Albion Rovers 1 v 4 Airdrieonians 
Challenge Cup Round 2
14th August 2001
Albion Rovers 1 v 4 Airdrieonians
Challenge Cup Round 2
14th August 2001
Attendance : 1023
Scorers : Albion Rovers : Bonar (66). Airdrie : Taylor (35), Roberts (45), Coyle (65), James (88).
The most astonishing statistic emerging from this Challenge Cup second-round match is that in the ninety minutes, Rovers and Airdrie both had five shots on target. Relate that to the final score and it will be patently clear where the difference between the teams lies. Having said that, Rovers will undoubtedly take great credit from this showing because they matched their higher division opponents in every way for long periods. Nevertheless, it’s goals that count and the Name of Airdrie will be in tomorrow’s draw for the quarter finals.
Rovers - with Scott Shearer, Todd Lumsden, Chris Silvestro and David Carr in the starting eleven - started brightly and in only the 4th minute Paul Bonar screwed wide from good position, then a tempting free kick into the box by Jered Stirling was just out of reach of the lunging Tommy Tait. Things were looking good for Rovers at this stage and in 12 minutes they came within a whisker of taking the lead. A corner by Stirling was headed goalwards by young David Carr, and if Anthony Smith had not been on the spot to clear off the line, Cliftonhill would have been celebrating.
It was not all Rovers however, and Airdrie had a chance in 17 minutes when Owen Coyle’s free kick from the edge of the box was diverted for a corner, then Craig McPherson drove strongly for goal, but Shearer did well to block his attempt. With 33 minutes on the clock, Colin Waldie beat Airdrie ‘keeper Neil Bennett to a ball on the edge of the area and fired for goal from an angle which proved to be just too acute. Two minutes later, Airdrie took the lead when Coyle, although seemingly impeded in the box, managed to pass to Stuart Taylor who slammed the ball high into the net from about six yards.
With the half-time whistle imminent, the Diamonds did it again, this time in a most bizarre fashion. A long clearance from Bennett carried all the way into Rovers’ area and when Jordan Smith slipped at the vital moment, Mark Roberts tucked number two behind Shearer.
After twenty fairly unremarkable second-half minutes, Airdrie broke upfield and tasted success once again when an excellent diagonal pass from Roberts found Coyle on the right. The veteran took a couple of steps forward and lashed a fierce grounder into the far corner of the net. From the restart, Rovers stunned everyone by immediately cancelling out that last strike. Paul Bonar, far out on the left about forty yards from goal, struck a beauty which simply flew past the static Bennett. Could this be the revival to end all revivals? Unfortunately it was not to be, for although the spirit was willing the finishing was weak and when the lanky Kevin James casually nodded number four past Shearer with only two minutes left to play, well, the ba’ was on the slates.
All in all, Rovers played very well against their more illustrious opponents and if they can translate these skills into successes against Third Division opposition, then who knows what they might achieve.
Albion Rovers : Shearer, Lumsden (Booth 64), Stirling, Smith Tait, Silvestro, Waldie, Hamilton, McMullan, Carr (McLean 70), Bonar. Unused : Easton, Harty, Fahey.
Airdrie : Bennett, Armstrong, McPherson, Stewart, McManus, James, Taylor (Docherty 68), McFarlane, Coyle, Smith (Beesley 52), Roberts (McDonald 77). Unused : MacDonald
Referee : John Underhill
Man of the Match : Paul Bonar
