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Albion Rovers 1 v 2 Elgin City |  |
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Albion Rovers 1 v 2 Elgin City | |
| Bell's League Third Division 18th March 2006` |
Attendance : 319
Scorers ~ Albion Rovers : Reid (9). Elgin City : Johnston (42), Gardiner (78).
History wasn't on Albion Rovers side as the visitors have only lost a single game in Coatbridge since joining the league and once more they took three points north with them although referee Boyle was to come in for a lot of stick. Rovers faced several former employees namely Jed Stirling, Stuart Easton, Jamie McKenzie and Mark Booth. Missing from the home line-up was 'keeper Jamie Ewings who sustained another freak metatarsal injury again in training, this time to the other foot.
A minutes silence in memory of club servant Hugh Thompson and footballing legend Jimmy Johnstone preceded kick-off. Within 25 seconds of the start Jamie Doyle was given the ball thanks to a careless kick out by Renton, his snapshot was too high to unduly embarrass the 'keeper.
An Andy Sim move broke down before Rovers grabbed the lead when Stephen Reid put a angled low ball into the goal. A minute later David Hind found himself in an almost identical position for City but with a different result as his shot was wide of the goalmouth.
A Reid cross into the visitors box failed to find it's man then Jed Stirling used his left peg to loft the ball into Rovers box only for it to be headed clear. In 26 minutes McGlynn was equal to an unexpected Paul Kaczan back header. Reid was in the thick of it again when the ball fell to him with a clear path to the goal, his shot went over when he only had the 'keeper to beat.
Andy Sim had a shot from close range fail shortly before McGlynn was forced to use both hands to punch the ball out for Hind to blast well over the crossbar.
Jamie McKenzie and Jed Stirling (both of whom can hit a decent dead-ball) had an opportunity to shine when they were awarded a free-kick inches outside Rovers penalty area. As both lined up to confuse the defence it was Stirling who hit the ball straight at the defensive wall. In 42 minutes Elgin drew level when Martin Johnston headed home in a packed box from a Stirling cross.
Doyle heading straight to Keiron Renton and McKenzie launching the wall skyward over Rovers goal ended the half.
Half-Time
Johnston was looking dangerous once more until Gordon Lennon interceded to give Scott Friel the ball to take out of harms way. Scott Chaplain was the provider when Doyle put the ball over the target. Andy Selkirk gave the ball to Reid who in turn made Renton dive but the ball was marginally too wide.
A series of errors by both sides ended with Noble slicing his shot from 25 yards. A Selkirk misguided header came from a Noble cross seconds before the forward was replaced by Chisholm. In 78 minutes Elgin City went ahead when a low ball by Chris Gardiner seemed to go through Gary McGlynn.
3 minutes later a Chaplain shot rebounded off Renton and found its way upfield to McGlynn who sent it back down to the City goal. A defender appeared to kick Chaplain in the back and the Rovers man went down inside the box, Mr. Boyle wasn't impressed and play continued with Chaplain flat on the ground eventually receiving treatment when the ball went out. Jim Chapman was having a discussion with the referee after the official got very picky about the spot where the throw-in was to be taken, Chaplain received a booking at the same time for making his views known to the far-side assistant during the brief interlude.
Substitute Lee Sichi tried to hit back for Rovers in 88 minutes when he dispossessed Easton of the ball but his move ultimately failed. Tempers were again inflamed on the 90 minute mark when Hind was booked for felling Lennon from behind in a cynical foul. Seconds later Young was adjudged to have dived and had his name taken.
The last action of the game came when replacement Alan Muir who'd already been booked received a red card for a nasty foul.
Scott Friel of Rovers was also booked during the match.
Albion Rovers : McGlynn, Lennox, Noble, Lennon, Donnelly, Friel, Sim (Young 79), Chaplain, Selkirk (Chisholm 64), Doyle, Reid (Sichi 79). Subs Not Used : Abou Beaker, Quinn.
Elgin: Renton, Cumming, Stirling, Easton, Kaczan, Hind, Lauchlan (Booth 62), McKenzie (Muir 52), Johnston, Gardiner (Bremner 90), Nelson. Subs Not Used : Gilliam, Tweedie.
Referee : Chris Boyle.
Man of the Match : Stephen Reid
