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Lossiemouth 0 v 2 Albion Rovers |  |
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Lossiemouth 0 v 2 Albion Rovers | |
| Active Nation Scottish Cup 2nd Round 24th October 2009 |
Attendance : 186
Scorers ~ Albion Rovers : Barr (5 Pen), Walker (85).
Albion Rovers made the near 400 roundtrip
to face Highland League outfit Lossiemouth in the Scottish Cup knowing they
faced a potential banana skin. They didn't slip up and made a little piece of
history as this season is the first that Rovers have won all their opening
matches in the three cup competitions.
The last time they won each opening cup game was in the 1988-1989 season when
there only were the league cup and the Scottish cups. In that year they won the
league cup match on pens and the Scottish Cup match after a replay. This was the
season in which they went on to win the second division championship!
Wet and windy conditions didn't help the sides play quality football.
Craig Masterton was in goals for the home side having reportedly only having signed the night before to solve a goalkeeping crisis. It took just five minutes for Rovers to put the ball past him, Chris Boyle was brought downed in the Lossiemouth penalty area and Bobby Barr was the man who put it into the net from the penalty spot.
Martin McMullan was first of the Coasters men to try his luck but he struck the ball too high and Derek Gaston appeared to have it covered in any case. Kevin Flett had a chance spoiled when Alan Benton blocked his attempt.
Barr then hit a high ball after a Boyle corner reached him with help of intermediaries. Once more Barr had a go only for it to be deflected past the post.
Half-Time
Marc Pollock showed willing early into the second period with a shot from the far side caught by Masterton. Barr then set up Paul Tyrrell only for the midfielders attempt to be blocked by Kevin Stuart. Barr them took a free-kick which Boyle chested down for Pat Walker who put it over the Lossiemouth crossbar.
A Boyle corner was headed off the crossbar by Tyrrell shortly followed by a Boyle ball finding Pollock but the cross failed to find a man in yellow. Defender Alan Reid found himself in a position to strike a low drive which proved marginally wide as Masterton got a touch on it.
Boyle was again to the fore when he made a crucial tackle then not long after hit a free-kick that the 'keeper stopped. A long move involving numerous Coatbridge men ended with Tyrrell having his shot blocked.
With five minutes remaining a Pollock cross found Walker in front of goal and he thumped it high into the net from close-range. A Nikki Smith sot failed to trouble Derek Gaston before play switched ends and Walker tried a cheeky chip over the Lossie 'keeper from a tight angle which missed the goal by inches.
With time fast running out Barr shot over from 25 yards, Garry MacDonald headed over a ball received from a corner and deep into injury time a Barr run fizzled out as it neared the Lossiemouth goal.
Summary
A decent performance in awkward climactic conditions by Rovers who now go into the hat for the third round draw when some of the bigger teams enter the competition. Derek Gaston had an easy time of it although his opposite number wasn't troubled as much as gaffer Paul Martin would have ideally liked.
Lossiemouth : Masterton, Sim , Flett, Kevin Stuart, Milton, McMullen, Anthony Ross (Macdonald 57), Urquhart, Scott, Nikki Smith, Main. Subs Not Used : Donaldson, Sean McIntosh, Dan Smith, McKendrick.
Albion Rovers : Gaston, Reid, McGowan, Canning (McKeown 25), Benton, O'Byrne, Boyle, Tyrrell, Barr, Walker, Pollock. Subs Not Used : Ferry, Stewart, Ewings, O'Boyle.
Referee : Neil Watters
Man of the Match - Bobby Barr
