 |
Albion Rovers 0 v 6 East Fife |  |
|
Albion Rovers 0 v 6 East Fife | |
| Bell's League Third Division 22nd March 2005 |
Attendance : 316
Scorers ~ East Fife : Paliczka (2, 22, 60), Beith (15), Fairbairn (29), McDonald (54).
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde have been at many Rovers game this season, the latter was indeed once more in evidence in this match. Bizarrely under Jimmy Lindsay Rovers are unbeaten away from home but are yet to win at Cliftonhill.
There was a surprise before kick-off when 'keeper Mark Peat who was blamed for the injury time goal on Saturday didn't appear in the squad. Chris Fahey regained the No. 1 jersey and Matthew Carr was his back-up on the bench. During the pre-match warm-up Kerr Potter managed to injure himself to be replaced in the starting XII by Danny Black.
After a perfectly observed minutes silence for two former managers who later became directors Bobby Flavell and Sam Goodwin the first action was a goal for the visitors. With just 120 seconds gone Sean Paliczka got onto the end of a long cross into the Rovers box which he drove low into the bottom corner of the net.
A minute later Gavin Beith failed with another East Fife attempt on goal when he headed the ball straight to Fahey which was soon followed by a Wayne Gordon shot launched over the Fifers bar.
In 15 minutes East Fife went 2 up when Beith scored with a volley after some confusion in front of goal. Fahey punched a shot clear before the visitors went further ahead in 22 minutes. Paliczka was on hand once more with a relatively simple tap-in to make it 3.
In 29 minutes it was 4 when a Fairbairn free-kick from 25 yards went over the wall and Chris Fahey who was rooted to the spot. Sean McInulty tried to reduce the deficit but his low drive was just too wide. The Fifers could have gone further ahead in 33 minutes when poor defensive play gave the ball to Fairbairn whose shot was parried by Fahey.
A Rovers corner caused some consternation with what eventually proved to be unproductive play. Greig McDonald had his shot blocked by Jered Stirling and a couple of half-chances by Rovers ended the half.
Half-Time
Marc McKenzie opened the second period with a shot from distance which failed to trouble 'keeper McCafferty. After Lee Wilson also had a disappointing shot saved it was Paliczka who dribbled around the Rovers box until he found space to shoot off-target.
In 52 minutes East Fife missed an open goal after a long ball was met with a header 2 yards from the Rovers goal, the ball crossed the front of the goal and went out. 2 minutes later it was 5 - 0 when Greig McDonald scored with a diving header.
Sean Paliczka bagged his hat-trick and concluded the scoring in 60 minutes when he netted from the edge of the 6 yard box with a low shot. Kelly and Nicholas both had poor shots blocked before Lee Wilson went on a long run upfield which came to nothing when he was easily dispossessed in the East Fife box.
Rovers came close when Darran Thomson passed to Wilson whose header from close-range was too high. Scott Friel then hit a free-kick from 30 yards along the ground to 'keeper Mathieson.
A side-footed McDonald shot along the ground was saved by Fahey before play quickly switched ends for Mercer to put in a cross which McInulty hit goalward for McCafferty to save.
Scott Friel was the only player to have his name end up in the black book of Mr. Muir.
Summary
Quite possibly Albion Rovers worst performance of the season, they could easily have lost more goals and didn't seem to have any chance of scoring. If Rovers had won they'd have drawn level on points with the Fifers, but now it seems they'll have to fend off East Stirling in the battle to avoid the wooden spoon. No player is worthy of the man of the match tag for this debacle.
Albion Rovers : Fahey, Friel, McInulty, Black, Patrick (Fleming 45), Thomson, McKenzie, Stirling, Wilson, Gordon, Mercer.
Subs Not Used : Potter, Richardson, Selkirk, Carr.
East Fife : McCafferty, Renwick, Brash, Lumsden, Mathie, Kelly, Paliczka (Mitchell 74),
McDonald, Nicholas, Beith, Fairbairn.
Subs Not Used : Linton, Boyle, Tarditi, Dodds.
Referee : Alan Muir
Man of the Match - NONE