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Stenhousemuir 2 v 2 Albion Rovers |  |
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Stenhousemuir 2 v 2 Albion Rovers | |
| Irn-Bru League Third Division 23rd February 2008 |
Attendance : 389
Scorers ~ Stenhousemuir : Dalziel (48, 77 pen). Albion Rovers : P. Walker (4), Gemmell (37).
For the second week in a row Rovers fought high winds away from home and came away with points, this time despite being down to 10 men for the final half-hour. Injury once more took it's toll on the Rovers starting line-up with several faces missing including new boys Willie Martin and Danny Ferry.
It didn't take long for Rovers to take the lead when in four minutes Pat Walker beat the offside trap, ran in on goal and slotted home from just inside the penalty area.
In 12 minutes Scott McCulloch fired in a free-kick from the far touchline to Scott Dalziel in the middle of Rovers goal, David Scott made an instinct save from point-blank range to deny the striker who signed for the Warriors only last month.
John Dillon heading over the Rovers crossbar preceded Michael McGowan being shown a yellow card by Mr. O'Reilly for a foul. Pat Walker worked his way up the park and found himself without a target man in the middle to cross the ball to, so he tried his luck from the narrowest of angles and for a second it looked to be on target. It wasn't quite, and went across the goal and harmlessly out.
A defence splitting pass by Pat Walker found John Gemmell, the hitman ran on and struck a low diagonal shot into the Warriors net. Next a dangerous move by Dillon on the stroke of half-time was diffused when he was dispossessed on the post and the subsequent corner was saved by Scott.
Half-Time
Just three minutes after gaining the advantage of the wind behind them Stenhousemuir drew level when 'keeper Scott fumbled a long range Scott McCulloch attempt. The ball fell to Dalziel who had a relatively easy tap-in.
A Brian McLaughlin corner was headed goalward by a Warriors man, Scott could only get a single hand to it initially and fans held their breath till the other hand was on it.
The Warriors were wreaking havoc at this stage and a McCulloch free-kick aided by the wind from 35 yards slipped through Scott's hands for a corner. McGowan then blocked a shot on the line from a Patrick Mailey effort resulting from that.
In 58 minutes Rovers were reduced to 10 men when McGowan who'd already been booked was shown a straight red for aiming an arm at Mailey whilst awaiting a throw-in at the Warriors box.
McLaughlin whizzed in a corner which gave William Lyle via a Dalziel touch the opportunity to come close with a diving header. Graeme Watson tried to pull back the lead for Rovers but his strong drive was held by Ally Brown.
McLaughlin fired from 25 yards only for the ball to rebound to safety off the metalwork following a deflection en-route. In 77 minutes a McCulloch free-kick came down into the Rovers box where Mr. O'Reilly, much to the amazement of fans, adjudged Chris Hughes to have fouled Dalziel. The youngster was booked for his troubles and Dalziel himself made no mistake from the penalty spot.
Dalziel was looking for his hat-trick just a minute later when Alan Benton intercepted him in the Rovers area and cleared the ball. Gemmell then embarked on a solo mission up the far wing, as there was nobody to receive a cross the striker had an unsuccessful pop at goal.
With the clock showing 90 minutes substitute Jose Quitongo picked out Steven Hampshire in the visitors box but the header was held by Scott. The last move of the game saw fellow Warriors replacement Ross Hamilton have his low shot stopped by Scott.
Summary
The proverbial game of two halves, largely it must be said due to the strong winds. The referee and his standside assistant did their best to confuse fans with decisions apparently plucked from nowhere. For instance Mr. O'Reilly asked two home players to temporarily leave the pitch during the game for dresscode violations and another couple for having blood showing.
Stenhousemuir : Brown, McEwan, McCulloch, Mailey, Gilbride (Hamilton 46), Tyrrell, Lyle (Quitongo 74), McLaughlin, Dalziel, Hampshire, Dillon. Subs Not Used: Hillcoat, Menzies, Lindsay.
Albion Rovers : Scott, Buckley, McGowan, Robert Walker, Benton, Donald, Donnelly, Hughes, Gemmell, Graham Watson, Patrick Walker. Subs Not Used: McStay, Ally Martin, Reid, McDougal, Mitchell.
Referee : Stevie O'Reilly
Man of the Match - Pat Walker
