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Albion Rovers 1 v 0 Stenhousemuir |  |
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Albion Rovers 1 v 0 Stenhousemuir | |
| Bell's League Third Division 11th September 2004 |
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Attendance : 339
Scorer ~ Albion Rovers : McManus (30).
Captain Jim Mercer returned to the starting Rovers line-up after injury while Mark Yardley was relegated to the bench for this match in which a win was essential keep the Rovers league challenge on track.
Paul McManus and Marc McKenzie sprung into action but their combined move broke down when it reached the visitors box. Paul McManus was quick of his mark when David McInally put the ball back to his 'keeper but just missed out.
Stenhousemuir then took the upper hand firstly when man of many clubs Paul McGrillen had a snap header following a cross from close to the corner but the ball went straight to Fahey. He was at it again a few minutes later when he managed to evade Jered Stirling at the edge of the box and shot into the side netting. Once more the 33 year-old striker was denied an opportunity when Chic Connolly intercepted a through ball from McBride on the 6 yard line.
The stand-side assistant referee was next to increase Rovers blood pressure when he decided to halt a Marc McKenzie assault on the Stenny goal because Paul McManus was in a marginally offside position but not moving goalward at the time. Then there was a penalty claim when a Jim Mercer ball into the Stenny box failed to get to John Bradford who appeared to be shoved.
McManus had a cross cum shot held by 'keeper McCulloch and shortly afterwards had a shot from a wide angle rebound off the visitors post. Stenhousemuir showed they weren't completely under the cosh when an awkward Joe Savage shot was punched out by Fahey. In 27 minutes Jim Mercer had a header blocked and soon after a short run followed by a shot by McManus was a little too high.
On the half-hour mark Rovers took the lead when a McGrillen header came off the woodwork and was quickly taken to the opposite end of the pitch. A pass from McKenzie to McManus resulted in a brilliantly judged lob over McCulloch from 20 yards into the Warriors net.
McKenzie was a constant thorn in the visitors side with another couple of good moves failing to have the desired effect soon after. The Warriors finished strongly having a few half chances.
Second Half
Within seconds of the kick-off of the second period a long ball found John Bradford who ran goalward jinking about to find space but his shot came off the 'keeper. Lauchlan had a shot stifled by Jered Stirling shortly before Tony Smith crossed for McGrillen to attempt an overhead scissors-kick which didn't trouble Fahey.
There followed a period of frantic play where the ball changed hands regularly with Stenhousemuir having the best chances. Former Rover Lee Collins shot from distance was held by Fahey. In 55 minutes McCulloch fluffed a clearance outside his box giving Bradford a header at goal, unfortunately for Rovers the 'keeper managed to scramble back in time to catch the ball.
McBride and Lauchlan conspired a move upfield but the resulting shot was blocked inside the Rovers box. Rovers hit back when a Stirling free-kick to Mercer was put through to McManus who got a foot to the ball but the shot was too weak to trouble McCulloch.
In 72 minutes a good McGrillen shot was held by the diving Fahey. Once more the Rovers stopper was in action when he acrobatically turned a Collins shot round the post.
Once more play switched ends, a stramash outside the Stenhousemuir box ended with John Bradford picking his spot only to see McCulloch diving to prevent a goal. Fallon, McBride had Collins all had shots to keep Chris Fahey busy. Fahey was again called into action making saves from Fallon and substitute Davidson within a second of each-other bringing much admiration from the home fans.
In injury time Fahey made yet another save and McGrillen shot over from 25 yards.
Summary
A fine performance from Chris Fahey between the sticks combined with good play up front from Messrs. McManus and McKenzie in particular left Stenhousemuir feeling hard done by.
Chris Silvestro was the only player to be booked by referee Smith.
Albion Rovers: Fahey, Connolly, Stirling, Black, McLaren, Patrick, McKenzie, Silvestro, Bradford, McManus, Mercer. Subs not used : McCaul, Yardley, Selkirk, McInally, Peat.
Stenhousemuir: McCulloch, Fallon, McInally, Knox, Henderson (Murphy 41), Smith, Lauchlan (Gardiner 71), Collins, Savage (Davidson 71), McBride, McGrillen. Subs not used : Sinclair, Kevin McKeown.
Referee : Eddie Smith
Man of the Match - Chris Fahey
