Albion Rovers 3 v 1 Elgin City

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Attendance : 276

Albion Rovers ~ Chisholm (10), Savage (15), Chaplain (63). Elgin City ~ Johnston (48).

After a grueling cup win midweek perhaps it was inevitable that Albion Rovers didn't quite hit the highs of the previous matches including a 5 -2 drubbing of Elgin a couple of weeks previously. They were however the better team and didn't look to be at any real risk of doing anything other than winning.

In 3 minutes an Elgin corner was in the Rovers penalty box for a while then Adam Moffat had a couple of attempts both of which were blocked in a packed area. Pat Walker took a free-kick a couple of minutes later from 35 yards which evaded the defence but not the City 'keeper.

A move involving Joe Savage and Scott Chaplain ended 25 yards from goal with the awarding of a free-kick. Jamie Doyle was the man to take it but 22 year-old Keiron Renton got to it.

Joe Savage was again charging forward with Hind paying close attention, he managed to dispense with the defender lifting the ball over the diving 'keeper but the ball spun to the left allowing Renton to get to his feet and pick it up. [Pictures AA - AC]

Seconds later a Chaplain shot was deflected wide for a corner which Pat Walker took and Iain Chisholm rose to powerfully head home with the 'keeper helpless. [Picture A] Iain Chisholm received a yellow card for a hand-ball incident as jumped for a ball in the Elgin area and shortly afterwards Pat Walker had a shot of his own which was high but Renton managed to grab.

In 15 minutes Rovers increased their lead when a Chaplain attempt was blocked and Chisholm passed to Joe Savage who brought the ball down and skelped it into the net. [Picture B] 

Campbell headed the ball straight to Jamie Ewings but their next move ended when Gordon Lennon who'd been shadowing Charlesworth for some yards intervened.

Scott Friel had the ball on the near side, he picked out Savage on the far side with a pass and the resulting attempt was turned round the post for a corner.

Stephen MacKay was dithering with the ball at the edge of his own penalty area and Scott Chaplain eventually decided to test his resolve and gained the ball. He put the ball through to Savage who struck the ball well only to see Renton pull off a quality stop.

Gardiner was denied by Ewings then Adam Moffat fired from distance missing the goal by a small margin. Chisholm had one of his easily saved then Johnston dragged a snap-shot wide. Scott Friel was well positioned in 42 minutes blocking a shot by the visitors, the follow-up by Johnston was wide.

In injury time a defence splitting Adam Moffat pass put Johnston in an excellent position to score but once more he put it wide of the target.

Half-Time

The visiting fans were given some hope when their team pulled one back in 48 minutes when Johnston made amends for his earlier misses by slotting a shot low past Jamie Ewings. [Picture C] 

A Gardiner shot high over Rovers crossbar was the last action of note for almost 15 minutes until Rovers went 3 - 1 up in 63 minutes. Rovers top scorer Scott Chaplain turned to fire a low shot past Renton.

Rovers weren't content with their lead and an excellent Savage cross to Chisholm resulted in at attempted shot best forgotten. Gordon Lennon then made a foray upfield stepping round defenders as he went until an unlucky bounce robbed him of the opportunity to loose a shot.

Substitute Richard Huxford was in an attacking frame of mind and he managed to evade the Rovers defence, he lifted the ball as Ewings approached but a well placed gloved hand preserved Rovers 2 goal lead. His team-mate Mackay was close-in on the home goal but he was leaning back and the ball was inevitably too high to trouble anyone.

In injury time Phil Creaney who'd replaced Joe Savage minutes earlier had his drive blocked by Renton, the ball rebounded to Chisholm who gave it too much elevation.

Summary

Not the best Albion Rovers performance of the season but none the less a convincing victory over the leagues bottom dogs.

Albion Rovers : Ewings, Moffat, Trialist, Lennon, Donnelly, Friel, Doyle, Chaplain (Smith 64), Chisholm, Savage (Creaney 85), Walker (McBride 40). Subs Not Used : Nichol, Thompson.

Elgin City : Renton, Campbell, McGraw (Booth 78), Hind, Dickson, Low (Easton 66), Gardiner, Moffat, Johnston, Charlesworth (Huxford 40), Mackay. Subs Not Used : Main, Knight.

Referee : Stephen Finnie

Man of the Match - Joe Savage

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