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Albion Rovers 2 v 2 East Stirlingshire |  |
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Albion Rovers 2 v 2 East Stirlingshire | |
| Irn-Bru League 3rd Division 19th January 2008 |
Attendance : 296
Scorers ~ Albion Rovers : Hunter (7), McKenzie (78). East Stirlingshire : Donaldson (36), McKenzie (39).
Another high scoring match between these teams who average at just under five per match this season. But for a four minute spell in the first half Rovers could have won this match but with injuries to key players a point isn't a bad result.
Just a couple of minutes into the game Scott Gibb's cross into the Rovers box and found Andrew Brand. The ''Shire captain hit a shot which was only stopped going into the net by an instinct save from 'keeper David Scott.
In seven minutes it was Albion Rovers who took the lead when the visitors defence was at sixes and sevens. They allowed Roddy Hunter to left foot the ball from the 18 yard line into the bottom corner of the net after stopping the ball with his right foot.
A Craig Donaldson effort was embarrassingly high over Rovers crossbar shortly afterwards. Hunter was trying to complete his brace and came close in 18 minutes when he forced on-loan Raith Rovers stopper Michael Brown to save.
A Pat Walker cross into a packed East Stirlingshire box found Jamie McKenzie and his header went over the defence only to rebound off the goalpost. East Stirling weren't awestruck and a Kevin McBride corner picked out Carl Thywissen at the near post, his low shot being saved by the legs of Scott.
In 33 minutes Rovers hit the metalwork once more, this time it was striker John Gemmell with a 35 yard free-kick which bounced off the crossbar to safety. Iain Chisholm came close to scoring when a McKenzie free-kick reached him in the box but he directed it wide of the target.
In 36 minutes 'Shire drew level when a long ball upfield made its way to Brand. He supplied it to Donaldson to hit the ball into the bottom left of the goal from 20 yards giving the diving Scott no chance.
Just 3 minutes elapsed before Rovers went behind when Stephen Oates flighted in a ball which the diminutive former Rovers man Marc McKenzie scored with a back header over his marker.
The half ended when a 'Shire attack broke down and play switched ends immediately and Iain Chisholm dragged the ball wide of goal as the defence arrived in numbers.
Half-Time
An ineffective East Stirlingshire attack was applying pressure to Rovers without much cause to concern the men in yellow and blue.
In 66 minuets a candidate for goal of the season would have been scored had it not been well saved by Brown, a long ball was brought down on the chest of Gemmell onto his right foot and then struck goalward by his left.
In 78 minutes Rovers were back on an equal footing when Jamie McKenzie who was claimed to be offside by the visiting dugout lobbed Brown from the 18 yard line.
Alan Reid forced a save with a header then and as time ticked away a Scott clearance 10 yards out of his penalty area rebounded off the advancing Paul McBride. The ball went towards the corner flag but proved harmless when it made its way back towards goal.
Summary
Another hard fought point for Rovers which let them climb up a place in the league table which can't be too bad!
Albion Rovers : Scott, Buckley (Dimilta 87), Reid, Robert Walker, Benton, Donald, Patrick Walker, Chisholm, Hunter, McKenzie, Gemmell. Subs Not Used : Martin, McStay, Watson, Mitchell.
East Stirlingshire : Brown, Gibb, Kevin McBride, Oates, Thywissen, Kelly, McKenzie (Simpson 84), Brand, Paul McBride, Donaldson (Brownlie 56), Ure. Subs Not Used : King, Doyle, Mitchell.
Referee: Colin Brown
Man of the Match : Jamie McKenzie