Stenhousemuir 3 v 2 Albion Rovers

Attendance : 351

Scorers ~ Stenhousemuir : Diack (22), Baird (27, 44). Albion Rovers : Murie (O.G. 54), Chaplain (71 pen).

Rovers lost this hard fought match in a controversial manner in their first match on the artificial surface at Ochilview.

Stenhousemuir had an early attack fail before Walker and Smith for Rovers combined in a quality move which ended with an apparent foul which Mr. Law saw no problem with. A couple of minutes later Gareth Hutchison fired from 25 yards only to draw the ball wide of its intended destination.

In 11 minutes a well judged McFarlane cross was volleyed past the Warriors goal from short-range by Walker. The match was progressing at break-neck pace when former Rover Iain Diack who was taking a lot of stick from the visiting support headed over Ewings goal.

Kevin McLeish provided John Baird with the ball at the edge of Rovers box but the resultant shot was wayward. Unnoticed by many fans Rovers players and management claimed a penalty for handball in the homesters box but were denied by the referee. The ball immediately switched ends and Stenhousemuir took the lead when Baird put the ball through to Diack who tapped the ball across Ewings and into the net at the far post.

In 27 minutes Stenhousemuir doubled their advantage when a Diack corner was knocked into the net by Baird from 3 yards between Jamie Ewings and his post.

Rovers were constantly plugging away and in 36 minutes Brian Smith nutmegged Paul Murphy at the near side crossing the ball for Walker but the frontman gave it a tad too much elevation. Ewings got down to stop a low Tyrrell attempt.

Dave McFarlane provided a through ball which gave Pat Walker the opportunity to have a go but the resultant shot was wide of target. A minute later the Warriors scored again when Iain Diack knocked on Murphy's ball to Baird who seemed to be offside, this didn't prevent him scoring while Ewings claimed for the infringement.

Half-Time

A Kevin Nicoll free-kick from 30 yards was too high to trouble McCulloch in the Stenhousemuir goal. Next up was McFarlane whose low shot was stopped by the 'keeper.

In 54 minutes Brian Smith's cut-back after working his way in from the far side came off David Murie and over the line. The somewhat terse announcement just said "own goal for Albion Rovers".

Trying to build on the goal Pat Walker gave the ball to Chaplain through the middle but McCulloch save the shot. Hutchison was being a nuisance around Rovers box trying to make space to shoot but Gordon Lennon was making it difficult for him eventually taking the ball away.

A long ball upfield to Chaplain who was harried by Murie until he shot from 15 yards gaining an unproductive corner. At the other end McLaughlin provided Diack with the ball but the attempt was poor.

Tommy Lennox was next to try his luck but McCulloch was equal to it. In 70 minutes David Murphy was booked for bringing down Felvus who'd only been on the park for a minute giving Rovers a penalty which Chaplain struck confidently into the Warriors net.

Following a mistake by Murie, Bryan Felvus crossed for Doyle to head past. Pushing for the equaliser in the dying minutes of the match Chaplain was off balance making it inevitable that the ball would be well over the home crossbar.

Hutchison was through on Rovers goal and fired a strong shot which Ewings was equal to. Rovers dominated the end of the match but couldn't quite get the extra goal.

Summary

The 3 goal lead enjoyed by Stenhousemuir at half-time was hardly deserved on the balance of play yet that's what they had as they went down the tunnel. Some gritty performances by men in yellow and red came very close to salvaging a draw but it wasn't to be.

Stenhousemuir : McCulloch, Murphy, Murie, Tyrrell, Cowan, Henderson, Baird, McLeish (MacSween 81), Diack (Menzies 67), Hutchison, McLaughlin (Sinclair 67). Subs Not Used : Dillon, Carlin.

Albion Rovers : Ewings, Watson (Felvus 69), Nicoll, Lennon, Donnelly (Sim 46), Doyle, Lennox, Chaplain, McFarlane, Walker (Creaney 69), Smith. Subs Not Used : Moffat, Thompson.

Referee : Anthony Law

Man of the Match - Gordon Lennon

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