Jim Mercer shot from 15 yards which Butter held in 63 minutes. John Bradford had a snap shot foiled when that man Butter got up quickly to tip the ball over his bar a couple of minutes later.
Martin Wood found himself approaching the Rovers goal dribbling past a defender and then Neil Bennett, before he could make an attempt on goal but the 'keeper recovered the ball bringing down the striker at the same time. Visiting fans held their breath for a moment but Mr. Tumilty didn't point to the spot.
In 70 minutes a low free-kick by Jered Stirling from 30 yards made Butter get down quickly to stop the ball. 5 minutes later Montrose doubled their lead when Scott Michie lobbed the ball over Neil Bennett into the net.
Just when Rovers fans thought that was the game effectively over a Mark Yardley through ball was driven low into the Montrose net by Paul McManus for his 15th league goal of the campaign.
That feeling of euphoria wasn't to last for long however as Peter Cormack seemed to be daydreaming when Michie ran onto a Craig Smart pass to score his second.
Both teams had a last attempt on goal before the end of the match that didn't trouble the respective goalies too much.
John McCaig of Rovers was booked (rather unluckily) for a foul during the game.
Montrose : Butter, Donachie, Ferguson, G. Smith, McQuillan, Kerrigan, Webster (Sharp 73), E. Smith, Michie, Wood, Smart. Unused Subs : Henderson, Spink, Coulston, Hankinson.
Albion Rovers : Bennett, Paterson, Stirling, McCaig, Smith, Cormack, Bradford (McKenzie 85), Crabbe (Selkirk 90), Yardley, McManus, Mercer. Unused Subs : Kerr, Farrell, Carr.
Referee : M Tumilty
Man of the Match - Paul McManus
