Albion Rovers 1 v 2 Partick Thistle (at New Douglas Park)

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Attendance : 1050

Scorers ~ Albion Rovers :  McCaul (64). Partick Thistle : Panther (15), Hinds (41).

Rovers had a different look team for this Bell's Cup match played at New Douglas Park, Hamilton with strikeforce Mark Yardley and John Bradford looking on from the stand. Scott Crabbe and Andrew Selkirk started the match in their place.

Rovers had the first chance of note in 3 minutes when Marc McKenzie tangled with 'keeper Pinkowski who dropped the ball, referee Hunter decided it was a foul on the 21 year old stopper. Partick were about to take charge of the game and 20 year old Maryhill local boy Emmanuel Panther was at the forefront of it, he turned quickly in the box after receiving a pass but shot over.

Next Frenchman Armand Oné had his attempt stifled by Jered Stirling following a Hinds pass. In 15 minutes Thistle took the lead when a move from the right by Wilkinson crossed the ball to Oné and he played it to Panther who scored from about 10 yards. Thistle kept up the pressure, Andy Wilkinson this time shooting over the bar from distance.

Rovers moved upfield and gained a corner which Stirling lofted into the box only to see Pinkowski pluck it from the air. Slack passing by Rovers almost led to thistle doubling their lead when Hinds was given the ball to run onto goal, only being prevented from scoring by the legs of Chris Fahey.

Assistant Rovers manager Scott Crabbe threaded through a pass to Graeme McLaren whose shot went across the goal and out. Still on the attack Marc McKenzie almost made the Thistle 'keeper pay dearly for hesitating with the ball but he managed to clear it before the young striker could get a foot to it. Rovers fans got a similar fright 60 seconds later when a Fahey clearance skimmed past an onrushing attacker.

In 36 minutes captain Jim Mercer replaced the injured Scott Crabbe. 4 minutes later Rovers were two down when a Rovers corner was cleared upfield by Fleming to Hinds who outpaced the defence and volleyed the ball past Fahey. Oné had another attempt miss goal before the referee blew for half-time.

Second Half

Half-time saw a couple of Rovers substitutions when Graeme McCaul replaced Jim Mercer who had only been on the pitch for 9 minutes and Richardson replace Jamie McGowan both of whom had picked up injuries.

Leigh Hinds didn't take long to show willing when he lobbed the ball over Chris Fahey in the box but Danny Black was on hand to clear the ball. An excellent move from Marc McKenzie was spoiled by a poor shot from a Rovers substitute.

Partick tried to fight back and Oné had a shot from close in hit the side netting. Willie Howie also squandered an opportunity when he evaded a couple of defenders only to hit the ball too high.

Rovers grabbed an equaliser in 64 minutes when half-time substitute Graeme McCaul (who'd played the full 90 minutes of a reserve game against Hearts that afternoon) lifted the ball over Pinkowski into the net after a well judged Ricky Patrick header into the Thistle box. This was just what Rovers needed to spark life into their play.

It was around this time that Andy Paterson sustained an injury which would no doubt have led to his substitution had Rovers not already have used their full compliment. After a brief spell of trackside treatment he bravely returned to the game.

Thistle weren't finished though and Madaschi jumped high to head the ball downward which was cleared to Anis whose shot was woeful. Panther (who was constantly evading the Rovers defence) worked hard at the edge of the box and managed to make space for himself in the centre of goal but the shot had too much altitude.

Playmaker Chris Silvestro worked hard to put the ball through to McKenzie who was in a good position but the pass was just too strong. Panther again was trying hard on the edge of the Rovers box and crossed the ball to Howie who lifted the ball too high to trouble Rovers.

McKenzie was again in the thick of it and his efforts supplied the ball to Silvestro whose cross didn't connect with a player in yellow and red. With just 6 minutes remaining Jered Stirling stepped up to take a free-kick from 30 yards but unfortunately didn't have one of his trademark kicks as the ball hit the Thistle wall.

With 60 seconds remaining Chris Fahey pulled off a save from a 25 yard free-kick. In injury time a Thistle's subs (Mitchell ad Anis) combined effort went past as did an Anis shot from a Fleming corner.

Summary

Rovers didn't really get going in the first half but turned it round in the second period and with a little luck could have forced extra-time. Rovers run in this competition is over but it's certainly no disgrace to lose by an odd goal to the team who were in the SPL last term. The injuries to Mercer, McGowan, Paterson and Crabbe in addition to the already injured Smith and McManus will certainly worry manager Kevin McAllister.

Albion Rovers : Fahey, Paterson, Stirling, Black, McGowan (Richardson 45), Patrick, McKenzie, Silvestro, Crabbe (Mercer 36 - McCaul 45), Selkirk, McLaren . Subs not used - Douglas, Peat.

Partick Thistle : Pinkowski, B. Gibson (Anis 45), Wilkinson , Murray, Madaschi, A. Ross, Howie, Fleming, Oné (Mitchell 74), Hinds, Panther. Subs not used - Fulton, Dowie, Arthur.

Referee : A. Hunter

Man of the Match - Marc McKenzie

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