Albion Rovers 4 v 0 East Stirlingshire

Attendance : 518

Scorers ~ Albion Rovers : McFarlane (1), Walker (4, 44), Felvus (87).

With the Rovers squad depleted by the 'flu virus this match wasn't expected to be a walkover against the perennial underdogs 'Shire, but the match was effectively over after just four minutes.

With the stopwatch showing a mere 27 seconds Rovers were ahead with Dave McFarlane heading the ball in with 'keeper Robert Tiropoulous trying to control it. Trialist Bobby Thompson had a shot stopped by the 'keeper as did a colleague in yellow and red before McFarlane got his head to the ball.

Brian Smith had a shot blocked by Tiropoulous before Rovers went further ahead in four minutes when Patrick Walker put the ball in from the far touchline at an acute angle.

Still on the attack McFarlane provided the trialist with a through ball which he directed just too wide to be a hazard for the 'keeper. Walker then swung in a corner which the trialist headed over the 'Shire crossbar. McFarlane was still up for it when he struck a low and hard shot from the edge of the East Stirlingshire box only to see it whiz a foot wide of target.

Walker smashed the ball towards the 'Shire goal from the far side and Tiropoulous managed to put it out for what proved to be an unproductive corner.

The visitors managed a rare assault on the Rovers goal when former Cliftonhill favourite Marc "Squib" McKenzie fired into the arms of Jamie Ewings. Paul Brownlie then sent the ball skimming over the crossbar ending up on the roof of Rovers net.

With a minute of the first half remaining Rovers bagged a third goal when Andy Sim and McFarlane combined to give Walker an easy tap-in from 5 yards out.

Half-Time

The second period didn't start like the first and nothing of note occurred for around ten minutes except a couple of substitutions by 'Shire manager Gordon Wylde. Walker and Smith linked up to get the ball into the visitors box but the move fizzled out after the defence intervened.

A spate of bookings and substitutions were to follow before McKenzie missed a cross ball by inches which Derek Ure had launched towards Rovers goal.

In 87 minutes Rovers year was finished superbly when Iain Chisholm found Bryan Felvus in the centre of the 'Shire goalmouth to fire spectacularly into the net from close range over Tiropoulous.

Thywissen and McBride along with Nicoll of Rovers were booked during the match.

Summary

A creditable performance from and under strength Rovers side who hardly looked in danger at any time of conceding a goal. Fans who'd taken advantage of the get in for a quid offer (including many neutrals) were treated to some well taken goals in what was a foot of the table clash.

Albion Rovers : Ewings, Moffat, Lennox, Lennon, Donnelly, Nicoll, Sim (Chisholm 60), Trialist, McFarlane (Felvus 75), Walker (McBride 82), Smith. Subs Not Used : Creaney, Thompson

East Stirlingshire : Tiropoulous, Livingstone, Learmonth, McAloney, Thywissen, Boyle, McKenzie, Malloy, Brownlee (Oates 53), McBride, Adam (Ure 51). Subs Not Used : Stewart, Nugent. ('Shire only listed 4 subs)

Referee : Martin Sproule

Man of the Match - Patrick Walker

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