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Raith Rovers 0 v 2 Albion Rovers |  |
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Raith Rovers 0 v 2 Albion Rovers | |
| Bell's Cup 1st Round 31st July 2004 |
The pictures below are courtesy and © of Jim Foy www.raithroversfc.com
Click to enlarge
Attendance : 1207
Scorers ~ Albion Rovers : Bradford (45, 64).
The Rovers from Coatbridge were just there to make up the numbers against a Raith team made up of five different nationalities under the stewardship of new manager Claude (brother of Nicolas) Anelka, or so it was assumed by the general public. Albion Rovers had a few players of their own making competitive debuts, namely Mark Peat, Danny Black, Jamie McGowan, Graeme McLaren and Joe Boyle.
It took only 2 minutes for Albion Rovers to attack the home goal when new signing Joe Boyle shot from 30 yards but the ball went a yard wide. Next a Mark Yardley through ball found Marc McKenzie but 'keeper Berthelot tackled the young striker just outside his penalty area. Raith made a foray upfield and Frenchman Hamed Sacko put the ball across the Albion goal but Mark Peat was on hand to cut it out.
Albion captain Jim Mercer saw his header from 6 yards easily caught by the Raith 'keeper. Raith were again on the attack Paquito passing to Young who in turn gave the ball to Sacko, his shot was turned round the post by Albion 'keeper Peat.
Marc McKenzie piled more pressure on the home side by attacking the Raith goal but the French 'keeper got in the way to inadvertently give the ball to Mark Yardley whose lob was blocked on the line by Davidson. John Bradford had a header just miss the target after a Jered Stirling cross found him in space.
Jamie McGowan showed that the Albion defence wasn't to be underestimated when he deftly tackled Hamed Sacko inside the penalty area. Sacko surged goalward once more pulling off a one-two with Paquito, the resultant shot was stopped by Peat. Raith continued to test the visiting defence with Hajovsky, McAlpine and Sacko all having shots on goal from distance, Peat stopped two and the other missed by the proverbial mile.
An odd incident around this time was when referee Steve Conroy brought down Raith's Brady in what some present called a foul. Play moved on and Phillip Hagan who has the distinction of being the old deaf player in Scottish senior football apparently dived in the Albion penalty area. Mr. Conroy wasn't taken in but refrained from booking the youngster.
With about 10 seconds of the first period remaining the visiting Rovers took the lead when the ball found its way to John Bradford who slammed the ball into the Raith net.
Second Half
Raith started the half with a bang, Lloyd Young having a go with a low shot which was well saved by the diving Peat. McKenzie for Albion Rovers and Young for Raith Rovers came close before John Bradford rattled the ball off the foot of the post. Mark Yardley also tried his luck with a shot that was inches wide.
In 64 minutes John Bradford bagged his and Rovers second goal of the match. He had nipped past a couple of defenders when he slotted home with French 'keeper Berthelot unable to do anything about it.
Raith tried to get back into the game with Sacko blasting the ball off Peat all of 6 yards from goal. Boyle then had a shot at the home goal which is best forgotten after Chris Silvestro provided him with the ball. In 72 minutes Bradford could have completed a hat-trick when he rounded the 'keeper but managed to hit the ball wide of the target.
Mark Peat once more showed he was on form when he made a diving save from a Lloyd Young shot. Raith's Joe McAlpine received a booking for an off the ball incident spotted by an assistant referee.
Raith looked shell-shocked but Sacko Young and McAlpine managed weak attempts as did Marc McKenzie of Albion Rovers.
Summary
A fantastic display from the 6/1 outsiders against the Fife foreign legion. Cliftonhill supremo Kevin McAllister said "From the goalkeeper right through I am proud of them all and they have now set the standard for the season." Rovers fans are hoping the team will play as well next week when they visit what their owner terms "an SPL team in the 3rd division" Gretna.
Smart of Raith and Boyle of Albion Rovers also received bookings during the match.
Man of the Match goes to John Bradford who just pipped Mark Peat to the award.
Raith Rovers : Berthelot, Smart (Malcolm 81), McAlpine, Hajovsky, Davidson, Brady, Ouattara (Boyle 61), Paquito, Sacko, Young, Hagan (Eloujdi 61). Unused Subs : Benaissa, Pounoussamy.
Albion Rovers : Peat, Silvestro, Stirling, Black, McGowan, McLaren, McKenzie, Boyle, Yardley, Bradford , Mercer. Unused Subs : Paterson, McManus, Patrick, Selkirk, Fahey.
Referee : Steve Conroy
Man of the Match - John Bradford
