Albion Rovers 1 v 1 Queen's Park

Pics at a later date!

Attendance : 447

Scorers ~ Albion Rovers : Bonnar (84). Queen's Park : Weatherston (26).

Derby day in division three brought Queen's Park to Coatbridge looking to keep in touch with the top teams and Rovers trying to lose the bottom pair. As seems usual in matches between the two clubs these days it was a very unpredictable affair!

Jim Chapman took to the dugout for the last time before his two match ban and must have been pleased with the start his boys had. In the first minute Iain Chisholm challenged 'keeper Crawford who was trying to deal with a passback, forcing him to put the ball out for a shy.

George Wallace went on a run passing to a colleague who crossed the ball to Chaplain who in turn headed the ball unsuccessfully towards the opposition goal. Wallace was again involved in an attack soon after when he provided Bonnar who was in a dangerous position the ball, the resulting shot was put out for a corner.

Black tried his luck with a 25 yarder which failed to trouble Crawford. In 10 minutes Queen's made their first foray towards Rovers goal, Jamie Ewings clearing the danger just outside of his penalty area when Weatherston was closing in.

A Wallace shot was given too much elevation after some excellent build up play by several Rovers men. Stephen Donachy looked impressive when he went on a 60 yard run after Sinclair messed up an interception, his marker appeared to make enough impact on him to spoil the shot which went straight to the Spiders stopper.

A Rovers shot was punched clear before Gordon Lennon took a opportunity to run up the near wing avoiding challenges both fair and unfair on his way. The run fizzled to a halt when the ball sneaked over the touchline, then Lennon received a yellow card when his head came into contact with that of Trouten. The contact was minimal and the gifted defender certainly was taken aback at the interpretation put on the incident by Mr. Finnie.

In 26 minutes Queen's grabbed the lead completely against the run of play when Weatherston had a long run ending in his slipping the ball under the advancing Ewings.

Within a minute Queen's Park almost gifted Rovers an equaliser when an all-judged passback had Crawford back-pedaling to clear just in the nick of time.

A pass from the wing to Wallace flicked onto Chaplain proved disappointing in the final execution. A Queen's man escaped punishment when he punched the ball from the head of a Rovers player, Mr. Finnie only awarding a free-kick.

Lennon was up the field once more when his shot came off Crawford for Chisholm to have his own attempt which was too high.

With 10 minutes of the first half remaining Ciaran Donnelly hit a 30 yard free-kick which was tipped round by busiest man of the first period Crawford. The resulting corner whizzed promisingly across the goal but exited at the far side.

George Wallace then was on hand when a ball came into the Queen's box and despite facing the wrong direction he hit a shot which only missed by a small margin.

Scott Friel finished the half by hitting a 35 yard free-kick a yard too high and then giving away a free-kick on the edge of Rovers box. Ross Clark took it and Jamie Ewings punched it clear.

Half-Time

Whatever the amateurs gaffer Billy Stark said to his boys at half-time it seemed to have the desired effect. David Weatherston slipping the ball past Rovers post within 60 seconds of the restart.

Rovers received a blow when the influential George Wallace was replaced due to a suspected knock. A couple of minutes later a corner led to Mark Ferry blasting the ball over Rovers goal. Seconds later it was Weatherston's chance when he received a crossed ball but the ball sneaked past the post.

Queen' Park were in total command of the match now, evidenced by a Mark Ferry shot demanding and receiving a quality save from Ewings. Rovers started a fightback, Stephen Donachy putting in a cross for Bonnar to unsuccessfully assault the visitors goal. Substitute Craig Young turned quickly to blast a shot which Crawford did well to stop.

Next McGhee crossed the ball for Chisholm to latch onto but he belted it into a ruck of defenders and the 'keeper. Ewings then was called into action once more when he punched clear a reasonable attempt. Donachy and the Queen's 'keeper clashed 10 yards outside the visitors box and the ball went goalward but too wide.

Rovers defence was nowhere to be seen as a long ball upfield towards the unmarked Tommy Murray was taken by Ewings outside of his box, he held off the challenge of the Midfielder and disposed of it successfully.

Murray was in the thick of it once more when an excellent lay-off gave him the opportunity, despite having plenty of time he shot well wide. A good counter-strike by Rovers saw a Donachy shot just bypass the junction of the post and bar.

Ewings was out of his area once more to head a ball out of the path of an attacker and then clear it when he was challenged. A minute later he was again charging away from his goal, this time kicking the ball clear.

In 84 minutes and somewhat against the run of play Rovers bagged an equaliser. A ball up the park fell to former Queen's player Martin Bonnar, who seemed to have a bit of space to play with as he stroked the ball into the corner of the net from 6 yards out.

With around 5 minutes remaining a strong Quinn shot was cleared off Rovers goal-line and with seconds left Alan Trouten rose to head down a cross which Ewings stooped to collect.

Lennon, Chaplain and Friel of Rovers were booked with Sinclair and Reilly of the visitors also receiving a yellow card.

Summary

An odd match in which each side dominated one half but scored in the other.

Albion Rovers : Ewings, Black, McGhee, Lennon, Donnelly, Friel, Chisholm (Reid 72), Chaplain, Wallace (Young 48), Bonnar, Donachy. Subs Not Used : Noble, Selkirk, Creer.

Queen's Park : Crawford, Clark, Dunlop,  Reilly, Sinclair, Trouten, Kettlewell (Weir 82),Quinn, Weatherston, Murray, Ferry. Subs Not Used : Whelan, Molloy, Paton, Cowie.

Referee : Stephen Finnie.

Man of the Match : Jamie Ewings

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