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Montrose 0 v 1 Albion Rovers |  |
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Montrose 0 v 1 Albion Rovers | |
| Bell's League Third Division 15th January 2005 |
Attendance : 370
Scorers ~ : Albion Rovers : Mercer (37).
Going into this match having not won for 126 days not to mention having lost a manager and star striker within a week the omens were perhaps against a win for Albion Rovers. Caretaker gaffer Jimmy Lindsay and his young team had different ideas however. The starting lineup had no fewer that 5 changes from their last match although one of them was due to Jered Stirling being injured. In came defender Scott Friel signed from Dublin City.
Rovers started positively with Jim Mercer having the first shot of the match in 3 minutes when he turned to shoot over the bar. Seconds later John Bradford had a dangerous cross into the Montrose box cut out by the home defence.
Rovers next chance came when a sloppy header by Paul Doyle to his 'keeper allowed Bradford to vie for the ball in the box, there was a suspicion of a penalty when he went down in the ensuing challenge.
In 15 minutes a low drive by youth striker Gary Fleming was saved by Butter at the foot of his post. The Gable Endies struck back a minute later when Graeme Sharp outmanoeuvred Connolly to let rip from the 18 yard line but his attempt was a little too high.
Sharp, Smart and Wood combined in a move which provided perennial thorn in Rovers side Steve Kerrigan a chance but his effort proved fruitless. Kerrigan was again provided the ball by Sharp a few minutes later but his shot was poor. Paul Doyle came close when his diving header from a corner was wide of the mark.
With the usual dead-ball experts missing from the side it was left to Chris Silvestro to take a free-kick not far outside the Montrose box. He stepped up and curled the ball low around the assembled wall but 'keeper Butter just managed to smother the ball. Silvestro was called into action once more when he took a hotly disputed corner which captain Jim Mercer rose from a pack of players to head home from close in.
A couple of minutes later Silvestro had another chance when his 30 yard free-kick was saved by the 'keeper. Kevin Webster's shot which had far too much altitude was the last action of the half.
Second Half
The second period started quietly and a low shot which Fahey had covered went past Rovers post. Neil Wallace had a disappointing shot before Montrose had the first move of note in the half. Craig Smart nipped past the defence and unleashed a low shot from the edge of the box which Chris Fahey saved.
On the hour mark a long Silvestro ball reached Fleming on the edge of the home box, he tried to advance but he became entangled between a defender and Butter dispossessed the youngster of the opportunity to strike.
Next, an error by Andy Paterson gave Kerrigan the ball 20 yards from Rovers goal but his snap shot was straight at Fahey who made no mistake.
A good run by Potter was stifled by a defender as he entered the Montrose box then a free-kick by Andy Paterson onto the head of Mercer proved to be no danger to the defence.
Chris Silvestro also took a free-kick to give Mercer another heading opportunity which was also squandered. In 73 minutes Smart headed over the Rovers goal when he latched onto a cross.
With a win in sight after such a long wait perhaps it wasn't surprising when Chris Fahey was booked for timewasting at a goal-kick. His claim that the ball moved after he placed it was ignored by Mr. Frickleton.
Webster crossed the ball to Doyle but the header was yet again too high. A couple of minutes later John Bradford sidestepped a defender to let loose a weak shot. Chris Fahey was then called into action to get down quickly to a Watson shot.
Scott Friel was next to enter the referee's book in 82 minutes when he was also adjudged to be timewasting. Mercer was booked 3 minutes later for a foul.
With seconds remaining Fahey moved quickly to punch clear a long ball into his area when several Montrose players were waiting to take advantage. Deep into injury time Selkirk shot well over the bar from 20 yards.
Ferguson of the home side was also booked during the match.
Summary
It wasn't expected under the circumstances and wasn't easy but it was a win from a Rovers side with a fighting spirit. The 3 points take Rovers 6 points above basement boys East Stirlingshire who have a game in hand.
Montrose : Butter, Donachie, Doyle, Stephen, Ferguson, Webster, Kerrigan, Hall (Greenhill 74), Sharp (Slater 80), Smart, Wood (Watson 63). Subs Not Used: Dodds, Hankinson.
Albion Rovers : Fahey, Connolly, Paterson, Friel, Wallace (Patrick 80), Potter, McKenzie, Silvestro, Fleming (Selkirk 66), Bradford, Mercer. Subs not Used : Black, McInulty, Peat.
Referee : Ian Frickleton
Man of the Match - Chris Fahey
