Albion Rovers 4 v 2 East Stirlingshire

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Attendance : 244

Scorers ~ Albion Rovers : Wallace (18), Noble (45), Sim (68), Reid (75). East Stirlingshire : Brand (20 pen.), Trialist B (64).

With their first match at home in 6 weeks Rovers played host to perennial bottom dogs East Stirlingshire who came looking for 3 vital points. It was however Albion Rovers who bagged the 3 points for the first time at home this season to go 9 points clear of their Falkirk rivals and well within overtaking distance of teams above.

With Stephen Donachy suspended and "Big Abou" missing due to the flu Rovers included new signing 18 year old diminutive winger Andy Sim from Hamilton Accies. Rather oddly the visitors named only 4 substitutes.

Sim was first to impress when a nice run up the wing ended when a defender intervened in the visitors box. Stephen Reid was next to assault the opposition goal when he had a snap shot from the edge of the box but gave it slightly too much elevation, shortly afterwards the forward tried a trundler which didn't fool 'keeper Jackson.

Former Rover Jordan Smith and then Andy Sim both shot wide before Rovers grabbed the lead in 18 minutes. George Wallace was the man who put the ball into the 'Shire net after lead up play by Chaplain and Reid.

Just 2 minutes later East Stirling were level when Andy Brand converted a penalty awarded by the over fussy Mr. Boyle when Trialist B (Alan Patrick) went down in Rovers penalty area following a decidedly soft challenge.

A couple of minutes later 'Shire had an opportunity to go ahead when a Brand free-kick whizzed into Rovers penalty area but Derek Ure who was waiting a couple of yards from goal marked by a defender failed to make contact. Then Gordon Lennon was instrumental in diffusing a 'Shire attack when got up to head a dangerous cross to Sim who took the ball away.

In 32 minutes Lennon turned attacker when he ran 40 yards with the ball but was let down when his pass to the well position Reid wasn't quite perfect. Nevertheless the ball was put back to Lennon who volleyed the ball just wide of target in a move which could easily have resulted in goal of the season.

With half-time approaching Rovers piled on the pressure, an excellent Andy Sim run ending with Wallace seeing his shot blocked. On the 45 minute mark Rovers went ahead once more when Wallace cut the ball back, Brand missed the chance to clear it and Steven Noble made no mistake with a low shot into the net.

In injury time trialist B had a poor header from a yard out which went into the side netting at Rovers goal.

Half-Time

A Scott Friel shot through a crowded 'Shire box opened the 2nd half proper, the ball ending in the arms of Jackson. Gaughan tested Creer in between Rovers sticks before Reid came very close indeed, a chip over Jackson at the edge of his box being marginally too high.

Creer was called on once more when he got one hand to save a Jordan Smith bullet header. Wallace had a low shot deflected to safety by the 'keeper following a Noble through ball.

The visitors enjoyed a brief resurgence having a few decent moves which culminated in them equalising again in 64 minutes. Trialist B (Patrick) scored a wonder goal from 35 yards, the ball going over the helpless Creer.

Rovers took the lead in 68 minutes, new boy Sim was the scorer when he went on a jinky run goalward, side stepped a defender on the edge of the box and hit the ball low into the net.

Home fans hearts missed a beat a minute later when a Brand kick rebounded fiercely from Donnelly which brought an instinct save from Creer, the ball dropped to a 'Shire man who missed from 5 yards.

Reid completed the scoring in 75 minutes with a low shot from a tight angle. With 10 minutes remaining Rovers were still pressing and had 3 shots within 30 seconds, the first couple being blocked and the third being too high.

In 84 minutes the ball hung around the East Stirling box for a while before Reid managed get a shot in which went over the bar.

Noble of Rovers along with Blair and Smith of 'Shire received yellow cards during the match from referee Boyle.

Summary

An exciting game involving the 2 bottom teams in the division, Andy Sim gets man of the match for a scintillating debut performance topped off with a goal.

Albion Rovers : Creer, Lennox, McGhee, Lennon, Donnelly,  Friel, Sim (Chisholm 79), Chaplain, Wallace, Reid (Doyle 87), Noble. Subs Not Used : Young, Wilson, Quinn.

East Stirlingshire : Jackson, Tyrrell, Sobolewski (Blair 72), Smith, Gaughan, Tyrrell, Brand,  Trialist A, Trialist B (Livingstone 85), Dymock, Ure (Oates 72). Sub Not Used: Thywissen.

Referee : Chris Boyle

Man of the Match : Andy Sim

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