Stenhousemuir 3 v 0 Albion Rovers

Attendance : 325

Scorers ~ Stenhousemuir :  Davidson (2), Collins (37), Savage (42).

For the first time in 5 years Rovers visited Ochilview and a win was a necessity to stave off the challenge of East Stirlingshire at the foot of the table. Once again they lost, this time to one of only two teams they've managed to defeat this term.

The match had hardly got going when Rovers lost a goal. The Warriors scored in about 70 seconds when Chic Connolly hit a weak passback to Chris Fahey, Paul McGrillen said thanks very much and nipped in to roll the ball into the centre where Ryan Davidson was waiting to slot home.

Rovers first attack came in 4 minutes when Scott Crabbe started a move in which the ball was passed to Yardley and McManus before the veteran regained the ball only to see his shot go over the home bar. Stenhousemuir surged forward when a long ball found its way to McGrillen, the pass to John Paul McBride was much better that the resultant shot which skewed off target.

Chris Silvestro showed some of his old magic and then provided a quality pass to Paul McManus who ran up the wing, unfortunately his shot was well wide of the far post.

In 18 minutes John Paul McBride talked himself into a booking when he refused to be quiet while referee Sproule gave him a ticking off for a misdemeanour.

Paul McManus tried to push for an equaliser but failed to control the ball when it came to him on the Warriors penalty spot. The Rovers hitman was again showing his skills on the wing a couple of minutes later, as he had no support he decided to go it alone but the 'keepers legs prevented a goal.

In 23 minutes Jean Paul McBride who was booked just 5 minutes earlier blatantly dived in the corner of the Rovers penalty area, Mr. Sproule wasn't taken in but didn't find it necessary even to talk to the midfielder.

Mark Yardley injected some excitement into the match for visiting fans when his deftly judged flick to McManus ended with a strong shot being saved by McCulloch. A Smith free-kick to Savage on the edge of Rovers box was so obviously planned that it was amazing no Rovers player thought to intercept the ball, luckily the shot was poorly executed.

McKenzie for Rovers and Lauchlan for Stenhousemuir both missed the mark before the homesters doubled their lead in 37 minutes. The second goal was an easy tap-in by former Rover Lee Collins but the play leading up to the goal by Martin Laughlin among others was superb.

Rovers were under the cosh and Robbie Henderson launched a screamer towards the postage stamp but a fine one-handed save by Fahey denied the defender a goal. With 3 minutes of the half remaining a McBride corner whizzed into Rovers box and Joe Savage met it with a bullet header into the net.

A weak Yardley shot being deflected for an unproductive corner was the last action of the half

Second Half

The second half started quietly a Savage back-header going over the Rovers bar being the first incident. Scott Crabbe was next up when he crossed for Graeme McLaren whose effort was a foot too high. Ryan Davidson  was provider of the ball which was dummied by Collins allowing Lauchlan to evade the defence and shoot straight to Fahey.

There followed a short period in which Cliftonhill gaffer Kevin McAllister brought on all 3 subs and the home side also made a change to their lineup.

Fahey was called on to punch clear a McBride corner before play switched ends with McManus coming close and McKenzie hitting the ball too high. Silvestro was in action once more when he provided an excellent ball to McKenzie but the shot didn't trouble the home 'keeper.

McGrillen had his strong shot go straight to Fahey which was followed by Rovers attacking when Marc McKenzie had his snap shot saved at the other end of the pitch. Stenhousemuir almost went further ahead in 73 minutes when Savage effort rebounded off the goalpost and a Davidson shot was saved by Fahey.

A couple of half chances for Rovers were followed in 87 minutes by a Davidson shot also coming off the Rovers goalpost. On the stroke of full-time a low Joe Boyle shot was held by McCulloch.

Graeme McLaren of Rovers received a booking during the match.

Summary

Rovers didn't look like coming back from the shock of losing the early goal which left a strong travelling support dejected. Next week sees Rovers face a tough test as they visit Gretna in a rearranged match against the league leaders who've managed to score 6 goals in each meeting of the teams this season.

Stenhousemuir : McCulloch, Fallon (Knox 58), Henderson, Murphy, Smith, McBride, Lauchlan (Sinclair 85), Collins, Savage, Davidson, McGrillen. Subs not used - Easton, Morrison, McKeown.

Albion Rovers : Fahey, Paterson (Selkirk 59), Stirling, Black, Connolly, McLaren, McKenzie, Silvestro, Yardley (Bradford 59), McManus, Crabbe (Boyle 55). Subs not used - Patrick, Peat.

Referee : Martin Sproule

Man of the Match - Paul McManus

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