Berwick Rangers 0 v 3 Albion Rovers

Attendance : 288

Scorers ~ Albion Rovers : Harris (17, 73), Barr (71).

For the third match running Albion Rovers won and for the third match running Ross Harris scored with a spectacular 30 yarder and also for the third time this season Rovers defeated Berwick Rangers.

The match started quietly, then in seven minutes Harris embarked on a run up the wing crossing to Ciaran Donnelly who elected not to shoot immediately. His eventual shot was snuffed out as soon as it was made and an Alan Reid follow-up was well over the bar.

Ten minutes later Bobby Barr crossed the ball into the Berwick box for Harris to ram home from close range. Then the home side made a rare assault on Rovers goal when Craig Anderson rattled the crossbar from 25 yards.

Harris and Barr combined once more with the latter having an attempt which failed to bother 'keeper Ryan McGurk. Stuart Callaghan squandered a chance when he hit a free-kick from 25 yards too high to engage Chris McCluskey. Berwick then enjoyed a brief period of possession but failed to capitalise on it due to incompetent passing.

Rovers took control and were passing the ball almost unhindered by the Wee Gers defence. One such move had a Michael McGowan frontal assault on goal which ended when McGurk tipped the resulting shot over his bar. On the stroke of half-time Steve Canning was on the receiving end of a quality passing move involving Barr and Harris, his attempt came close.

Half-Time

Berwick started the second period somewhat physically, on-loan Airdrie United player Chris McMenamin being booked for a virtual assault on Barr. The Cliftonhill fans favourite was obviously struggling after the foul but this failed to prevent him running in from the side of the park and firing what turned out to be a near miss.

Next up was Tommy Coyne who ran in from the corner beating numerous challenges to give the ball to Barr whose shot was blocked. The homesters then enjoyed a brief spell of possession and Rovers gave travelling fans a fright with a less than perfect back pass.

Robbie Horn and McGowan were both booked by the referee for wrestling on the ground. Anderson tested McCluskey from 20 yards out, the ball being tipped over the Rovers crossbar.

Rovers came close to increasing their lead when Donnelly struck a trundler downhill past McGurk near the edge of his area but John Dillon managed to reach the ball a couple of feet from the goal-line.

In 71 minutes just as visiting fans wondered why Rovers weren't further ahead Barr fired into the net off the foot of a goalpost following a corner. A couple of minutes later it was three for Rovers when Harris hit a dipping shot from 30 yards which went in off the post. This was his third such long range strike in three matches, the first of which came at the same venue in the Scottish Cup.

Substitute Marc Pollock wanted to show he had something to contribute as he outpaced the Borderers defence puting in a low shot which the 'keeper got a foot to 15 yards from goal to prevent a worsening of the deficit.

Harris then provided substitute Graeme Eaglesham with an opportunity but McGurk was there to save. The 'keeper then stopped a Pollock strike from within his six yard box.

McCluskey was called into action one last time in 86 minutes when he saved a strong drive. Pollock having a weak effort stopped then Alan Benton ending a cross field run with a brilliantly timed tackle on Robertson who was in space on the near side ended the match.

Summary

A sublime performance by Albion Rovers extending to four their unbeaten run and to three victories in a row. Paul Martin will be looking to continue the run next Saturday when Annan Athletic visit Coatbridge for the first time. 

Berwick Rangers : McGurk, Guy (Grant 45), Dillon, Ewart, Horn, Callaghan (David Greenhill 69), McMenamin, Craig Anderson, McLaren, Robertson, McMahon (Lennox 76). Subs Not Used : Chris Anderson, Lunn.

Albion Rovers : McCluskey, Reid, McGowan (Ferry 82), Donnelly, Benton, Lumsden, Harris, Coyne (Pollock 67), Canning, Barr (Eaglesham 76), Adam. Subs Not Used : Robert Walker, Mitchell.

Referee : Stevie Nicholls

Man of the Match - Ross Harris

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