Elgin City 1 v 0 Albion Rovers

 
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Attendance : 452

Scorers ~ Elgin City : Nelson (72).

Having travelled north the night before to avoid making the 370 mile round-trip all on the same day Rovers arrived at Borough Briggs fresh and relaxed. Unfortunately they seemed too relaxed during the 90 minutes, could it be they were pre-occupied thinking about the forthcoming CIS cup match against Hibs?

The match was played in sunny but very windy conditions and Elgin wasted no time attacking the Rovers goal in 30 seconds. John Bradford had a couple of quick-fire shots blocked by the City defence a couple of minutes later.

Former Rover Jamie McKenzie tried his luck with a 25 yard free-kick but it came nowhere near the intended target. Rovers made a rare foray into the City box when a Bradford corner was flicked onto Paul McManus who blasted the ball inches over the goal.

Chic Connolly and the other former Rover in the Elgin side Martin Harty both gained a booking for tussling at a free-kick. There then followed a period where Elgin had several shot from distance which didn't succeed in putting them in front. Harty saw his saved whereas Dempsie, Nelson and Bremner all missed the goal.

With Elgin still on the attack a Danny Black mistake almost cost Rovers dear, he gave the ball away to Andy Roddie whose run to goal was wasted when he launched the ball over the goal. Martin Harty was next to trouble the visitors defence when he crossed the ball for Roddie to score but he didn't manage to hit the target when it seemed a doddle.

Rovers had a shot blocked in front of goal before Jamie McKenzie responded at the other end by shooting past. The last action of note in the first half was Andy Roddie being booked for a blatant dive on the edge of the Rovers penalty area.

Second Half

Rovers managed the first shot of the second period when a long ball came off captain Jim Mercer's head straight to 'keeper Keiron Renton. On 55 minutes a long ball upfield had the Elgin 'keeper struggling to reach it, John Bradford challenging didn't help him but he eventually grabbed hold of the ball.

Just after the hour mark Mercer almost put a Bremner cross into his own net but Chris Fahey saved the day at the post. Jered Stirling took a free-kick but hit it over the waiting attack force and the City stopper got to it first.

In 72 minutes the standside assistant referee put his flag up apparently for offside on a dangerous looking Elgin attack. Seconds later former Blackburn player Adam Nelson had the ball in the Rovers net and a goal awarded, referee Toner having overruled his assistant a second previously.

Willie Martin had his shot blocked on the edge of the box then Cliftonhill gaffer Kevin McAllister replaced Paul McManus with Mark Yardley.  Martin Harty almost took advantage when a long passback to Fahey came his way but his glancing touch of the ball didn't divert the path of the ball to the 'keeper.

A Jamie McKenzie shot from 25 yards didn't unduly trouble Fahey, both teams brought on substitutes in the hope of finishing strongly. With 6 minutes remaining Nelson should have shot as he was in the clear but instead chose to cross to Bremner whose woeful shot was well past the post.

In 89 minutes a Yardley through ball gave Marc McKenzie the chance to level the score but his curling shot rebounded off the post.

Summary

Rovers worst performance since being humbled by Gretna in the first league match of the season. Although Elgin had plenty of chances they were pretty inept in front of goal.

Elgin City : Renton, Cumming, Dempsie, Kaczan, Dickson, McKenzie, Bremner, Nelson, Martin, Harty, Roddie (Napier 83).
Subs Not Used : Vigurs, Wood, McDonald, Pirie.

Albion Rovers : Fahey, Connolly, Stirling, Black, McLaren, Patrick (McCaul 82), McKenzie, Silvestro, Bradford, McManus (Yardley 75), Mercer.
Subs Not Used : Selkirk, McInally, Peat.

Referee : Kevin Toner

Man of the Match - None

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