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Albion Rovers 2 v 3 Cowdenbeath |  |
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Albion Rovers 2 v 3 Cowdenbeath | |
| Bell's League Third Division 18th December 2004 |
Attendance : 303
Scorer ~ Albion Rovers : McManus (pen. 33), Mercer (52). Cowdenbeath : Williams (22, 56), Ritchie (90).
As this was Albion Rovers last game before the end of the year they had extra incentive to win but it was not to be. Hampered by injuries to McLaughlin, Crabbe, Smith and Paterson they made it 3 full calendar months without a win.
The opening 5 minutes had nothing worthy of a mention then David Williams crossed the ball to Dene Shields in the 6 yard box but the resulting shot was way too high. It took until 9 minutes for Rovers to have a decent opportunity when Graeme McLaren let loose a shot from 30 yards only to see 'keeper Carlin stretch to catch it.
Danny Black was well positioned to take advantage of a layoff a few minutes later but launched the ball over the bar. Then the Blue Brazil gave Rovers defence a fright soon after when a free-kick from the edge of the pitch made its way to Darren Gribben who got his foot to the ball but directed it past the post.
Both sides had near misses before an Innes Ritchie shot from 10 yards rebounded from Rovers crossbar. In 22 minutes the Fifers took the lead when Danny Black tripped Darren Gribben in the box. Mr. Muir awarded the inevitable penalty which Liam Buchanan placed to Chris Fahey's right, the Coatbridge stopper guessed correctly and knocked the ball away with his hand. David Williams nullified the save by outpacing the defence to slip the ball into the net.
An awkward Buchanan corner was held by Fahey before Rovers went on the attack once more the ball coming to Jim Mercer about 3 yards from goal, unfortunately his header went awry.
In 32 minutes Cowden's Andrew Campbell passed the ball to Paul McManus just outside the visitors box, the Rovers hitman ran in on goal only for 'keeper Andy Carlin to blatantly bring him down. The referee gave Carlin his marching orders and he was replaced between the sticks by Allan Fleming who came off the bench only to see Paul McManus hit a strong spot kick into his net.
Chris Silvestro was next to have a go when his 25 yarder was held by Fleming. Gribben had his powder puff shot held by Fahey before McLaren had a quality shot from a tight angle saved by an equally decent stop.
Half Time
The second period started slowly with Ritchie heading over the Rovers bar a few minutes in. Rovers went ahead in 52 minutes when Jim Mercer rose to head home a well-judged Jered Stirling free-kick over Fleming.
It took 10 man Cowdenbeath only 4 minutes to level the score when Gribben went on a run leaving the defence in his wake, his shot was about to cross the line when Davidson made sure by tapping it in.
Capitalising on the possession Rovers enjoyed around this point of the game McLaren headed over a Stirling corner and good build up play by McManus on the wing lead to Selkirk shooting wide.
In 64 minutes Dene Shields was in on goal but his shot deflected off the advancing Chris Fahey. A tense final 20 minutes saw bookings for McKenzie, Black and Potter of Rovers and Ritchie of the Blue Brazil but little in the way of decent shots. Until, that is when a dangerous Gribben free-kick was headed over his own goals by Rovers captain Jim Mercer in 89 minutes.
With about 15 seconds of the 90 minutes remaining a Williams corner lead to a stramash in the Rovers box and Ritchie heading the winner much to the chagrin of the home support.
Cowdenbeath made 2 separate substitutions in injury time to lessen the chances of an even later goal by Rovers.
Summary
Another defeat in this dismal league campaign to end the year. Rovers have a fortnight to bring players back to fitness and consider what they can do to turn things around.
Albion Rovers : Fahey, Silvestro (Connolly 63), Stirling, Black, Potter, McLaren, McKenzie, Boyle, Selkirk, McManus, Mercer. Subs Not Used: Patrick, Wallace, Fleming, Peat.
Cowdenbeath : Carlin, Fusco, Campbell, Newall, McKeown, Ritchie, Buchanan (Fleming 33), McHale, Shields, Gribben (Mauchlen 90), Williams (Kelly 90). Subs Not Used: Miller, Bain.
Referee : Alan Muir