Albion Rovers 2 v 1 East Stirlingshire

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Attendance : 398

Scorers ~ Albion Rovers : Chaplain (75, 85). East Stirlingshire : McKenzie (16).

On paper it looked simple, Albion Rovers had a gala day with face painting etc. and were up against a side who had already secured their customary bottom place for the fourth season on the trot. In the end though it wasn't that easy but two late goals from SPFA 3rd division player of the year Scott Chaplain gave Rovers the win was secured anyway!

Rovers took to the field wearing their brand new 125th anniversary strip of yellow and blue but it was a quiet start taking 12 minutes for pens to start scribbling in the press box. That was when man of the moment Chaplain intercepted the ball in his own half of the field, ran 60 yards and passed to Pat Walker who hit a disappointingly weak effort at the 'Shire goal.

In 16 minutes East Stirlingshire, somewhat against the run of play took the lead when Joe Boyle put in a perfect pass to the feet of Marc McKenzie. The diminutive former Rover was just inside Rovers box when he received the ball and had only 'keeper Jamie Ewings to beat. This he did by slipping the ball low into the corner of the net.

A Chaplain cross into the 'Shire box caused a defender to jump and try to stop it's progress with his arm, luckily for him he failed to make contact and the ball fell to Brian Smith who drilled it a foot wide of the post.

It seemed Rovers had equalised in 25 minutes but Chaplain gained a booking instead which at the time seemed to have been awarded for using his hand to score.

Phil Creaney was next up and his attempt after much Rovers possession was far too weak to trouble Anton Nugent in goal. McKenzie should have grabbed another goal when he received a Derek Ure pass a few yards from goal, he seemed off balance when he struck the ball and it rebounded off the crossbar.

There was much discussion between the standside linesman, Francis Andrews and Rovers officials which had people scratching their heads. Eventually it became clear that the official was the owner of a car which had been the subject of several announcements on the Tannoy, a Rovers official moved it on his behalf before the police took action against it's inconvenient parking. 

With half-time looming Gordon Moffat fouled Ure 20 yards out from goal, the resulting free-kick by Boyle bounced off the crossbar. Following his challenge Moffat was limping around for a couple of minutes before needing a stretcher to take him off, he was subsequently taken to hospital for treatment.

Half-Time

After the break it was the visitors who made the first move when a long ball gave Paul Tweedie the ball when he was a short distance from the near post, he contrived to head it past the far post.

Rovers started making their presence felt and a Smith corner was scooped off the goal line by Nugent. Next Chaplain had a shot blocked by Brand which led to a fruitless corner.

A packed 'Shire box prevented Rovers scoring when Nugent missed a cross leading to numerous stifled attempts. In 56 minutes a foul on Chaplain close to the edge of the Falkirk side's box led to Creaney thumping the ball off the underside of the bar.

Weak shooting from McBride which none the less had Ewings scrambling to get was followed by Dave McFarlane firing and hitting the post. Shortly afterwards he had another opportunity which Nugent stopped.

'Shire were still plugging away and McKenzie went down the near wing and flighted in a cross which was met by the head of Ure but directed wide of the target. Little time had elapsed before the wee man was again sending in a cross which was again headed wide, this time by Paul McBride.

In 75 minutes Rovers pressure finally paid dividends when McBride failed to make the clearance and McGeough had a go at goal which Nugent stopped. The ball rebounded to top scorer Chaplain who stabbed it home.

An unorthodox header with five minutes remaining gave Rovers all three points when a cross was headed down by Chaplain with such force that it bounced up and over the helpless Nugent into the net.

Summary

A win for Rovers to end the season but a hard fought one against bottom dogs 'Shire who made plenty of chances but failed to take enough of them. A brief interlude now follows for fans but not really for players or club officials who cannot take much time off before serious preparation for next season begin!

Albion Rovers : Ewings, Moffat (Thompson 44), Lennox (McGeough 67), Lennon, Donnelly, Creaney (Brown 75), Chisholm, Chaplain, McFarlane, Walker, Smith. Subs Not Used : Felvus, Scott.

East Stirlingshire : Nugent, Galloway (McAloney 60), Learmonth, Brand (Livingstone 86), Thywissen, Boyle, McKenzie, Stewart, McBride (Dymock 82), Tweedie, Ure. Subs Not Used : Brownlie, Tiropoulous.

Referee : Euan Norris

Man of the Match - Scott Chaplain

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