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Arbroath 4 v 2 Albion Rovers |  |
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Arbroath 4 v 2 Albion Rovers | |
| CIS Cup 1st Round 8th August 2007 |
Attendance : 525
Scorers ~ Arbroath : Brazil (1, 6), Scott (20), Sellars (28). Albion Rovers : Hunter (80), Chisholm (88).
Stop the world I want to get off could well have been the prominent thought in travelling fans minds around the half-hour mark of this CIS cup match. By this time their team had collapsed to a four nil deficit.
The CIS cup 1st round match kicked off and Arbroath advanced goalward, with 21 seconds on the clock a long ball down the centre of the park found Alan Brazil and his low shot defeated David Scott between the sticks.
Alan Benton then was forced into blocking Bryan Scott in the Rovers box although the latter appeared to be offside. Then in six minutes in got worse for Rovers when Brazil headed goal number two.
The visitors first notable effort came in 11 minutes when Pat Walker struck a 20 yard free-kick marginally over the "postage stamp". Still having a go, Callan Adam crossed to Roddy Hunter who skied the ball.
Play returned to the homesters and Scott bagged their third with a volley from 15 yards from a Reilly cross. In 28 minutes it was four for Arbroath when Barry Sellars was given the ball while he was in so much space in front of Rovers penalty area he didn't know what to do. After spinning around looking to make a pass he decided instead to blast the ball into the top left hand corner of Scott's net.
Untroubled by the defence Bryan Scott was once more advancing goalward on the wing, he cut in and blasted the ball off his namesake 'keeper David Scott. Chris Hegarty was on hand to shoot but it was a foot too high.
Gaffer John McCormack decided a change was needed and Scott Friel replaced Barry Donald in 36 minutes. Shortly afterwards Rovers survived a fright when the ball was stopped on their goal line three times in 5 seconds, a combination of goalkeeper and defenders preventing a further goal.
Hunter shooting wide then new signing David Dimilta and Friel combined to assault the home goal only for Friel to lob the ball to Scott Morrison in goal.
Half-Time
Following what must have been a stern talking to from their manager Rovers took to the field for the second half. It didn't start well for the visitors however when Steve Rennie hit a 30 yard screamer just too high to increase his teams tally of the evening. Then a cut back from a corner to Nicky Smith provided the chance for a shot which David Scott held.
Bryan Scott twirled round at the edge of Rovers box after evading the attentions of a defender only to blast the ball over the crossbar. It was time Rovers fought back and that's just what they did gaining a lot of possession. One quality move ended with another debut boy Kenny Wright firing the ball off 'keeper Morrison.
With 10 minutes remaining Hunter headed a goal for Rovers after a scramble in the Arbroath six yard box. He followed this up with a spectacular effort with was a yard too high. In 88 minutes it was two for Rovers when Iain Chisholm tapped a corner onto the Red Lichties net.
The Angus side were in full panic mode despite their 2 goal lead and having time on their side. They did however have one last effort and Paul Watson had a 30 yard shot rattle the crossbar and fall to Bryan Scott whose "goal" was adjudged offside.
Summary
A shocking start to the match by Albion Rovers and after the fourth goal no fightback was ever going to be sufficient although their second half performance gave hope for league matches after this cup exit.
Arbroath : Morrison, Rennie (Black 70), Ferguson, Raeside (McMullen 46), Tully, Smith, Hegarty, Brazil (Watson 52), Scott, Sellars, Reilly. Subs Not Used : Webster, Currie.
Albion
Rovers : Scott, Graham Watson, Reid, Donnelly, Benton (Chisholm 66), Donald
(Friel 36), Dimilta, McKenzie (Wright 56), Hunter, Adams, Patrick Walker. Subs
Not Used : McGeough, Thompson.
Referee : Stevie Nicholls