Albion Rovers 3 v 5 Stirling Albion

Attendance : 615

Scorers ~ Albion Rovers : Mercer (16, 90), Yardley (45). Stirling Albion : Lyle (5, 41), Devine (51), McLean (63), McKinnon (70).

Stirling Albion came to Cliftonhill to boost their championship winning hopes. Chris Fahey started his first game between the Cliftonhill sticks for the first time in over six months.

The visitors started strongly with Scott McLean having his shot turned out for a corner by Chris Fahey in 4 minutes. Seconds later the Binos were ahead, Derek Lyle drove home a low shot after Chris Fahey found himself stranded in no-man's-land, a defender on the line was unable to stop it.

In 7 minutes Mark Yardley had a shot from the edge of the box which was just wide of the target. Seconds later a McManus cross was cut out in the Stirling box and eventually cleared by the defence. In 11 minutes a Wilson header from an O'Brien cross was just too high.

Rovers equalised in 16 minutes when a Mark Yardley header was parried by Miles Hogarth, Jim Mercer was on hand to tap in the rebound from close-in. Stirling came back into the match 4 minutes later when a McLean shot rattled the crossbar.

In 34 minutes George Rowe had his shot saved by Chris Fahey which was a rare attempt by the visitors during a period of Rovers domination. John Bradford jumped to connect with a Jered Stirling cross but his header was slightly wide. Mark Yardley was next to have a go beating a couple of defenders only to see his shot blocked.

Rovers kept the up the pressure and Myles Hogarth had to rush out of his goal to clear the ball from the path of the onrushing Jordan Smith.

In 41 minutes John McCaig's unnecessary clearance for a throw-in lead to Stirling regaining the lead. The ball was given to Scott McLean and the  striker crossed the ball to Derek Lyle whose shot from the edge of the box bounced over the arm of Chris Fahey and into the net. Wilson tried to increase their lead a couple of minutes later but his 30 yarder was saved by Fahey.

Just as everyone was expecting the half-time whistle Paul McManus beat Chris Scotland on the right and crossed the ball to the waiting Yardley whose cracking shot curled past Hogarth to level the score once more.

Half-Time

Rovers started the second period brightly when Mark Yardley turned a Binos player midway into their half and put the ball through to McManus. Unfortunately Myles Hogarth was equal to his low shot. Jordan Smith had a header saved a couple of minutes later.

Rovers went behind for the third time in the match in 51 minutes when a Lyle cross was headed home by Stewart Devine giving Fahey no chance. Little happened until Stirling went further ahead in 63 minutes when Devine returned the favour by laying on the ball for McLean to volley home.

Things went further downhill in 70 minutes when former Rover Colin McKinnon picked his spot and curled the ball past Chris Fahey to make in 5-2. With 10 minutes remaining Derek Anderson tried his luck from 25 yards but missed the goal by a few yards.

In injury time captain Jim Mercer reduced the deficit when he intercepted the ball in the Stirling penalty box and bagged his 10th goal of the season.

Rovers manager Kevin McAllister will be pleased with his attacking force taking three goals off a top team but can't miss where his rebuilding efforts for next season must be focused, the defence losing five goals for a second successive match. Lyle and McLean of Stirling and Ricky Patrick of Rovers all received bookings during the match.

Rovers will make history if they win next week as they've never beaten Elgin City at Cliftonhill despite having a good record against the strugglers away from home. As Elgin have no less than six former Rovers players on their books it's certain nobody will be taking it easy as the season fizzles out.

Albion Rovers : Fahey, Paterson , Stirling, McCaig (Potter 80), Cormack, Smith, Bradford, Patrick, Yardley, McManus, Mercer. Unused Subs :  Farrell, Connolly, McKenzie, Bennett.

Stirling Albion : Hogarth, Hay, Anderson, Scotland, Rowe, Devine, Wilson (Kelly 62), McKinnon, McLean, Lyle (Davidson 81), O'Brien (Ferguson 56). Unused Subs : Smith, Morrison.

Referee : Jamie Downie

Rovers Man of the Match - Jim Mercer

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