Albion Rovers 1 v 3 Hibernian at New Douglas Park

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Attendance : 1576

Scorers ~ Albion Rovers : McLaren (7). Hibernian : Dobbie (42), Shiels (43), O'Connor (71).

Rovers faced their toughest test of the season when last years CIS cup defeated finalists visited New Douglas Park, Hamilton. Despite beating 3 teams from higher divisions and narrowly losing to another this was a different prospect altogether.

Within seconds of the kick-off Hibs were on the back foot and Paul McManus was within inches of intercepting a passback to 'keeper Brown. Seconds later a Jim Mercer shot following a Rovers corner wasn't too close but certainly filled the "home" fans with hope.

Chris Fahey was called into action to save a weak shot then play moved to the opposite end of the pitch. John Bradford passed the ball to Graeme McLaren who side-stepped Whittaker to strike a sweet left foot shot from 25 yards over 'keeper Brown standing on his 6 yard line.

Hibs weren't sitting back and Dean Shiels had a pop at goal which was saved by Fahey. A poor passback by assistant manager Mark Venus led to 'keeper Brown gifting the ball to Graeme McCaul whose shot missed the target.

Derek Riordan looked offside when the ball was passed to him near the Rovers penalty box but luckily for Rovers his shot was wide of the target. Rovers responded when Jered Stirling hit a long ball from near the halfway line which Paul McManus headed goalwards but it was inches too high.

Hibs were now stamping their dominance on the game. Stephen Dobbie's grounded shot went wide then Riordan had a decent looking shot caught by Fahey. 16 year-old Jamie McCluskey also had a shot comfortably saved by the hero of the last round Fahey. A Riordan corner flicked across goal by Glass found Dobbie whose shot was woefully off target.

Dobbie missed once more before a Riordan shot went over and a Stephen Glass attempt was about an inch wide of the post. A Shiels pass to Dobbie produced a shot which was deflected out for a corner, when the kick was taken Fahey grabbed the ball only to lose it in a challenge. Despite looking a definite foul referee Conroy let play continue, luckily the Edinburgh side couldn't take advantage of the decision.

Just when Rovers thought they might take a lead into the second half Hibs equalised. With three minutes remaining Dobbie picked up a loose ball and fired home from 20 yards. It got worse just 60 seconds later when Shiels smacked a low ball past Fahey.

Second Half

A Shiels chip into the box ended up being kicked by a Rovers player off 'keeper Fahey within the firs minute of the second period. Rovers tried to hit back but McLaren couldn't repeat his scoring feat when he blasted a Bradford ball well over the bar.

In 51 minutes the Premier side almost bagged another goal when Shiels smacked the ball off the inside of Rovers goalpost with Fahey beaten the ball went out for a corner although it didn't seem to make contact with any player in yellow and red first.

Rovers made a foray upfield with McLaren doing the hard work, Paul McManus got his head to the resultant cross but the overly elevated attempt was caught by Brown.

Whittaker put the ball across Rovers goal to McCluskey who in turn provided Fletcher with an opportunity but once more the ball was given too much elevation. Paul McManus then started a move which resulted in Bradford giving Marc McKenzie the ball but this missed its target by a small margin.

Once more Hibs were on the offensive when Shiels passed to Scotland under 21 striker O'Connor whose shot rebounded off the Rovers post. In 70 minutes a stramash in the Rovers box saw Fahey stranded but Hibs didn't manage a shot until he recovered sufficiently to punch the ball out of harms way.

A minute later the game was put beyond Rovers when Shiels was the provider for substitute O'Connor whose quick turn outpaced Black and McGowan in their own box. This allowed the 21 year-old striker to bag his 5th of the season when he blasted the ball high into the net.

Hibs didn't rest on their laurels, McCluskey having his shot from 25 yards tipped over by Fahey. With 6 minutes remaining referee Conroy made another decision in a series which seemed at odds with reality Venus seemingly flattening McManus in the Hibs box but nothing being given.

Chris Silvestro crossed the ball but McManus could only head it over. The last action of the match was when Chris Fahey punched a high ball into his box out for what proved to be an unproductive corner.

McGowan and Mercer of Rovers were booked by the referee who, along with his assistants were less than kind to Rovers the whole game.

Summary

An excellent all-round performance from Rovers against the SPL side, former employers of manager Kevin McAllister in his playing days. The team now need to convert their cup performances into league performances.

Albion Rovers : Fahey, Silvestro, Stirling, Black, McGowan, McLaren, McKenzie, McCaul (Patrick 81), Bradford (Selkirk 75), McManus, Mercer. Subs Not Used : Yardley, Connolly, Peat.

Hibernian : Alistair Brown,  Murphy, Caldwell, Murray, Riordan (Fletcher 45), Glass, Whittaker, Dobbie (O'Connor 45),  Shiels, Venus, McCluskey (Orman 73). Subs Not Used : McDonald, Simon Brown.

Referee : Steve Conroy

Man of the Match - Graeme McLaren

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