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Albion Rovers 2 v 1 Forfar Athletic |  |
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Albion Rovers 2 v 1 Forfar Athletic | |
| Irn-Bru League 3rd Division 9th October 2007 |
Attendance : 272
Scorers ~ Albion Rovers : Adam (49), Wright (72). Forfar Athletic : Kilgannon (17).
It was a great relief to all concerned when the Forfar team coach turned up at Cliftonhill for this rearranged game as it got stuck in traffic ten days previously. Rovers needed an improved performance after 5 straight loses especially as another could let the visitors leapfrog them and leave Rovers on the bottom of the table.
It was Rovers who started brightly as the match got underway in improved lighting which was noticeable to Cliftonhill aficionados. Jamie McKenzie was the man who tried his luck from 25 yards only for it to skim past the Forfar post.
In nine minutes the visitors goal lead a charmed life due to desperate defending by the Loons following a McKenzie corner which spawned around five shots.
Former Rover Chris Mackie ran down the wing and crossed to Martyn Fotheringham, the 24 year-old midfielder gave the ball to Paul Lunan only for Robert Walker to intervene in the nick of time.
A Forfar corner then led to home fans hearts missing a beat when the ball rebounded off the chest of 'keeper David Scott. This led to a couple of follow-up shots which Scott blocked.
In 17 minutes the Angus side grabbed the lead when Sean Kilgannon worked a one-two with veteran midfielder Stevie Kerrigan then hitting the ball into the net at Scott's near post.
Callan Adam ran up the far wing and swung in a vicious cross close to the visitors goal-line. Unfortunately for Rovers nobody could get the touch it needed to level the scores.
Gary Fraser took a free-kick which although avoiding the wall didn't avoid the hands of Scott between the posts. A Fotheringham shot which looked good then swerved off target, just before the interval Lunan flighted in a cross cum shot which nobody connected with.
Half-Time
Rovers came out with all guns blazing after half-time and a Roddy Hunter run ended when he gave John Gemmell the ball. The resultant shot was parried by Sandy Wood for an unproductive corner.
Rovers were awarded a free-kick in 49 minutes, with normal dead-ball expert McKenzie looking poised to take it Callan Adam suddenly sprung into action and pitched in a perfect kick to the "postage stamp".
Buoyed by drawing level Rovers looked keen and Gemmell fired a shot at the visitors goal from some distance and it missed by the smallest of margins as Wood looked on.
Kenny Wright was foiled by Wood seconds later and Alan Benton also came close for Rovers. On the hour mark Adam had the opportunity to reprise his goal when Rovers were awarded a free-kick 25 yards from goal, but his kick came off the suspiciously near looking Forfar wall.
Steven McNally received the ball in space on the nearside, despite not being under any pressure from Rovers man he blasted the ball wide of the target.
Kenny Wright streaking down the far wing looked dangerous and his strong ball across the Forfar goal could easily have gone in had it made contact with an attacker.
With 18 minutes remaining Rovers took a deserved lead when Wright received the ball at the corner of the Loons box, his snap shot struck the inside of the far post and the ball went into the net. Within a couple of minutes Wright had another attempt which this time was deflected past the goal, soonafter he run up the wing once more and fired only to see the ball cross the goal.
On the stroke of 90 minutes Wright gave Gemmell the ball and Wood managed to prevent a third goal.
Summary
What a difference a few days make, from Saturday to Tuesday Rovers improvement was quite marked.
Albion Rovers : Scott, Robert Walker, McGowan, Reid, Benton, Donald, Gemmell, McKenzie, Hunter (Smith 89), Adam, Wright. Subs Not Used : Watson, Martin, Patrick Walker, Mitchell.
Forfar Athletic : Wood, McNally, Smith, Dunn, Ovenstone, Fotheringham (John Fraser 60), Lunan, Kerrigan, Mackie, Gary Fraser (McCallum 73), Kilgannon. Subs Not Used : Rattray, Grady, Reid.
Referee : Steven Nichols
Man of the Match : Kenny Wright