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Albion Rovers 1 v 2 Gretna |  |
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Albion Rovers 1 v 2 Gretna | |
| CIS Cup 1st round 10th August 2005 |
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Attendance : 273
Scorers ~ Albion Rovers : Chisholm (90). Gretna : Deuchar (6), Grady (76).
Perhaps not the best cup draw for Rovers having lost 23 goals to Gretna in 4 league meetings with the runaway champions last term. Things were however rather different his season despite the home side exiting the cup at the first opportunity.
David Nicholls was first to try his luck for Gretna when his cross cum shot missed its intended target. Soon after that prolific scorer Kenny Deuchar had a weak shot saved by Ewings. Nicholls then had a poor free-kick deflect for a corner which provided Deuchar with the ball which he headed straight to Ewings.
In 6 minutes the 2nd division side took the lead when Dr. Deuchar headed home a Baldacchino corner. Keeping up the pressure Nicholls had a strong shot go over the Rovers bar following a Baldacchino corner which was awarded much to the chagrin of home fans as it looked like a goal-kick. Another Baldacchino corner resulted in Grady heading over.
In 32 minutes a Baldacchino free-kick looked well placed and Ewings looked unprepared but fortunately it was wide. On the stroke of half-time Nicholls hit a wild shot well past.
Half-Time
The second period ended as the first had finished with Gretna pressing forward. Ryan McGuffie had the ball in Rovers net within 60 seconds of the restart but it was disallowed as Jamie Ewings had been fouled in the move.
The next opportunity came when Nicholls had his shot parried by Ewings and fall to Deuchar to uncharacteristically put wide. Grady deflecting a Bingham pass over the home goal preceded a couple of Gretna corners in quick succession ending in weak shots.
In 65 minutes a cross found Grady whose downward header from 6 yards out rebounded off Ewings, David Bingham was on hand but only managed to launch the ball over the goal.
Around 70 minutes Gavin Skelton was booked for a nasty foul on a Rovers man which gave Graham McGhee a free-kick which he hit close to the Gretna goal.
A few failed Gretna chances preceded a Gordon Lennon free-kick going straight to 'keeper Alan Main. The Gretna 'keeper punted the ball up the park to his opposite number who had advanced from his goal to close to the halfway line which was then returned ball to Main.
In 76 minutes the borders side doubled their lead when new boy James Grady slipped the ball past Ewings. A couple of minutes later Ewings got down well to stop a Bingham shot and soon after he did well to hold a Deuchar shot too.
Grady was next to look dangerous when he headed over the Rovers goal although Ewings seemed to have it covered. With the end fast approaching McGuffie seemed to make the most of a challenge when he went down in the "d" at Rovers goal, the resulting free-kick by Bingham went straight to Rovers 'keeper.
On the 90 minute mark Iain Chisholm took a Sichi pass and nipped past the sleeping Gretna defence to drive the ball low into the visitors net.
Skelton and Innes of Gretna and McGhee, Black and O'Neill of Albion Rovers received bookings from Mr. Hardy who did little to endear himself to home fans during the game.
Summary
An odd cup match with little in the way of atmosphere but a creditable result against the team of "millionaires". Perhaps the oft-used phrase about a cup exit giving the team the chance to concentrate on the league campaign has never been more appropriate.
Albion Rovers : Ewings, Lennox, Black, O'Neill (Sichi 82), Lennon, McGhee, Bonnar (Franch 78), Friel, Chisholm, Young, Donnelly (Wilson 88).
Subs Not Used : Noble, Creer.
Gretna : Main, Nicholls (Tosh 70), Aitken, McGuffie, Townsley, Innes, Baldacchino, Grady, Deuchar, Bingham, Skelton (McQuilken 70).
Subs Not Used : Graham, Boyd, Mathieson.
Referee : Colin Hardie
Man of the match : Gordon Lennon
