Albion Rovers 1 v 3 Montrose

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Attendance : 230

Scorers ~  Albion Rovers : McQuillan (o.g. 42). Montrose : Michie (60, 75), Ferguson (64).

With other games off due to the horrendous weather many fans phoned Cliftonhill to see if the game was on before heading to the cup replay. Afterwards the Rovers fans amongst them may well have wished the tie had succumbed to the torrential rain. Rovers assistant manager Jock McStay joined Peter Hetherston in the dugout for the first time since his touchline ban ended, referee Boyle was to see that they were parted before the end of the match.

In 4 minutes a Paterson long ball was put just past the post. Soon afterwards Montrose defender Elliot Smith was gifted a chance at goal by two Rovers players who decided to leave the ball to each other just outside the box, luckily the attempt was equally poor. Five minutes later Gable Endies striker Martin Wood, who was in space in Rovers box couldn't quite get onto the end of a cross from the right and the ball was cleared.

In 24 minutes a strong Paul McManus shot from the edge of the Montrose box forced a one-handed save from Butter. A few minutes later it was Martin Wood who had a shot stifled whilst he was just inside the Rovers box. Next to have a go was Donachie who saw his long-range effort go over the bar.

In 36 minutes a solid Kevin McBride shot was blocked by keeper Butter. Three minutes later a Donachie pass crossed the face of the Rovers goal but didn't connect with the waiting attackers. Just after this, visitor Keith Gibson was booked after skirmishing with Mark Yardley at a Rovers free-kick.

Opener

With just 3 minutes left until half-time a Mark Yardley through ball found Mark Molloy who chipped the ball over keeper Butter. The ball rebounded off the crossbar onto the helpless McQuillan and seemed to cross the line before the defender tried to clear it only managing to thump the ball further into his own net. The home side went onto the interval deservedly, if slightly fortunate ahead.

Second Half

Rovers had the best of the early second period play with a Paul McManus shot closely followed by a Jim Mercer curling shot being held by Butter after good build-up play including a Yardley back-heel. Then Yardley himself had a shot go wide as did one from Kevin McBride. In 57 minutes a strong header from substitute Graeme Sharp from 10 yards was held by Bennett.

In 60 minutes a Steve Kerrigan pass to Aberdeen on-loan striker Scott Michie saw him with just Neil Bennett to beat, he did and the scores were level. Just 4 minutes later it was 2-1 for the Angus side when a Graeme Sharp free-kick from the farside connected with the head of Stuart Ferguson and was rattled into the net.

Rovers were spurred on for a while creating pressure at the visitors end of the field to no avail. Sean Sweeney picked up a booking which was shortly to have nasty consequences. A Molloy free-kick was cleared from the line by Wood in 71 minutes.

With 15 minutes left to play Scott Michie removed any doubt about the outcome of the tie when he got onto the end of a cross to grab the Gable Endies third and final goal of the day.

Two minutes later Sean Sweeney received a second yellow and the resultant red card for arguing with referee Boyle. An argument which also earned a yellow for Mark Yardley. Just two minutes later manager Peter Hetherston was the one in trouble with the officials. The farside assistant referee reporting the gaffer for "foul and abusive language" according to Silky.

In 82 minutes Paul McManus missed with a shot at goal when it would have seemed more productive to pass to a man in space. A couple of minutes later Steve Kerrigan should have increased the visitors goal tally but he missed when a Michie cross found him standing unmarked at the Rovers post.

Summary

Rovers yet again had a poor second half, unlike last week the luck wasn't with them. Rovers have never beaten the Angus side in a Scottish cup tie despite having now played them seven times in the competition. It seems that Rovers competitive season is over, out of all cup competitions and 13 points off a promotion place. The lack of a 2nd round cup-tie and a Gretna match brought forward means Rovers have no games whatsoever between 13th December and 3rd January, and no home matches between 2nd December and 17th January.

John McCaig of Rovers and Steve Kerrigan also picked up bookings.

Albion Rovers : Bennett, Paterson (Connolly 87), Cormack, Smith, McCaig (McKenzie 76), Sweeney, Molloy (Valentine 90), McBride, Yardley, McManus, Mercer. Unused Subs : Fahey, McAllister.

Montrose : Butter, Donachie, Ferguson, Smith, McQuillan, Kerrigan, Webster (Farnan), Gibson (Smart), Michie, Wood (Sharp), Black . Unused Subs : Simpson, Hankinson.

Referee : Chris Boyle

Man of the Match - Mark Molloy

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