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Albion Rovers 3 v 1 East Fife |  |
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Albion Rovers 3 v 1 East Fife | |
| Bell's League Third Division 14th January 2006 |
Attendance : 303
Scorers ~ Albion Rovers : Reid (7), Sim (40), Reid (68). East Fife : Bradford (71).
Just 7 days previously Albion Rovers gained their first home win of the season and that was "only" against East Stirlingshire. This week they defeated East Fife to go 4 games unbeaten, winning 3 in the process. One major factor in the turnaround has to be the addition of Andy Sim making his second start and bagging his 2nd quality goal.
The victory was somewhat spoiled by the physical nature of play by East Fife and the reluctance of the referee to take the names of the culprits, which left several home players feeling the after-effects.
The match started in bright Coatbridge sunshine and the visitors were first to impress with recent signing Joe Savage seeing Creer slightly off his line, his shot ended up on top of the net with the Rovers 'keeper looking to have it covered in any case.
The next thing to happen was when Rovers took the lead in unusual circumstances, 'keeper Morrison made a poor clearance and the Fifers defence was dozing. Stephen Reid was the one who hit a trundler from the edge of the East Fife box, the body language of Morrison led fans to believe the ball was going past and they only realised otherwise when the net rippled gently when the ball eventually arrived.
Reid was at it again in 10 minutes when his shot from a tight angle rebounded from close to the foot of the East Fife post after good lead-up play by Sim. Stephen Fortune who's just been named in the Scotland under 18 squad launched the ball high over the home bar.
Andy Sim was on a run when he put the ball past a defender then running round to pick it up within the box, he fell as he approached it to half-hearted penalty appeals. When play switched ends Lennox was the man perfectly places at the near post to clear a strong shot. Scrappy play then led to Creer being called on to save the day by diverting the ball from the goal.
Creer was on hand once more to kick a ball off his line following a short from a corner. Rovers hit back when Chaplain took advantage of weak defending to fire low and regrettably wide from 25 yards. Chaplain passing to Wallace who gave Donnelly the ball created another eventually unfruitful chance.
In 36 minutes fans were left dumbfounded when Vers captain Scott Friel was booked for seemingly little despite visiting players having escaped such punishment on several seemingly worthy occasions. Former Rover John Bradford then had the ball in Rovers net when he nipped round the defence at a free-kick, the far-side assistant referee had already raised his flag indicating offside.
Steven Noble was unlucky not to score when he chested the ball down and unleashed a shot which Morrison did well to make a diving save. In 40 minutes Andy Sim scored a certain candidate for goal of the season when he beat several defenders whilst running goalward from the right. He coolly put the ball low into the visitors net.
Half-Time
Soon after the second period commenced John Bradford escaped a booking for lifting his hands to Gordon Lennon, instead being given a lecture by Mr. Norris. Seconds later his team-mate Gavin Beith had his name taken for his umpteenth foul, this one being on Sim.
Campbell failed with a low effort before Savage found himself in a good position to score, Creer may have done enough to put him off as the shot trundled past Rovers post.
A Reid attempt came very close and George Wallace failed with a follow-up shot during which he took a knock which led to his substitution a few minutes later. Rovers then had a corner whizz into the Fifers box for the ball to be skelped towards the goal by Donnelly. It went out for another corner to vociferous and sustained but intimately pointless claims for handball.
At the other end Gordon Lennon was well placed to head clear a dangerous ball as it neared the goal. Reid made it 3 - 0 for Rovers in 68 minutes with a beautifully judged chip over the 'keeper from the corner of the penalty area.
John Bradford pulled one back for East Fife to virtually no acclaim from travelling fans in 71 minutes when he scored from around 6 inches following an acutely angled corner. The Fifers came close from another corner headed past shortly afterwards.
In 83 minutes Rovers could have claimed a fourth goal but instead a Donnelly free-kick from 25 yards rebounded off the post. Substitute Craig Young was next to try his luck when he swivelled to shoot unsuccessfully.
East Fife were unsurprisingly the side pushing harder for another goal at the death coming vaguely close on a couple of occasions before Paliczka ran into space deep into injury time. Creer was on his line as the striker sliced wide of the target from 15 yards.
Fortune, Beith and Smart of the visitors and Noble of Rovers were also cautioned during the match.
Summary
An impressive performance by Rovers, especially from Andy Sim.
Albion Rovers : Creer, Lennox (Chisholm 65), McGhee, Lennon, Donnelly, Friel, Sim, Chaplain (Doyle 73), Wallace (Young 59), Noble, Reid. Subs Not Used : Donachy, Quinn.
East Fife : Morrison, Lumsden, Campbell, Bain, McDonald, Fortune, Martin, Smart, Graham (Bradford 27), Savage (Hampshire 72), Beith (Paliczka 72). Subs Not Used : Condie, Dodds.
Referee : Euan Norris
Man of the Match : Andy Sim