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Albion Rovers 3 v 3 Stenhousemuir |  |
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Albion Rovers 3 v 3 Stenhousemuir | |
| Irn-Bru League 3rd Division 5th January 2008 |
Attendance : 284
Scorers ~ Albion Rovers : McKenzie (8, 90), Hunter (61). Stenhousemuir : Ferguson (29), Gilbride (51), Dalziel (64).
Yet another late goal in a Rovers game but this time the Cliftonhill faithful were quite happy and it was Jamie McKenzie who saved the day, well a point anyhow.
Rovers playing resources were spread thin as evidenced by the team sheet which showed only four subs on the bench and one of them was a trialist 'keeper. Injuries to Michael McGowan, Brian Smith and Ciaran Donnelly combined with Rovers failure to agree terms for striker John Gemmell and 'keeper Tony Mitchell who had been on loan from Bellshill Athletic made team selection relatively straightforward albeit for undesirable reasons for John McCormack.
Within seconds of kick off former Cliftonhill favourite Gordon Lennon dispossessed Roddy Hunter at the edge of the Stenhousemuir box as the striker tried to bring the ball down. At the other end Alan Benton pulled off a similar feat tackling Alan Gilbride.
Graeme Watson then set up Pat Walker whose shot was too high. In eight minutes Rovers capitalised on their domination when McKenzie struck the ball from 25 yards, on-loan Hibs 'keeper Alastair Brown got both hands under the ball but failed to halt its progress into his net.
The visitors squandered a decent opportunity a minute later when Stevie Ferguson hit a free-kick to Paul Tyrell on the wing who in turn crossed it to Stephen Hampshire resulting in a "passback" shot to David Scott.
Then Tyrell came close, his first attempt rebounding to him from the defence and his second leading to a goal-kick. Graham Gibson crossed for Scott Dalziel but the shot went across the goalmouth and out.
In 29 minutes the Warriors equalised when Craig McEwan's well judged cross was headed strongly over the defence by Stevie Ferguson. Stenhousemuir were buoyed by their goal and Brian McLaughlin corner was punched clear by Scott shortly afterwards.
Kenny Wright found himself with only the 'keeper to beat but his attempted lob was way too high. Just 60 seconds elapsed before he had a carbon copy attempt also go awry.
McKenzie tried his luck from a free-kick on the far touchline, although strong it went straight to Brown on his line. Twice during a single Warriors move Watson gave away the ball only to retrieve it seconds later averting disaster.
With a couple of minutes remaining in the first half McKenzie pumped the ball into the visitors box, Iain Chisholm lunged forward to head the ball wide of the target.
Half-Time
In 48 minutes claims for a goal by the Stenhousemuir players were denied by Mr. O'Reilly after a McLaughlin corner into a packed Rovers box ended up being smothered by Scott on or close to his goal line. In the end a free-kick was awarded to Rovers.
Three minutes later Stenhousemuir went ahead when Gilbride bundled home a McLaughlin corner from close range. In 61 minutes Rovers were level once more when Hunter deftly back-heeled a Barry Donald drive from within a packed box.
It took just 3 minutes for the Warriors to regain their lead Tyrell puting a high ball into Rovers box for Dalziel to head past Scott. Scott then came to the rescue when he dived to intercept a McEwan cross which men in Maroon were lining up to have a pop at.
Next it was Brown's time to intercept a Chisholm cross as Rovers players waited. McKenzie put in a cross from close to the corner which came off Brown at his near post then off Hunter who had no time to react and past the post.
As stopwatches hit 90 minutes McKenzie stepped up to hit home a sweet shot from the edge of the Warriors box.
Summary
The 15th goal in the final 5 minutes of a Rovers league match this season but only the fourth in their favour but very welcome none the less!
Albion Rovers : Scott, Watson, Reid, Robert Walker, Benton, Donald, Patrick Walker, Chisholm, Hunter, McKenzie, Wright. Subs Not Used : McStay, Dimilta, Martin, Kennedy (trialist).
Stenhousemuir : Brown, McEwan, Lyle, Lennon, Gilbride, Tyrell, Gibson, Ferguson, Dalziel, Hampshire (McManus 86), McLaughlin (Thom 89). Subs Not Used : Thomson, Love, Hillcoat.
Referee: Stevie O'Reilly
Man of the Match : Jamie McKenzie