Elgin City 3 v 0 Albion Rovers

Attendance : 339

Scorers ~ Elgin City : Johnston (19, 66, 88).

The scoreline may as well have read Martin Johnston 3 - 0 Albion Rovers as he was the man who did all the damage at Borough Briggs. Rovers travelling support depleted by recent poor form and the large distance between Coatbridge and Elgin left scratching their heads at this defeat to 2nd bottom City.

The match started in glorious sunshine and it took a while for anything of note to happen, Rovers trialist featuring for the last time unless he signs having his effort deflected onto the home net by a defender in nine minutes.

Neil Hooks advanced to the Rovers goal line on the nearside but his initial attempt at a cross was blocked and his second caused little concern for the defence. Hooks was again on the attack shortly afterwards when he passed to Darren Docherty, but a Rovers man stepped in to clear for a homesters corner.

In 19 minutes Elgin grabbed the lead with a Craig Campbell cross from the nearside for Johnston to confidently head home as Rovers defence stood watching.

Another Campbell cross from the corner area provided Steven MacKay with the opportunity to unleash a decent shot which David Scott did well to stop.

It was time for Rovers to fight back and Tommy Lennox was the man to do it, he gathered the ball deep into his own half and ran down the near wing and crossed to Bryan Felvus as he approached the City box. The resultant shot from the striker was however, blocked. Gordon Moffatt also had his shot blocked, gaining a corner which the Coatbridge men failed to capitalise on.

In 34 minutes Rovers almost went further behind when Hooks chipped the ball over the advancing Scott at the edge of his area and the ball sailed towards the empty net. Only the boot of Peter Watson who was stretching at an awkward angle prevented the goal.

Rovers finished the half on the up with Felvus and Moffatt both coming close.

Half-Time

The second period started positively for Rovers with their trialist having a cross cum shot saved by Keiron Renton, then he had his corner caught by the stopper and finally his cross to Felvus resulted in the ball whizzing past the post.

A stramash in the Rovers box caused fans hearts to skip a beat or two with Scott seemingly fumbling the ball whilst prostrate in front of his goal and several players all around. Just when it seemed certain to be knocked into the net the young 'keeper regained control of it.

Rovers were now toiling and MacKay should have done better when he rounded Bobby Thomson at the 18 yard line and proceeded to blast the ball over the crossbar. Striker Pat Walker came on in place of the trialist in 59 minutes.

Rovers survived another scare when Adam Moffat found himself in space but twice failed to control a simple pass, he then crossed the ball which came off a defender and his own man before departing the danger zone. Hooks was next up and his strong run goalward ended with a low shot which was stopped by Scott who was on the ground to block.

In 66 minutes Johnston bagged the 2nd when Campbell cut back the ball from the byline for the big striker to put in with a low and angled drive. Paul Kaczan got onto the end of a viciously inswinging corner, somewhat aided by a strong wind which he headed of the underside of the bar. Claims by the homesters that it had crossed the line were dismissed by Mr. Collum.

Ciaran Donnelly on his return from injury will be disappointed with his free-kick which seemed to take ages to set-up. Jim Chapman then threw the dice once more replacing Bryan Felvus and the anonymous Phil Creaney with John McGoldrick and Iain Chisholm.

Such were the problems in defence for Rovers that it took striker Scott Chaplain to tackle a few yards out from goal to prevent further danger. Walker worked well to make space for himself at the home end of the park but was leaning back as he shot from 6 yards and the ball went harmlessly over the bar.

Rovers had a brief spell of supremacy but couldn't find their way through a packed City defence. The ball broke away and Johnston found himself all on his own with the ball but expecting an offside flag he hesitated so much Rovers' defence stepped in to dispossess him. Donnelly then did well to get in the way of Adam Moffatt.

With two minutes remaining the scoring and Johnston's hat-trick were completed when the follically challenged hitman slipped the ball under Scott at the corner of the box.

Summary

Another in a series of weak performances by Rovers who must now concede there is no hope of a play-off place this season.

Elgin City : Renton, Campbell, Dempsie, Hind, Dickson (Finnigan 90), Kaczan, Hooks, Moffatt, Johnston (Gardiner 81), Docherty (Nelson 77), MacKay. Subs Not Used : Charlesworth, Fox.

Albion Rovers : Scott, Thomson, Lennox, Donnelly, Watson, Moffat, Trialist (Walker 59), Chaplain, Felvus (McGoldrick 71), Creaney (Chisholm 71), Smith. Subs Not Used : Nicoll, Thompson.

Referee : Willie Collum

Man of the Match - David Scott

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