Albion Rovers 0 v 1 Berwick Rangers

Attendance : 457

Scorers ~ Berwick Rangers : Fraser (24).

Albion Rovers lost their 4th match on the trot in a roller-coaster of a game against their English guests.

Within seconds of the kick-off Dennis McLaughlin had an attempt from 30 yards rebound off Rovers crossbar. Rovers then took control of the match and Tom Britton's defensive error made 'keeper O'Connor scramble to clear the ball as Martin Bonnar approached. Gordon Lennon was next to try his luck from close to the corner hitting the side netting.

Andy Sim nipped in to shoot but drew the ball wide in 7 minutes and 4 minutes later a Brian Smith cross gave the striker another opportunity which he took well only to see it saved by O'Connor. Another Sim move was foiled when he was edged off the ball in the visitors box a while later.

A long Rovers move up the pitch gave Scott Chaplain the ball on the edge of the box, he took a few steps and loosed a low shot at goal which the 'keeper was equal to. Joe Savage then ran up the wing ending in a cross into the Berwick box which the 'keeper managed to cut out before it reached any men in yellow and red.

A Sim/Lennon move which broke down in 21 minutes signalled the end of Rovers early domination. In 24 minutes Iain Thompson flighted in a corner over Rovers 'keeper Jamie Ewings for Fraser to poke home.

Another Rangers corner a couple of minutes later resulted in Gary Greenhill blasting the ball high over the bar. McLaughlin then had a shot blocked after a long free-kick supplied the ball.

Joe Savage came close for Rovers in 40 minutes and his curling free-kick looked on-target but was rather wide from 20 yards.

Half-Time

A few minutes into the second period a Smith through ball to Savage resulted in a wayward attempt. In 53 minutes Rovers came close when Joe Savage outjumped 'keeper O'Connor to head goalward, unfortunately for the frontman Britton was there to prevent the ball crossing the goal-line.

A few minutes later the striker was far from happy at being replaced by Bryan Felvus. The next shot came not from a striker but Gordon Lennon but it was blocked before it caused too many problems for the visitors.

McLaughlin had a shot deflected giving Berwick what proved to be a couple of corners in quick succession. In 65 minutes Scott Friel was red-carded for preventing a goal with his hand. Ewings guessed correctly and pulled off a decent stop from Gary Wood's spot-kick.

Felvus for Rovers and Thompson of Berwick had failed attempts before one of the slowest double substitutions in history by Rangers when Paliczka and McCallum replaced the Greenhills.

Felvus had a strong shot after a run which was deflected for a Rovers corner. O'Connor flapped at the ball but no Albion Rovers player was positioned to take advantage of the loose ball.

With a couple of minutes remaining a throw-in saw the visiting 'keeper flap once more and substitute Pat Walker shot onto the crossbar. Another painfully slow change of personnel by the English side saw the clock hit 90 minutes.

A foul on Ciaran Donnelly gave Rovers a free-kick at the side of the goal, with 8 colleagues awaiting the ball it was put into no man's land sparking an attack by the visitors. Berwick gained a corner which led to Gordon Lennon blocking 2 shots and Ewings a 3rd within a couple of seconds of eachother.

Dennis McLaughlin, Gary Greenhill, Robbie Manson and Gary Wood of Berwick were yellow carded, as was Bonnar of the Rovers.

Summary

Excellent play by Albion Rovers at the start of the match gave way although they could have snatched something from the game late-on.

Albion Rovers : Ewings, Watson, Nicoll, Lennon, Donnelly, Friel, Sim (Walker 72), Chaplain, Savage (Felvus 60), Bonnar (Creaney 72), Smith. Subs Not Used : Lennox, Thompson.

Berwick Rangers : O'Connor, Manson, Noble, Britton, Horn, Fraser, Thomson, Gary Greenhill (McCallum 77), Wood, David Greenhill (Paliczka 77), McLaughlin (Campbell 87). Subs Not Used : Lucas, Flockhart.

Referee : Alan Boyd

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