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Elgin City 1 v 1 Albion Rovers |  |
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Elgin City 1 v 1 Albion Rovers | |
| Bell's League Third Division 29th January 2005 |
Attendance : 380
Scorers ~ Elgin City : Roddie (66). Albion Rovers : Bradford (61).
After an enforced layoff due to bad weather last week Rovers took the high road to Elgin knowing that East Stirlingshire are champing at the bit to leave the bottom spot at their expense. Dead ball expert Jered Stirling returned from injury to bolster Rovers chances.
A minute into the match the home side shot over the Rovers bar. A few minutes later a Bradford shot was deflected out for a corner. Stirling skelped the ball into the box which resulted in another corner, City eventually managed to clear the ball from their penalty area.
Adam Nelson saw his shot inches too high to trouble Chris Fahey in Rovers goal. Next, recent Rovers signing Scott Friel took a 25 yard free-kick which was a foot wide of its target. Not to be outdone former Rover Jamie McKenzie had a free-kick on the edge of the box which found it's way to on-loan striker Stephen Donnachie who fired the ball over the crossbar.
The other former Rover in the Elgin side Martin Harty also shot over before City really troubled the visiting defence. Jamie McKenzie took a corner which Fahey barely managed to punch clear of immediate danger but Donnachie managed yet another high shot.
In 35 minutes Elgin made a break for goal, Donnachie had a clear path to goal with only Fahey in the way, Scott Friel followed behind the 22 year-old and brought him down. There was no option for Mr. Finnie other than to show the red card for the offence, Jamie McKenzie took the resulting free-kick which deflected off the wall and Donnachie for Fahey to make safe.
Fahey foiling a low Donnachie cross into his box and Jamie McKenzie launching the ball over Rovers bar ended the first half.
Second Half
City started the second period the stronger side, Martin Harty was waiting in the box for a corner to connect with the ball for what seemed like a certain goal but he was leaning back and the ball went too high.
In 51 minutes City were reduced to 10 men when Allan Dempsie was red carded. Ironically the incident started when Marc McKenzie brought down the former Hibs defender giving away the free-kick. Both players ended on the ground and Dempsie lashed out with his studs leaving a visible mark on the upper thigh of the Rovers youngster. As the referee was only a few yards away he wasted no time dispatching the player from the field despite his loud remonstrations.
A low shot from Donnachie which was wide of the mark preceded Rovers grabbing the lead. In 61 minutes John Bradford hooked home the ball from within a packed 6 yard box.
The lead was however to be short-lived. Andy Roddie replaced Hugh Dickson in 63 minutes and score the equaliser just 3 minutes later. A cross park ball from Nelson gave Roddie the opportunity to slot the ball low across Rovers goal into the net.
Donnachie and Harty both had shots before Rovers sub Ricky Patrick put in a shot cum cross into the City box only to see Keiron Renton collect the ball.
Elgin finished the match strongly with Fahey just managing to hold onto a Jamie McKenzie corner. It was McKenzie once more in 87 minutes when he jinked about at the edge of the box to make space to unleash his shot which was wide. The last act of note in the game was Fahey plucking a Roddie corner from the air.
Fahey and McKenzie of Rovers received yellow cards during the match.
Summary
It was far from easy for Rovers and their small band of travelling support but it was perhaps more a point gained than 2 points lost. The draw leaves Rovers 4 points clear of bottom dogs East Stirlingshire who visit Cliftonhill next Saturday for the proverbial 6 pointer.
Elgin City : Renton, Higgins, Dempsie, Kaczan, Dickson (Roddie 63), McKenzie, Cumming, Nelson, Donnachie, Martin, Harty.
Subs Not Used: Allison, Wood, Kelly, Knight.
Albion Rovers : Fahey, Paterson, Stirling, Friel, Wallace (Patrick 73), Potter, McKenzie, Silvestro, Fleming (Connolly 36), Bradford, Mercer.
Subs Not Used: Selkirk, McInulty, Peat.
Referee : Stephen Finnie
Man of the Match - Chris Fahey
