Brechin City 0 v 0 Albion Rovers 
Division 3
12th January 2002
Brechin City 0 v 0 Albion Rovers
Division 3
12th January 2002
Attendance : 457
For the second time in a month, Albion Rovers took on the runaway league leaders on their own patch and returned without having conceded a goal. Although on this occasion it meant only a share of the spoils, it was nevertheless another good performance which beat the odds and confounded the experts.
Having somewhat unexpectedly lost to Rovers in the December cup-tie, City were obviously out for revenge, but John McVeigh’s lads - well aware of this extra dimension to the match - turned in a fine showing, especially at the back where there was good understanding between the players. If the front-runners were less effective, it has to be remembered that they were up against an experienced defence marshalled by the wily Harry Cairney. The statistics will show that nine players were booked and that there were just too many fouls, but it was never a dirty game and if referee Alan Gemmill had shown a little more tolerance, well, it would have helped keep the crime-count down as well as keep the play flowing.
Rovers began strongly and neat footwork by Charlie McLean near the right goal-line saw him lay the ball off to Steve McCormick who, leaning back, could only scoop the half-chance over the crossbar. There was a controversial moment in the 7th minute when home goalkeeper Mark Cairns raced out of his area to challenge the onrushing McLean. As a result of the collision, the striker crashed to the turf and Cairns was yellow-carded when a red may have been the correct punishment. Paul Bonar fired a free-kick a couple of yards over the crossbar then Rovers had an escape when the gangling Chris Templeman smacked a shot off the base of a post. Chris Fahey then saved well from Charlie King and shortly afterwards the ‘keeper did well to punch a Kevin Fotheringham lob to safety.
With the half hour approaching, Mark Booth embarked upon a superb solo run which came to naught, then Stewart Easton had the dishonour of being the first to have his name entered in Mr Gemmill’s little black book. A fierce Booth free-kick then just missed by inches before City’s Greg Miller saw yellow. In the closing moments of the first half, Chris Fahey again earned his corn with a save from Miller and another punch to clear a dangerous Fotheringham cross.
Within seconds of the restart, Booth made another forcing run right into the heart of the home rearguard and appeared to be dumped on his bottom by two defenders. Unfortunately however, the referee saw nothing amiss and play continued. After manager John McVeigh had been spoken to by Mr Gemmill, bookings and substitutions served to further break-up the flow. Rovers’ Steve McCormick and Jamie McKenzie plus Brechin’s Barry Donachie were asked for their particulars, then McLean and McKenzie were replaced by McMullan and new boy Scott Murdoch respectively.
At this stage, there’s no doubt that the ascendancy lay with City and an excellent Fotheringham drive flew dangerously close to the target. Debutante Murdoch was booked for an injudicious lunge, then Fahey was called upon to make one last good save, flopping on the ground to clutch an awkward header.
Brechin City : Cairns, Donachie, Fotheringham, Bain (Riley 62), Cairney, J Smith, King, Miller, Grant, Templeman (Leask 71), Black (Honeyman 81). Unused Subs : D Smith, McKeown.
Albion Rovers : Fahey, McKenna, Lumsden, Hamilton, Easton, Booth, Waldie, McKenzie (Murdoch 68), McLean (McMullan 68), McCormick (Diack 85), Bonar. Unused Subs : Burrows, Shearer.
Referee : Alan Gemmill
Man of the Match : Mark Booth
