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Albion Rovers 0 v 3 Stirling Albion |  |
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Albion Rovers 0 v 3 Stirling Albion | |
| Bell's League Third Division 2nd December 2003 |
Pic(s) here later
Attendance : 392
Scorers ~ Stirling Albion : Davidson (9), McLean (23), O'Brien (33).
On Monday night management duo Hetherston and McStay resigned, by kick-off on Tuesday night veteran Rovers player Kevin "Crunchie" McAllister had been given the full-time post until the end of the season at least. It was never likely to be a gentle introduction to management for the 41 year-old McAllister as league leaders Stirling Albion were already 19 points ahead of the Cliftonhill side. It certainly proved to be as tough as could be expected.
Home keeper Bennett got his first touch of the ball in 2 minutes when he saved the first on many shots on goal from Stirling Albion. Four minutes later Bennett made a series of saves resulting from a free-kick near the halfway line from (amongst others) McLean and Kelly.
Opening Goal
In 9 minutes a David O'Brien corner found Ryan Davidson standing unmarked at the near post and he hit the ball hard into the roof of the net. A few minutes later a through ball to Paul McManus resulted in the Rovers hit-man putting the ball over the bar, just after that a weak Yardley header was easily held by Hogarth.
In 20 minutes a foul by Sean Sweeney gave the Binos a free-kick just outside of the "D" of the Rovers goal. Gibson hit the ball hard but straight to the waiting arms of Neil Bennett. Three minutes later Rovers went 2 down when Scott McLean gathered the rebound from an O'Brien shot while Rovers defence was posted missing and put it into the net.
In 26 minutes Molloy and McCaul had shots deflected in an all too rare brief occupation of the visitors penalty box.
The match was effectively over for the home side in 33 minutes when David O'Brien went on a long mazy run into the Rovers box and slotted the ball under keeper Bennett.
Second Half
Three minutes after the restart a Gary Kelly shot was stopped by Bennett, a couple of minutes later Peter Cormack managed to get in between the ball and a Stirling forward just at Rovers penalty spot preventing a near certain goal. Seconds later at the other end Paul McManus put the ball just past the visitors post.
By this time it seemed that Stirling were just going through the motions and individuals were trying to get on the scoresheet rather than working together to score.
In 57 minutes a long-range Cormack free-kick found McBride at a corner, his cross found Mark Yardley in the Stirling box but he was adjudged to have fouled the keeper. Just after this a McLean shot from the cornet of the penalty box went just above the Rovers crossbar.
In 73 minutes a Smith cross was rattled against the home teams post by Ryan Davidson. Rovers had the majority of the possession near the end of the game but couldn't produce a decent shot never mind a goal.
Bino Scott McLean received a silly booking for kicking the ball away at a Rovers free-kick just 7 minutes from the end.
Summary
A first-time visitor to Cliftonhill might have thought that the Rovers players had never met each other let alone been the backbone of a relatively successful side. They could hardly string a couple of passes together and Stirling strolled around as though it was a practice match. If the Binos had shown the same hunger for goals in the second half as they did in the first they could easily have doubled their tally.
Albion Rovers : Bennett, Paterson (Connolly 45), Cormack, Sweeney, McBride (Stirling 61), Molloy (McKenzie 82), McCaul, Yardley, McManus, Mercer. Unused Subs : Fahey, Valentine.
Stirling Albion : Hogarth, Hay, Anderson, McNally, Rowe, Smith (Ferguson 83), Gibson (Wilson 74), Kelly, McLean, Davidson, O'Brien. Unused Subs : Beveridge, Scotland, Morrison.
Referee : Brian Winter
Rovers Man of the Match - Paul McManus
