 |
Albion Rovers 3 v 3 Peterhead |  |
|
Albion Rovers 3 v 3 Peterhead | |
| Bell's League Third Division 16th March 2004 |
Attendance : 253
Scorers ~ Albion Rovers : Stirling (5), Mercer (22), Yardley (30). Peterhead : McCaig (o.g. 42), Johnston (53), Bavidge (74).
Peterhead started the match knowing that only a win could keep their hopes of promotion alive, history was against them though as their only previous win at Cliftonhill was almost three years ago to the day. Ian Stewart's men started strongly with a Martin Bavidge shot being deflected for a corner in 3 minutes.
Stunner
The Blue Toon were shocked a minute later when Jered Stirling blasted a free-kick from 35 yards into the top left hand corner of their goal.
The visitors were spurred on and Martin Johnston with Kevin Tindal both forcing 'keeper Neil Bennett to save. The visitors always looked dangerous and came close from a few corners around this time. Paul McManus tried a shot from just inside the penalty box but it didn't trouble Ross Buchanan very much. In 14 minutes Martin Bavidge turned Jered Stirling and ran for goal but his shot from the edge of the box was a foot over.
In 22 minutes a Scott Crabbe corner was headed into the visitors goal off the post by captain Jim Mercer. Crabbe was again on hand 3 minutes later with a speculative shot from 40 yards which came off the crossbar.
In 28 minutes a Scott Robinson header went across the goalmouth when it seemed easier to score after Bennett had parried an earlier shot. Seconds later Rovers made it three when a Mercer pass from one side of the goal found Mark Yardley on the other side and he slipped the ball past Buchanan.
Three Up And Cruising......Well Not Quite
3 minutes before the break an Andy Roddie shot from the edge of the box deflected off two Rovers players and into Neil Bennett's goal. John McCaig was the last player to touch the ball and rather unluckily was "credited" as the scorer.
Rovers started the second period strongly with a Jim Mercer shot being stopped on the line. He was on hand to hit the rebounded ball a foot over the bar. Peterhead roared back into the game in 53 minutes when Martin Johnston scored with an acrobatic overhead kick to make it 3 - 2 for Rovers.
The Blue Toon levelled the match in 74 minutes when Martin Bavidge was gifted the ball deep into Rovers territory by defender Sean Sweeney who slipped, hurting himself in the process. Bavidge hit the ball goalwards from the corner of the penalty box with 'keeper Bennett helpless to prevent the equaliser.
Scott Crabbe came close with a free-kick from the far touchline in 59 minutes. Both teams tried to nab the points but were unable to score for a fourth time. John Bradford and Jim Mercer both had headers saved by Buchanan in the last few minutes.
Rovers defender Sean Sweeney was red-carded deep into injury time apparently for a stamping incident.
Summary
Neither manager will be happy with their team's performance in at least one of the halves of the match. Perhaps with hindsight substituting Mark Yardley in 60 minutes wasn't such a good idea, certainly the big man was disappointed when Kevin McAllister decided he should come off.
Mark Perry of Peterhead was booked during the match.
Albion Rovers : Bennett, Paterson, Stirling, Sweeney, Smith, McCaig, Bradford, Crabbe, Yardley (Low 60), McManus, Mercer. Unused Subs: Kerr, Selkirk, Connolly, Carr.
Peterhead : R. Buchanan, McGuinness, Brash (McSkimming 60), Raeside, Perry, Tindal (McKay 64), Robertson, J. Buchanan, Bavidge, Johnston, Roddie (90). Unused Subs : Milne, Mathers.
Referee : Eddie Smith
Man of the Match - Jim Mercer
