Montrose 0 v 1 Albion Rovers

Picture F is the goal
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Attendance : 415

Scorers ~ Albion Rovers : Trialist (66).

Albion Rovers commenced their 125th year when they kicked-off on the newly laid Links Park synthetic surface in glorious weather. That wasn't all that was new as Rovers had a new management team and no less than six players making their debut plus Jamie McKenzie back after a five year absence.

The match started quietly and it was 12 minutes before something noteworthy happened. Stephen Thomson put in a vicious cross into Rovers box, it came off team-mate Stuart Cumming and appeared to go into the net. A second later it became clear that it was a player who'd made the net bulge and the ball had in fact narrowly missed the target, much to the relief of travelling fans.

It was Montrose again who came close when John Baird put through a well judged ball to Andy Rodgers but his shot from close range was blocked by 'keeper David Scott. The ball rebounded to Rovers Graham Watson who tapped it towards goal making a few hearts miss a beat until Scott managed to claim it.

An Alan Benton through ball to Barry Donald resulted in Donald striking whilst leaning back and the inevitable happened when the ball went whizzing over the crossbar.

Rovers were in attacking mood now and a long ball upfield found Brian Smith who took his time to fire at goal but it wasn't accurate enough to bother former Rovers stopper Mark Peat. Ciaran Donnelly was in the right place at the right time to clear off the line after Benton and Scott had made it difficult for the Montrose attack.

With 5 minutes of the first half remaining Rovers trialist striker showed some nifty footwork when he spun at the edge of the Montrose penalty box and fired at goal, only missing by the smallest of margins. Rodgers was next to try his luck but his wayward effort didn't cause problems for Scott.

With the whistle about to be blown the trialist and Pat Walker combined to advance goalward, unfortunately this fizzled out as it neared the box.

Half-Time

The second period started with Walker receiving a yellow card from the referee for diving in the homesters box. Shortly afterwards Rovers advanced with some nice play and the ball fell at the feet of the trialist on the 6 yard line, he leant back as he launched the ball over the goal when it had seemed easier to score!

Dead-ball specialist Jamie McKenzie put a free-kick into the Montrose penalty box but various shots were stifled by the packed defence and the ball was eventually cleared. Jay Stein tried to hit back but his long run ended in disappointment with a high and wide shot.

Rodgers then became the next player to put the ball over the crossbar from close range, shortly afterwards he had a header saved by Scott. Following a corner in 66 minutes Rovers grabbed what was to be the winning goal as the trialist made amends for previous misses by scoring from 4 yards avoiding the 'keeper and a man on the goal-line.

Rodgers picked up a booking for complaining he was fouled in the Rovers box as his shot was saved by Scott. Several substitutions by both sides ensued and a Montrose corner found nobody.

In 86 minutes David Scott failed to catch an easy ball a yard from his goal, luckily it was just wide of the post and Montrose got a corner rather than a goal because of it. The resulting corner was unproductive and a minute later substitute Paul Stewart forced a save from the young 'keeper.

The Gable Endies finish strongly with a corner being headed just off target then Scott grounding himself close to the 18 yard line to stop a long ball but not controlling it only for the advancing attacker to kindly put it into the prostrate 'keepers arms.

Summary

A hard fought win for a Rovers team still finding their feet.

Montrose: Peat, Cumming, McLeod, McGowne, Dobbins, Donachie, Gibson, Thomson (Wood 69), Rodgers, Baird (Stewart 76), Stein (Gates 76). Subs Not Used: Gardiner, McKenzie.

Albion Rovers: Scott, Watson, Reid, Donnelly, Benton, Donald, Smith, McKenzie (Friel 81), Trialist, Adams, Patrick Walker (Chisholm 80). Subs Not Used: McStay, Watson, Thompson.

Referee : Frank McDermott

Man of the Match - Trialist (Roddy Hunter)

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