Forfar Athletic 1 v 4 Albion Rovers

Attendance : 331

Scorers ~ Forfar Athletic :  Grehan (54). Albion Rovers : W. Martin (5, 17, 56), Barr (48).

Rovers grabbed their first win in 11 matches in an emphatic display at Station Park, Forfar somewhat aided by poor defending and allegedly odd refereeing. The list of Coatbridge men missing due to injury, suspension or other commitments was as long as the proverbial arm but the three points gained ensured they wont get the wooden spoon.

Before 60 seconds had elapsed Willie Martin crossed the ball to Jamie McKenzie who directed it past the Forfar goalpost. Then in five minutes Rovers went ahead when Neil Stephen gifted the ball to Willie Martin who fired a low shot past Sandy Wood.

Danny Ferry then hit a disappointing shot well off target. John Ovenstone became the first player to have his name taken by the referee, his crime was dissent.

In the 17th minute another defensive foul up by Stephen gave Willie Martin the ball on the edge of the box and he made no mistake. Elliot Smith was next to enter the wee black book of Mr. Robertson for a foul.

Michel Stuart tried his luck with a header but Tony Mitchell wasn't unduly taxed when making the save. A failed Forfar corner with them packing Rovers box was followed soonafter by Bryan Duell flighting in a free-kick for veteran striker Stevie Kerrigan to stretch to get his head onto it but it was to no avail.

Kerrigan who may have strained himself trying for the ball was replaced by Martyn Fotheringham a couple of minutes later.

Then came the first major controversy of the game when Barry Donachie was booked for a foul which many observers thought was a late challenge by a Rovers man. He couldn't keep his mouth shut about the "injustice" and within a minute received another yellow and resultant red card.

Martin Grehan was next to enter the book another 60 seconds later, soon followed by Willie Martin who became the first visiting player to be yellow carded, his transgression being persistent fouling. In injury time Stephen McNally became the next booking apparently for dissent whist awaiting for Rovers to take a corner.

Half-Time

Just three minutes into the second period Rovers went three ahead as Bobby Barr tried a long range shot which was deflected by Stuart inches over the head of the Loons 'keeper.

A couple of minor attempts on the Rovers goal failed before Smith lobbed a ball at goal which had Tony Mitchell back-pedalling to tip over the crossbar.

The Angus side pulled one back in 54 minutes when Martin Grehan headed a Stuart corner into the net. Within a couple of minutes Rovers restored their three goal lead, Barry Donald releasing the ball for Willie Martin to tap in and claim his hat-trick.

Duell then showed some inconsistency of the referees when he fouled then shoved a Rovers man on the ground but didn't even get a warning from the man in black. Michele Lombardi was however booked a couple of minutes later for a simple foul.

Richard Buckley crossed the ball to Willie Martin who wasn't content with his goal tally headed a strong one straight to Wood. A long ball was missed by the hapless Stephen and Willie Martin put the ball wide from the edge of the Forfar penalty area.

Rovers second booking of the match was incurred by Alan Reid for a foul. Next up a Smith attempt seemed to be covered by the diving Mitchell but a defender intervened to clear the danger.

Barr ended a long run goalward with a shot inches wide.

Summary

A vital three points and a long overdue win for what was a skeleton Albion Rovers team. Gritty performances like this show that it's not merely a case of running down the clock to the seasons end and that finishing 7th rather that 8th, 9th or even 10th is worth fighting for. 

Forfar Athletic : Wood, McNally, Smith, Stephen, Ovenstone, Donachie, Duell, Kerrigan (Fotheringham 32), Lombardi, Grehan (Geddes 77), Stuart. Subs Not Used : Dunn, Anton, Reid.

Albion Rovers : Mitchell, Buckley, McGowan, Ferry, Reid, Donald, Barr, McKenzie, Willie Martin (Smith 78), Watson, Ally Martin. Subs Not Used : McStay, McDougal, Robert Walker, Scott.

Referee : Thomas Robertson

Man of the Match : Willie Martin

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