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Queen of the South 1 v 2 Albion Rovers |  |
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Queen of the South 1 v 2 Albion Rovers | |
| CIS Cup 1st Round 17th August 2004 |
Attendance : 1240
Scorers ~ Queen of the South : McNiven (28 pen.). Albion Rovers : Mercer (83), McKenzie (87).
Having been just 18 days since they won away at against a first division side (Raith Rovers), Albion Rovers had the chance to repeat the feat at Palmerston Park, Dumfries. This time in the more prestigious CIS cup.
Rovers had a couple of personnel changes from Saturday's win over East Fife, Chris Fahey replacing Mark Peat in goal as he is suffering from a slight cold and Paul McManus starting for the first time this season relegating John Bradford to the bench.
3 minutes from the start Queen's had their first attempt on goal, Eric Paton having his weak shot deflected out of play for a corner. Rovers started in earnest in 10 minutes when Marc McKenzie turned a defender near the halfway line to claims of offside when he passed the ball forward for Paul McManus. Unfortunately 'keeper Scott was quickly out of his box to clear the danger.
Brian McLaughlin was next to probe the Rovers defence with an well judged pass to David McNiven who had his shot saved by Chris Fahey. Rovers responded quickly with a McManus cross finding the head of Jim Mercer but the header was too high.
A McLaughlin corner was headed over the Rovers crossbar by Hilland shortly before a high cross into Rovers box by Paton was plucked from the air by Fahey. In 21 minutes Queen's stood complaining that no free-kick had been awarded for a "foul" when the ball was punted upfield for McManus, once again the 'keeper was quickly of his mark to clear the ball.
A strong Paton shot was parried by Fahey before things took a turn for the worse for the visitors. Midfielder David Bagan was in the Rovers box when he seemed to make slight contact with a Rovers defender and went down, referee Frickleton immediately pointed to the penalty spot. Protests from Rovers players were waved away and David McNiven put the ball to the keeper's left while he dived to his right.
The Cliftonhill men stepped now up a gear. Graeme McLaren spoiled his run upfield when his low shot went past the post, 'keeper Scott seemed to be covering the goal anyway. Marc McKenzie tried a long range effort from 30 yards which was caught by the Queen's stopper. Shortly afterwards Jim Mercer also tried a shot from 30 yards but it was too high.
Gary Wood had a poor shot saved by Fahey before play switched ends where Paul McManus had a strong and low shot from the edge of the box saved by the diving Scott.
Second Half
In 47 minutes a McLaughlin corner whizzed into the 6 yard box where the jumping attacker failed to connect for what would seemed certain to be a goal. Tom English went on a run towards goal to see his shot go slightly over the crossbar. Chris Fahey showed his lack of match practice hadn't dulled his reactions a few minutes later when he pulled of a one-handed save from a strong Bagan drive.
Fahey was called into action again when he saved a close range shot which was subsequently cleared by the defence. He was on hand again soon after to block a Gary Wood shot with his legs.
Another controversial decision from Mr. Frickleton came in 55 minutes when Paul McManus was adjudged offside as he "scored". Queen's hit back with a long ball from Hilland which found Wood who had a quality shot saved by the diving Fahey, McNiven missed the target when the ball rebounded to him.
Queen's had a "goal" of their own ruled offside, but nobody argued about this one as there was no doubt as the whistle had gone a second earlier. Chris Fahey's legs once more denied Gary Wood before Rovers took charge again. Stirling outpaced the defence and shot from 25 yards but his effort was a little too wide. Yardley and Mercer combined in the home box but the move came to nothing.
In 64 minutes there a Stirling free-kick from long range across the park was cut out by Colin Scott just before reaching the head of McManus. 2 minutes later a contender for goal of the season, or it would have been if it had gone in came when a well judged ball by McManus across the park got to McKenzie. McKenzie duly crossed the ball back to the onrushing McManus in the Queen's box but the strikers header missed when it seemed a cert to go in.
Substitute Paul Burns created an excellent chance for Queen's when received the ball at the foot of the near post but his effort went across goal to safety. Marc McKenzie had a shot held and Chris Armstrong forced another one hand save from Fahey before the game was turned on its head.
In 83 minutes a McKenzie ball met Jim Mercer at a post, he lunged to it and hit the ball into the net to square the tie. The small band of travelling supporters went wild and before they settled down for extra-time Rovers took the lead. 3 minutes remained on the clock when young "Squib" McKenzie started a move which ended in him smacking the ball through a packed box to shock the vast majority of the 1240 crowd.
Yardley and Mercer of Rovers received bookings.
Summary
Although troubled at times Rovers did enough to deserve the win with an outstanding all-round performance. Their never say die attitude has once again paid off.
Queen of the South : Colin Scott, Paton (Chris Scott 79), English, McColligan, Hilland, Thomson, Bagan, Bowey (Burns 65), McNiven (Armstrong 75), Wood, McLaughlin. Unused Subs : Payne, Wright.
Albion Rovers : Fahey, Silvestro, Stirling, Black, McGowan, McLaren, McKenzie, Patrick (Bradford 79), Yardley, McManus, Mercer (McCaul 90). Unused Subs : Paterson, Crabbe, Peat.
Referee : Ian Frickleton
Man of the Match - Chris Fahey
