Albion Rovers 1 v 3 Arbroath

Attendance : 409

Albion Rovers ~ Creaney (88). Arbroath ~ Bishop (11), Stein (19), Raeside (61).

This match review is from guest writer Chris Galea visiting from Stoke-On-Trent

The January transfer window can’t come soon enough for Albion Rovers, after a lacklustre performance gifted three points to Arbroath. Albion lacked creativity going forward and the defence were easily exposed by the ball over the top, from Arbroath’s pacey strike force.

If Arbroath’s forwards had been more clinical with their finishing, they could have ended up with double figures in the goals for column. However, there were positives to come out of the game, after Albion rallied in the last 20 minutes to pull a goal back. Bryan Felvus had a shot cleared off the line by Arbroath defender Jamie Bishop, a few minutes before Phil Creaney unleashed a thunderbolt from 25-yards out, to give the Albion faithful something to cheer about.

Albion Manager Jim Chapman was disappointed with the result: “That’s the worst I’ve seen us play since I came here. “A lot of huffing and puffing for nothing”.

Albion haven’t beaten Arbroath at Cliftonhill since a 1-0 victory over the Red Lichties on 2nd November 1996, not including the penalty shoot-out win in the Challenge Cup Quarter-Final this season. Albion made two changes to the starting line-up, with Tommy Lennox and Phil Creaney making way for Andy Sim and Martin Bonnar.
 
Bonnar was a late change to the starting line-up, after Scott Friel pulled out due to injury. Chapman said: “Friel picked up a wee illness and obviously we had to change him. “We have to look after the player’s health and that comes first and foremost”.

Joe Savage was controversially left out of the squad, despite impressing off the bench in last weekend’s 2-1 loss to Arbroath. It was the first time Chapman had not selected an unchanged side for the last five games. 

The change in personnel didn’t work, as Arbroath ran away with first half. Jamie Bishop headed home the first after 11 minutes when he was left unmarked from Barry Sellars corner.

Seven minutes later Alan Brazil missed a glorious chance when a ball over the top put him in one-on-one with Jamie Ewings. However, his lobbed strike went just wide from 20 yards.

Arbroath doubled their lead a few minutes later, when Jay Stein controlled Brazil’s cross and curled in from the edge of the penalty area.
Arbroath had more chances before the break, but poor finishing prevented them from extending the lead.

Albion had shown very little going forward in the first half, but the second half was much more even. Just after the hour Arbroath made it 3-0 when an in-swinging corner was not dealt with by the keeper and Robbie Raeside, Arbroath’s player/assistant manager, brought the ball down, turned his marker and slotted home from close-range.

Albion provided a flurry of attacks in the last 20 minutes, but it was too late, despite getting a goal back.

On today’s performance, Albion need to breathe some new life into their football with a new signing or two. The defeat leaves Albion eight points off the playoffs, but a few new signings in January could freshen the side up for a big push towards the playoffs come the end of the season.

Albion Rovers : Ewings, Watson (Creaney 67), Nichol, Lennon, Donnelly, Doyle (Walker 52), Sim (Lennox 70), Chaplain, Felvus, Martin Bonnar, Bonnar, Smith. Subs Not Used : Thompson, Moffat.

Arbroath : Peat, Rennie, McCulloch, Raeside, Bishop, Smith, McMullen, Martin (Scott 62), Brazil (Reilly 50), Sellars, Stein. Subs Not Used : Morrison, Watson, Black.

Referee : Steve O'Reilly

Man of the Match - Phil Creaney (for the goal)

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