Three stunning goals, three red cards, three league points - and thirty Everton supporters who must have taken a wrong turning somewhere! This match had about everything.

What an afternoon at Cliftonhill as Rovers turned on the style and power to show just why they’re probably the Third Division’s team of the moment. With seven goals in two games, there’s little dispute about that, and although a moment of slackness allowed the visitors to net a consolation near the end, there’s not really too much to complain about.

Referee Mike Tumilty was something of a controversial figure as he ignored a number of incidents, at the same time managing to send off the only three players whose names he noted all afternoon.

Bookings

Rovers, with Peter Cormack back and Jordan Smith relegated to the bench, made a couple of unproductive forays upfield in the opening few minutes, with Queen’s ‘keeper Derek Scrimgour diving at the feet of Paul McManus to prevent him connecting with a Jim Mercer header. One minute later, Mercer was again to the fore as he tangled with Steven Reilly. Mercer was booked for the foul and the Queen’s man for his reaction. Both bookings were to assume a more serious role later in the game.

Following a good move by the visitors, Alan Dunning side-footed past a post, then David Farrell sliced a clearance high over his own crossbar. In 24 minutes Cliftonhill erupted when from a Kevin McAllister corner on the right, the burly figure of Mark Yardley rose at the back post to crash a strong header into the net, something the veteran does, oh so well. Queen’s fought back and it took Chris Fahey two attempts to turn an nasty Ally Graham free-kick over the top. Then McManus saw a drive skid past before another Graham shot was easily gathered by Fahey.

In 36 minutes, Rovers won a free-kick full thirty-five yards out and Farrell’s thunderous drive was nestling in the net before Scrimgour could comprehend what was happening. What a goal!

In the second half, honours were even for the opening ten minutes, but began to swing the way of the Spiders in 57 minutes when captain Mercer was shown a second yellow card for a foul, thereby immediately earning himself a seat in the stand. Queen’s drew some inspiration from this and Fahey was forced to make an excellent cut-out from a dangerous David Menelaws cross.

Smith On Target

However, there was no stopping Rovers, and Jordan Smith, who had replaced the mercurial Kevin McAllister around the hour, put his imprint on the game. A long clearance from Fahey saw Yardley brilliantly divert it into the path of the speeding Smith who smashed an unstoppable shot into the net. Another superb strike, and one which knocked the stuffing out of Queen’s. After Yardley’s good header had been saved low down by Scrimgour, numerical parity was restored when Reilly (remember that booking in the first half?) committed another foul and was ordered off. Seven minutes more and they were down to nine men when former Cliftonhill hero Ally Graham was deemed to have used an elbow. He was sent down the tunnel and Queen’s were really struggling. However, how often does it happen that the underdogs find the energy and means to snap at a few heels? That’s exactly what happened in the 88th minute when the Spiders somehow managed to get forward in numbers and substitute Stephen Canning netted with a crisp shot.

However, although losing a late goal for a second successive week was disappointing, it was more than compensated for by the rest of the play - and those magnificent goals.

Oh yes. The thirty Everton supporters? Well, they did actually mean to come to Cliftonhill as part of their weekend away. Did they have a good time? You bet they did!

Albion Rovers Man of the Match ; By the narrowest of margins, and not only for his great goal but also for his excellent service to his colleagues, Mark Yardley just gets the vote.

Albion Rovers : Fahey, Paterson, Stirling (McBride 85), Farrell, McCaig, Cormack, McAllister (Smith 59), McCaul, Yardley, McManus (Diack 81), Mercer. Unused Subs : Selkirk, Swain.

Queen’s Park : Scrimgour, Dunning (Trialist 70), Ferry, Sinclair, Moffat, Fallon, Kettlewell (Canning 37), Reilly, Graham, Whelan, Menelaws (McAuley 70). Unused Subs : Gallagher, McCue.

Referee : Mike Tumilty