Elgin City 0 v 1 Albion Rovers 
Division 3
22nd March 2003
Elgin City 0 v 1 Albion Rovers
Division 3
22nd March 2003
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Attendance : 333
Scorer ~ Albion Rovers : Yardley (65)
Albion Rovers took the measured approach in this one as Yards’ foot inched them to the narrow, but thoroughly merited win which keeps them firmly in the promotion hunt. Although in command throughout, Rovers did not actually create too many scoring chances and were latterly grateful to the former St. Mirren hit-man for the splendid strike which gained the points.
Peter Hetherston’s lads surged forward from the start and home ‘keeper Peter Hamilton did well to deny the waiting Chris Silvestro by clutching a deep cross at the back post. The visitors then forced two quick corner kicks which were cleared before Kevin McAllister’s shot was easily saved by the goalkeeper.
Rovers’ forward passes were all too often a shade overhit and on more than one occasion, the deceptively stiff breeze carried the ball beyond the waiting strikers. Nevertheless, the lads in red and yellow always looked the more likely to score and they came close in 33 minutes when a good move involving McAllister, Jim Dick and John Bradford ended with the latter volleying just over the crossbar. Two minutes later, a nice cross by Silvestro was met by Yardley, but the big man’s header just skimmed the crossbar.
With only a minute to go to the interval, Elgin, in a rare attack, came within inches of shocking their guests when a free-kick was misjudged at the back and former Cliftonhill favourite Ryan McMullan’s shot skipped past a post.
Only four minutes of the second half had elapsed when Bradford made a little space on the right and fired for goal, the ball being blocked at the last moment. Then Jered Stirling got in on the act when his rising drive was touched over for a corner. Rovers’ Jordan Smith earned himself a yellow card for a rash tackle on City’s Kevin Steele who had to be replaced by Richard James.
With Rovers still on top but having great difficulty in breaching the tight home rearguard, it looked as if it was going to be yet another frustrating day. However, in 65 minutes, Yardley latched on to a loose ball in the box, wheeled and drove a low shot into the far corner of the net. Rovers’ relief was self-evident and the visiting fans cheered lustily. Shortly afterwards, Yardley again came close before Iain Diack and Andy Paterson replaced Bradford and Silvestro respectively.
With almost his first touch, Diack was sent boring in on goal and although under a bit of pressure from defenders, he really ought to have netted instead of shooting past. In 77 minutes, a Stirling cross almost found Diack, but the striker seemed to have been pushed away from the point of contact. "No penalty", said referee Garry Mitchell, and play continued.
Quite frankly, after they scored, Rovers were never in any real danger of losing a goal to a very poor Elgin side and although the final margin was slender, it was enough.
Elgin City : Hamilton, Grant, Gallagher, Hind, MacKay, Tully, Bremner, Campbell, McMullan, Steele (James 53), Sanderson. Unused Subs : Smith, Davidson, McGregor, Ross.
Albion Rovers : Shearer, Dick, Stirling, Smith, Cormack, McCaig, McAllister, Silvestro (Paterson 71), Yardley (McLean 86), Bradford (Diack 69), Mercer. Unused Subs : McCaul, Fahey.
Referee : Garry Mitchell.
Man of the Match : Jim Dick
