Albion Rovers 1 v 1 Elgin City 
Division 3
23rd November 2002
Albion Rovers 1 v 1 Elgin City
Division 3
23rd November 2002
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Attendance : 253
Scorers ~ Albion Rovers : Duncan (49). Elgin City : McMullan (83).
Waterlogged Elgin City travelled south and sank Rovers with the late equaliser which was a crushing disappointment to the Cliftonhill outfit - as well as a blow to the confidence and quite a setback to their promotion aspirations. The fact that the other divisional results were generally in Rovers’ favour is something of a saving grace, but Peter Hetherston’s lads should not have to be dependent on that factor.
Many times this season, they have proved that they are good enough to be producing their own successful results, but there are occasions when they seem to lack the killer touch - and this was one of them.
In the second half, Elgin had just two shots on target. Former Rover Ryan McMullan scored from one and Scott Shearer had to make a brilliant point-blank save to deny Davie Ross from the other. Conversely, Rovers peppered the City goal almost incessantly with only Lee Duncan’s splendid headed strike to show for all their efforts.
Rovers had Jim Mercer back after suspension, with James Coulter dropping down to a place on the bench.
Early Scare
There was a minor scare for the home lads after only four minutes when Andy Paterson and Jordan Smith got into a bit of a fankle, but Shearer was quickly out to deny McMullan and shortly afterwards, the name of City’s David Craig became an early entry in referee Allan’s book. In 19 minutes, Duncan took advantage of a defender slipping to bear in on Martin Pirie in the visitors’ goal, but his final shot slipped harmlessly out of play. Within a minute, the action had moved to the other end where Craig got the break of the ball and fired in an angled shot which was deflected for a corner. Once again, play moved immediately downfield where only an uncharacteristically poor first touch by Charles McLean allowed Pirie to foil the striker.
In the 27th minute, City’s Kevin Steele fired in a fine shot which Shearer was happy to turn for a corner, then Pirie, in his own box, caused a few northern hearts to flutter when he decided to dribble round Duncan. He managed it, but only just! With 35 minutes played, Rovers came within the proverbial whisker of taking the lead when Duncan crossed for Todd Lumsden to volley for goal, the ball crashing off the crossbar. It was a great attempt which deserved a better fate.
As the interval approached, the visitors came to life and a Craig shot was saved by Shearer before a splendid three-man move ended with McMullan shooting past.
Quick Goal
The second half was only four minutes old when Rovers took the lead. Kevin McAllister took a corner on the left and Duncan seemed to hang in the air waiting for the perfect moment to bullet the ball high into the net. In spite of this reverse, Elgin buckled down and Shearer had to look smart to boot clear from the dangerous Ross. Then McLean was again out of luck when he collected a forward pass and tried to lob Pirie. Unfortunately there was not enough elevation on the attempt and the ‘keeper got his fingertips to the ball and turn it aside. In 74 minutes, a sclaffed clearance by Pirie reached substitute John Bradford but the striker’s instinctive try for the empty goal was so poor that the ball ended up beside the corner flag. Only two minutes more had been played when the home faithful thought that the tally had been doubled. From yet another corner, a Duncan header was fumbled on the line by Pirie and in spite of claims that the ball was over, referee Allan and his Assistant decided that it wasn’t.
Rovers Rocked
With ten minutes remaining, McAllister made tracks on the right and fired over a perfect cross for Chris Silvestro, running in on his own. Silvio tried to kill the ball on his chest, but it bounced off too strongly and the grateful Pirie easily gathered. Rovers, although slightly nervous, were looking at this stage as if they would hang on for the points, but in 83 minutes that notion was shattered. The gangly Ross, out on the right, somehow managed to elude two defenders to send his cross into the middle and although McMullan didn’t seem to get a clear hit, he managed to beat Shearer at the near post. Two minutes later, things would have been worse for Rovers had Shearer not pulled off his superb save from Ross.
Rovers, as is their style, finished strongly and in 89 minutes were denied what looked like a reasonable penalty claim for a push in the box. There was to be no reprieve, however, and the Elgin bogey had struck again.
Albion Rovers : Shearer, Paterson (Diack 46), McCaig, Smith, Cormack, Lumsden (Coulter 60), McAllister, Silvestro, Duncan, McLean (Bradford 68), Mercer. Unused Subs : Weir, Fahey.
Elgin City : Pirie, MacDonald, McBride (Teasdale 68), Hind, MacKay (Grant 87), Tully, Ross, Love, McMullan, Steele, Craig. Unused Subs : Bremner, James, Taylor.
Referee : Crawford Allan
Man of the Match : Todd Lumsden
