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Elgin City 2 v 2 Albion Rovers |  |
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Elgin City 2 v 2 Albion Rovers | |
| Bell's League Third Division 17th September 2005 |
Attendance : 305
Scorers ~ Elgin City : Wood (76), Dickson (89). Albion Rovers : Donachy (54), Wallace (88).
Albion Rovers made the long journey north to take on an Elgin side still seeking their first league win of the season, City were denied the 3 points but Rovers failed for the 3rd match in a row to hold onto a lead.
The match started in a rather bizarre atmosphere with what can best be described as muzak blaring from an adjacent leisure centre. A few minutes in Martin Johnston caught Ewings well off his line attempting to get to the ball but thankfully for the band of travelling Rovers fans his shot was best forgotten.
Chris Gardiner put in a cross which found nobody in front of Rovers goal and subsequently exited the pitch harmlessly. In 8 minutes Tommy Lennox was advancing within the Elgin half of the pitch when Muir put in what seemed like a dangerous challenge which failed to connect. Before the 21 year-old could draw a sigh of relief he was clattered to the ground by Allan Dempsie who, much to the chagrin of all Rovers people in the ground only received a brief talking to from Mr. MacKay.
Muir failed with a shot from 20 yards when the ball bounced into Ewings arms, which was followed by the enforced departure of Lennox who had failed to return to the game with Lee Wilson coming off the bench. A corner led to Graham McGhee miss-kicking the ball off-target.
Scullion failed to trouble Ewings when he missed the target in 13 minutes then former Rovers starlet Mark Booth who appeared to be offside put in a potentially dangerous cross into the Coatbridge mens box, luckily it was straight into the arms of the waiting Jamie Ewings.
Captain Scott Friel hit a strong free-kick from 20 yards which was saved by 'keeper Renton before Lee Wilson swung in a cross from close to the corner onto the head of George Wallace who put the ball wide.
Johnston then came to the fore again when he miss-controlled the ball on the edge of Rovers box when he seemed to be destined to cause difficulty for Ewings. Next he received a pass from Muir on the edge of the 6 yard box only to head the ball down onto the advancing Ewings' legs and to safety.
Lee Wilson was next to have a go when he attempted to lob Renton from distance but only succeeded in placing the ball on the roof of the net. Former Rover Jamie McKenzie unleashed a strong and low free-kick from 25 yards which was only marginally wide.
In 37 minutes Mark Booth had the ball in the back of Rovers net following a pass from Johnston but he was 2 yards offside when the ball was sent in his direction. George Wallace crossed the ball for Martin Bonnar to fire at goal from 6 yards out but Dempsie managed to clear the ball on the goal line.
With a minute of the first half remaining Gordon Lennon intercepted the ball from an attacker who was a clear and present danger to the status quo.
Half-Time
The second period started with Jamie Ewings just managing to make a fingertip save just under his crossbar. Play quickly switched ends with Lee Wilson running 40 yards which regrettably ended when he lifted the ball just a little over the City bar.
That thorn in Rovers side Johnston headed a ball straight to Ewings. Not content to have a breather Johnston was soon on the attack again, this time beating a couple of defenders by jinking about. The resulting shot was held by Ewings at the second attempt.
In 54 minutes Rovers took the lead when Donachy came in from the left, rounded a defender and struck his shot through the packed penalty area into the far corner of the net for his second goal in 2 games.
A Chisholm effort which missed the Elgin goal preceded a strong chance for the Borough Briggs side when Scullion had his shot cleared off the line after an extended spell of head-tennis in Rovers box.
A rare Lennon shot which missed by a small margin was followed by Johnston shooting over and then wide in quick succession. In 76 minutes Elgin drew level when Garry Wood who was only on the park for 7 minutes slipped the ball into the corner of the goal with Ewings unable to get to it.
The Rovers stopper then cut out a Muir corner high in the air. A minute later the ball was in Rovers net once more but for the second time on the day it was ruled out for offside.
A stramash in the Rovers box which saw couple of attempts blocked and saved was followed by Rovers who were temporarily down to 10 men as the referee had been slow to let Chisholm re-enter the field after treatment to an injury go ahead once more. It occurred with only 2 minutes remaining when George Wallace scored from an angle when substitute Stephen Reid supplied the ball.
Before the cheers had settled and within 60 seconds Elgin once more levelled the scoreline. Hugh Dickson was the man who headed home to break Rovers hearts. Mr. Mackay took the names of Scott Friel and Pat Scullion for a poorly executed tackle and foul language respectively.
Rovers pushed strongly for a winner in injury time but it wasn't to be!
Summary
A decent showing although all at Cliftonhill will be looking for Rovers to hold on to a lead once they get it. Next Saturday should provide a tough test as league leaders Berwick Rangers who've won all 6 league games so far this term are the visitors.
Elgin City : Renton, Cumming, Dempsie, Kaczan, Dickson, Jamie McKenzie, Gardiner (Wood 67), Scullion, Johnston, Booth (Bremner 60), Muir (Melrose 80). Subs Not Used : Easton, Stuart McKenzie.
Albion Rovers : Ewings, Lennox, Noble (Mathie 80), Lennon (Wilson 10) , McGhee, Friel, Chisholm, Bonnar, Donachy, Young (Reid 73), Wallace. Subs Not Used : Donnelly, Quinn.
Referee : Craig MacKay
Man of the Match - Scott Friel
