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Arbroath 2 v 3 Albion Rovers |  |
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Arbroath 2 v 3 Albion Rovers | |
| Scottish League Third Division 9th September 2006 |
Attendance : 510
Scorers ~ Arbroath : Raeside (50), Sellars (54). Albion Rovers : Donnelly (41 pen), Doyle (51), Walker (76).
Albion Rovers won this precursor to the Challenge Cup Quarter Final but were made to fight for the 3 points by a spirited Arbroath who had 10 men for the whole second half.
The game started unspectacularly with Savage seeing his attempt blocked and going over the goal for a corner being the first proper action in 7 minutes. Martin McBride then struck a free-kick which was turned out my Marc McCulloch.
Next trialist Gary Bollan had a free-kick of his own in 12 minutes but the assembled Red Lichties wall did its job. [Picture A] Jamie Ewings came out of his box to stop an Arbroath move but failed to gain control of the ball and had the attacker been sharper the Angus side would have gone ahead but instead Gordon Lennon interceded.
An Arbroath cross into Rovers box found Willie Martin in the clear but the striker managed to push the ball wide. Jay Stein put in a cross after Gordon Lennon failed to make a seemingly straightforward tackle. Alan Brazil was the recipient of the ball in Rovers box but his wayward header troubled nobody.
At the other end of the pitch Martin McBride took a corner which reached Savage who was facing the wrong direction but managed to cut the ball back just missing the target.
A dive by Rennie led to a handbags at 10 paces incident in which Donnelly of Rovers and Brazil of Arbroath received bookings for the ensuing unpleasantries. In 34 minutes Iain Chisholm crossed the ball from the near side which gave Savage a glancing header which came off the homesters crossbar.
In 40 minutes Gordon Lennon cleared an Arbroath shot off the goal line and Rovers advanced upfield quickly. [Picture B] Scott Chaplain was through on goal and shot, only for Jamie Bishop to handle on the line. Referee Charleston didn't hesitate awarding a penalty and dispatching Bishop to the stands.
Ciaran Donnelly stepped up to put the ball to the diving 'keepers left. [Picture C] With seconds remaining Gordon Lennon was on hand to frustrate Arbroath in their efforts no less than 3 times.
Half-Time
Belying the reality of having a man less than Rovers, Arbroath came out fighting in the second period. Willie Martin shot and Ewings seemed to have it covered when Gordon Lennon stuck out his foot and diverted the ball frighteningly close to the goal.
In 50 minutes the Red Lichties drew level when a Rennie free-kick was put low past Ewings by Robbie Raeside. It took Rovers just a minute to regain their lead when Jamie Doyle flighted in a perfectly struck free-kick from the edge of the Arbroath box. [Pictures D & E]
Gordon Moffat gained a booking for a foul at the edge of Rovers box leading to vociferous claims for a penalty from Arbroath players. Barry Sellars took the free-kick low across the Rovers goal evading Ewings on it's way into the goal. [Picture F]
Home manager McGlashan brought on Bryan Scott for Alan brazil who was distinctly unhappy at being replaced taking out his frustrations on a water bottle in the dugout.
Rovers were under the cosh now and a Martin cross into the goalmouth was cut out by Lennon. Jamie Ewings gained a booking for expressing his views to the referee about a free-kick awarded close to his penalty area.
10 men Arbroath were looking dangerous with move after move coming too close for comfort for the visitors. Scott forced Ewings to save at the near post and play switched ends to see Doyle miss by inches from long distance.
Both sides had attempts fail which were followed by a few changes to personnel. One of the replacements, namely Patrick Walker scored after Chaplain and Lennon had started a move upfield which Savage and Sim had continued. [Pictures G & H]
In 84 minutes referee Charleston came in for stick from travelling fans when he stopped the game while Ewings had the ball inside the Rovers area for an injury to Scott Friel. The Rovers man was soon up on his feet and a bounce up inside Rovers box which Arbroath unsportingly and against convention contested. This resulted in the ball whizzing by the Rovers goal much to the relief of the yellow and red clad element in the crowd.
A Rennie header was caught by Ewings and play switched ends with Andy Sim being booked after having been adjudged to have dived in the home box. Arbroath wouldn't give up and substitute Bryan Scott came very close to equalising with a shot which Ewings touched onto the bar.
Scott once more and Black both had low shots stopped by Ewings in injury time.
Summary
Fans could have been forgiven for thinking Albion
Rovers were the team short of a man in the second half. Arbroath have a very
short wait for the opportunity to gain revenge for the defeat.
Arbroath : Peat, Rennie, McCulloch, Raeside, Bishop, Dobbins, Black, Martin (Voight 81), Brazil (Scott 55), Sellars, Stein (Smith 73). Subs Not Used: McMullen, Morrison.
Albion
Rovers : Ewings, Moffat, Trialist, Lennon, Ciaran Donnelly, Friel, Doyle,
Chaplain, Chisholm (Sim 69), Savage (Smith 86), McBride (Walker 69). Subs Not
Used: Nichol, Thompson.
Referee : Craig Charleston
Man of the Match - Gordon Lennon
