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Albion Rovers 2 v 4 East Fife |  |
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Albion Rovers 2 v 4 East Fife | |
| Bell's League Third Division 10th September 2005 |
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Attendance : 317
Scorers ~ Albion Rovers : Wallace (2), Donachy (70). East Fife : McDonald (42, 80), Smart (57), Bradford (62).
Before the match the players and fans observed a minute's silence [Picture A] in memory of lifelong fan Joe O'Hare who passed away a few days before and former Rovers player and legendary Celtic and Scotland manager Jock Stein who died 20 years to the day before the match.
Rovers got the match started with a bang by way of a Steven Noble free-kick from close to the corner being headed over Dodds by George Wallace [Picture B]. It took another 6 minutes for the visitors to have a noteworthy effort when Craig Smart smacked a free-kick which hit the Rovers wall at the edge of their 6 yard box and out for a corner.
East Fife could have equalised in 9 minutes when following a stramash in the Rovers box a John Bradford shot was cleared off the line by Tommy Lennox. John Martin supplied Bradford with another chance a few minutes later but the striker had a poor shot deflected out for a corner.
George Wallace headed the ball straight to the Fifers 'keeper, next Paul Hampshire latched onto a corner to fire a low and hard shot to Rovers 'keeper Ewings. Stephen Donachy then had a couple of chances in quick succession, firstly he was off-balance when shooting so the ball missed the target. Next he was challenging the 'keeper for a high ball just outside the East Fife box but came off worst when Dodds headed the ball and him.
Gordon Lennon was on hand a few minutes later to put in one of his trademark tackles at the edge of the 6 yard box preventing Stuart Noble troubling the Rovers defence anymore. John Martin however posed more problems when he ran up the wing and fired a strong shot off Jamie Ewings.
The first period ended with East Fife equalising when McDonald turned quickly in the box to slot the ball low into the goal after John Bradford had supplied the ball.
Half-Time
Stephen Reid started the second half positively but his shot was saved, then a Steven Noble corner led to Gordon Lennon heading to the visitors 'keeper. Rovers kept up the pressure with a Donachy attempt rebounding off the Fifers crossbar.
Then East Fife took the lead through Smart who lifted the ball over Donnelly to score from an acute angle. Stuart Noble had a couple of chances soon after, the first of which was blocked by a defender and the second cannoning off a team-mate.
A good move involving Reid ended with Donachy blasting a shot from close-range off the feet of the visiting 'keeper. In 62 minutes and not for the first time this season a former player scored against Rovers, it was John Bradford who latched onto a Hampshire cross just 3 yards out from goal to double the lead.
Noble for East Fife and Lennox of Rovers both came close before Rovers pulled one back. Stephen Donachy was on the end of a long ball to head home in a quality strike. Donnelly and then Chisholm both failed with long range shots before East Fife completed the scoring in 80 minutes. A Craig Smart corner was headed over Ewings into the net by McDonald.
In 86 minutes Paliczka was denied a goal by a brilliant diving save by Ewings. Bradford passing to Martin whose shot would have increased the Fifers lead had it not been for that man Lennox who was on the line to clear it. McDonald then had a header rebound of Rovers bar to complete the action.
The referee booked Pelosi, Beith, Martin and Hampshire of the visitors, all for fouls but no home players incurred his wrath.
Summary
A blow to Rovers but once more the young team will have learned from the experience. Next week they make the long journey north to take on bottom-dogs Elgin City who have several former Rovers on their books at a ground where they have a decent record.
Albion Rovers : Ewings, Lennox, Steven Noble (Mathie 65), Friel, Lennon, McGhee, Reid (Chisholm 69), Donnelly (Young 84), Wallace, Bonnar, Donachy. Subs Not Used : Wilson, Creer.
East Fife : Dodds, Kelly, Pelosi, McDonald, Bain, Beith, Martin, Hampshire (Fortune 84), Smart, Bradford, Stuart Noble (Paliczka 75). Subs Not Used : Campbell, Donaldson, Morrison.
Referee : Chris Boyle
Man of the Match : Tommy Lennox
