Albion Rovers 1 v 1 Berwick Rangers AET Berwick won 4-3 on penalties

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Attendance : 152

Scorers ~ Albion Rovers : McKenzie (90). Berwick Rangers : Swanson (73).

Having beaten Stranraer three days earlier thanks to a couple of penalties it was ironic that Albion Rovers should exit the challenge cup by losing a penalty shootout against second division opponents Berwick Rangers. It was however a heartening performance by the Coatbridge men which could easily have won them the tie.

The match started quietly, possibly down to the sparsely populated stand holding just 152 souls on a wet evening. Early exchanges were far from enthralling, Paul McMullan seeing his corner bundled by the post by colleague and former Rover Jordan Smith was one such occurrence. 

Roddy Hunter came close for Rovers when he was through on goal after a Barry Donald ball, it was well off the ground when he struck it and 'keeper Chris Flockhart managed to tip it over the crossbar.

A cross cum shot into the Rovers box had David Scott fail to control it but before bouncing harmlessly off his legs. In 21 minutes Jamie McKenzie took a free-kick from the side of the Berwick penalty area. The ball whizzed across the goal avoiding several assembled players and went just wide of the post.

Just before half-time Gary Wood squandered an opportunity when he sliced the ball over the Rovers crossbar when it seemed easier to have put the ball on target.

Half-Time

Rovers gaffer John McCormack made two changes at the restart with Scott Friel replacing Barry Donald and Lee Thompson replacing Scott between the sticks. Kenny Wright sparked the game into life when he out-muscled his marker to unleash a drive from 10 yards which was marginally too elevated to trouble Flockhart.

Wright was heavily involved in a move shortly afterwards which caught Flockhart out of position but the resulting series of attempts were all blocked. McKenzie had another opportunity with a dead ball and his free-kick into the visitors area eventually found Ciaran Donnelly whose attempt ended in the 'keepers arms.

Scott Lucas had a failed effort before his side took the lead in 73 minutes when the ball found its way to Danny Swanson who rounded the 'keeper to slot home.

A wayward shot by Friel preceded a low Hunter one which was inches wide of its objective. Rovers were dominating and an excellent David Dimilta run ended with the ball rebounding from Flockhart to Wright although this attempt was blocked.

Iain Chisholm and Wright both had shots blocked in another move and on the 90 minute mark Pat Walker had his cross into the Borderers box cut out by Smith. As the game entered injury time Hunter spun on the spot and fired the ball off Flockhart for a corner.

With just seconds remaining the ball fell to McKenzie 35 yards out, he looked up and decided not to pass to players in the clear and his shot took a slight deflection as it went onto the net sending home fans into a frenzy.

Extra-Time

McKenzie was the provider from the corner when Chisholm put the ball over the Berwick crossbar from all of three yards. Next McKenzie tried to reprise his goal from 30 yards out but the 'keeper managed to palm this one away from danger. Dimilta was then instrumental in a move which ended when Alan Reid had an attempt bounce off the top of the crossbar.

Once more McKenzie tried from long-range to no avail before Wright fired into the side netting. With the reigning 3rd division champions not getting a look-in McKenzie supplied Walker with the opportunity to shoot over. The last shot of the 12 minutes was a wild effort by Kevin McLeish.

Penalties

Mr. McKendrick then signalled the end of open play and the players lined up for the penalty shootout. Alan Benton scored for Rovers and McLeish levelled. Next, goal hero McKenzie stepped up but his kick wasn't sufficiently far from Flockhart and the 'keeper saved it. Former Rover Iain Diack then had his saved by substitute stopper Lee Thompson.

Wright slotted his into the net as did Tommy Lennox another ex-Rover. Level at two apiece Rovers captain Ciaran Donnelly put the ball over the bar as Flockhart dived, substitute Kevin Haynes then put the English side ahead. Hunter kept Rovers in it by slotting the ball low into the 'keepers right hand corner but Gary Wood bulging the back of the net with his spot-kick sent Albion Rovers out of the competition in which they reached the last four only last season.

Summary

Albion Rovers will feel they could have and indeed deserved to win this cup-tie but that's football. A rip-roaring cup tie which all 152 fans must have enjoyed.

Albion Rovers : Scott (Thompson 45), Graeme Watson (Dimilta 81), Reid, Donnelly, Benton, Donald (Friel 45), Chisholm, McKenzie, Hunter, Patrick Walker, Wright. Subs Not Used : Smith, Peter Watson.

Berwick Rangers : Flockhart, Lennox, Noble, Smith, Bolochoweckyj, Lucas, David Greenhill (Manson 64), McLeish, Swanson (Diack 86), Wood, McMullan (Haynes 82). Subs Not Used : Gemmill, O'Connor.

Referee: John McKendrick

Man of the Match : Kenny Wright

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