Albion Rovers 3 v 2 Stranraer

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Attendance : 306

Scorers ~ Albion Rovers : Wright (4 pen), Hunter (33), Donnelly (88 pen). Stranraer : Gillies (35 pen), Keogh (52).

Both sides went into this match on the back of a league win and cup defeat and it was obvious both wanted to maintain a 100% league record. Although not a dirty game referee Willie Collum managed to book a total of eight players and award three penalties during the 90 minutes.

Nothing of consequence happened before Rovers were awarded a penalty when Kenny Wright was needlessly brought down at the side of the Arbroath penalty area by Pat Keogh. It was Wright who stepped up to the penalty spot and put Rovers ahead.

A Steve Bonar shot was hit wildly over shortly before Jamie McKenzie took a free-kick which 'keeper Scott Black punched high into the air. It fell to Iain Chisholm but his attempt failed.

Andy Gibson was leaning back when he fired towards the home goal, inevitably it was too high to trouble David Scott. A long range McKenzie shot too was off target before John McGeough had a cross cum shot palmed away by the visiting 'keeper.

In 33 minutes Roddy Hunter bagged his third goal in as many games for Rovers when he latched onto a cross to thump the ball into the roof of the Stranraer net. Within two minutes the visitors reduced the deficit to one as Ricky Gillies scored a penalty conceded when Chisholm brought down Bonar in the box.

It looked a decent bet Rovers would pull further ahead when Wright was through on goal but Scott Black dived at his feet to take the ball. Hunter had a shot saved following a corner before Barry Donald put in a well judged pass to Chisholm who ran down the wing, the resulting cross was cut out by the Stair Park 'keeper.

Half-Time

In 52 minutes the scores were level at 2-2 when Stranraer captain Pat Keogh hit a screamer from 35 yards which gave the 'keeper no chance whatsoever.

Wright was on the track to goal again when Black plucked the ball from his feet as he entered his box. Substitute Pat Walker tried his luck from 20 yards only for the ball to be a couple of feet too high.

Hunter hit a weak ball which failed to concern Black. As the game wound down to an expected share of the points a Rovers man went down in the box under circumstances which weren't entirely clear. With a couple of minutes remaining Rovers weren't complaining and Ciaran Donnelly was the scorer of the penalty which gave Rovers all three points.

Summary

A gritty performance from John McCormack's boys after the disappointment in midweek at Arbroath. Perhaps a Rovers win was an unfair reflection on the run of play but that's football and no team can afford to give away penalties.

Albion Rovers : Scott, Graeme Watson, Reid, Donnelly, Benton, Donald, Chisholm, McKenzie (Friel 78), Hunter, McGeough (Dimilta 76), Wright (Pat Walker 72). Subs Not Used : Peter Watson, Thompson.

Stranraer : Black, McKinstry, White, Kane, Keogh, McLaughlin, Tade, Bonar, Mullen (Cashmore 76), Gillies (McCusker 82), Gibson (Caddis 45). Subs Not Used : Mitchell, Ferguson.

Referee: W. Collum

Man of the Match : Kenny Wright

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