Albion Rovers 2 v 1 Greenock Morton 
Division 3
5th April 2003
Albion Rovers 2 v 1 Greenock Morton
Division 3
5th April 2003
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Attendance : 1381
Scorers ~ Albion Rovers : Mercer (47), Yardley (90). Greenock Morton : McGregor (47).
"Folks have been asking me why we signed a veteran like Mark Yardley", said Rovers’ boss Peter Hetherston. "Well, they know now!"
Although this is the stuff from which football fiction is made, even such a superstar as Roy of the Rovers would have had difficulty in persuading readers of his adventures that such a script was possible, feasible or believable. But it was, it is and yes, it happened!
When big Yards stooped to head Rovers’ 90th minute winner, he sent the Rovers’ fans wild - and the Morton fans home with the longest faces since November when two late, late goals deprived them of the points. The feeling of deja vu amongst the visitors must have been almost unbearable as in horror they watched the drama unfold - again.
After the match, Greenock boss John McCormack was understandably less than chuffed at his side’s tardy capitulation. "Our defending was appalling - especially at that stage of the game", he moaned. "I had warned my players about the danger posed by Yardley, and yet he was the man who finally scuppered us."
With Charles McLean suspended after his dismissal in Tuesday night’s Reserve League Cup tie, Rovers gave young Chris Mackie a seat on the bench, while Morton were without the influential Marco Maisano.
Rovers certainly took the early initiative, but after a long throw from Chris Silvestro had passed harmlessly across the face of the visitors’ goal, Scott Bannerman shot high over at the other end. In the 16th minute, Morton’s Eddie Annand became the first booking of the day and John Bradford had a "goal" chalked off for hand ball. Referee Gilmour’s book was again flourished when visitor Chris Miller and home captain Jim Mercer both saw yellow.
Rovers Go Ahead
Mercer was again in the limelight two minutes later. This time however, it was for the best of reasons - a goal. In yet another home attack, Bradford knocked the ball down to Mercer who from about eight yards out thumped it into the roof of the net behind the helpless Craig Coyle. It was a fine goal and no more than Rovers deserved at that stage.
For the rest of the first half, it was Rovers who virtually ran the show, with Morton being very disappointing, especially up front. Two minutes from the whistle, David McGregor became the third Morton player to be booked.
Within a couple of minutes of the restart, McGregor made amends for his booking when he was on the spot to meet a Chris Miller corner kick and send the ball low under Scott Shearer into the net. Now we had a game on our hands! Paul Gaughan was yellow-carded to take the visiting crime count to four before Coyle took two attempts to smother a Jered Stirling free kick.
Bannerman again blasted high over for Morton before a splendid run by Bradford ended in frustration when his final good shot hit a defender and was cleared. Bannerman again failed to find the target and between substitutions which introduced Diack and Paterson for McAllister and Dick, Yardley had a chance inside the box. However, the bouncing ball wouldn’t play the game and the chance was gone. Then Bannerman’s miserable day was compounded when he contrived to get himself booked.
So, we were heading for the draw which would do neither team much good, and we were actually into added-on time when Yardley struck. Victory was ours, and there was some sort of justice in that it was big Yards - the man hated by Morton fans since he all too often sunk them when playing for St. Mirren - who struck the killer blow. Three goals in three games equals nine valuable points. Who could ask for more?
All Rovers were heroes in this one, but once again top billing is shared by Kevin McAllister, Todd Lumsden and Chris Silvestro with he latter’s just earning the accolade.
Albion Rovers : Shearer, Dick (Paterson 82), Stirling, Smith, Cormack, Lumsden, McAllister (Diack 76), Silvestro, Yardley (McCaig 90), Bradford, Mercer. Unused Subs : Mackie, Fahey.
Greenock Morton : Coyle, Collins, Dale, McGregor, Gaughan, Maisano (Uotinen 46), Miller, Bannerman, Williams (Cannie 46), Adam, Annand. Unused Subs : Hawke, Henderson, McGurn.
Referee : John Gilmour
Man of the Match : Chris Silvestro
