Elgin City 0 v 1 Albion Rovers 
Scottish Cup Round 1 Replay
24th November 2001
Elgin City 0 v 1 Albion Rovers
Scottish Cup Round 1 Replay
24th November 2001
Attendance : 640
Scorer ~ Albion Rovers : McLean (21)
Albion Rovers were certainly the Elgin marvels! Although that’s slightly overstating the influence the boys in yellow had over the game, there’s absolutely no doubt that they were the ones who deservedly earned the dubious pleasure of visiting Glebe Park in a couple of weeks to play Brechin City in the second round of the Tennents Scottish Cup.
Having failed to kill off the northern challenge last week at Cliftonhill, there was an obvious and visible determination about the way they set about City in this replay, and although missing a number of regulars through injury - most notably Jordan Smith - and suspension, those who did the job can be proud of their efforts. There was not a failure in Rovers’ line-up as they completed the job, albeit with a margin somewhat narrower than would have been desired.
With Paul Bonar looking in the mood and giving home goalkeeper Martin Pirie a couple of early touches, Rovers did all the early pressing and might have taken the lead in 11 minutes. A short pass-back was intercepted by the eager Martin Harty who rounded the ‘keeper and from the tightest of angles tried for goal. Unfortunately, the ball almost lazily ran along the goal line before hitting the far post and rebounding to the feet of a grateful defender.
Such was Rovers’ superiority that something had to give - and in 21 minutes, it did. Ryan McMullan, on the ground, managed to thread the ball through to Bonar whose pace allowed him to find the waiting Charlie McLean close to the near post. A clever instinctive flick by the in-form striker bamboozled the City defence and before they knew it, the ball was in the net. Five minutes later, McMullan robbed the shaky home ‘keeper and crossed to the empty net, but the offside flag was raised and the chance evaporated. Within minutes, a Bonar corner kick reached Todd Lumsden beyond the far post and although the defender missed his kick at the first attempt, he had time to regain his balance to fire for goal, the ball passing a yard the wrong side of the upright.
In the 36th minute there was a landmark moment - an attack by Elgin, virtually their first of the game, and although the shot by Russell McBride was strong enough, it flew straight into the arms of the hitherto seriously underemployed Chris Fahey. Then, just before the break, Elgin tried again, but when Connor Campbell’s cross reached the box, Fahey and Ian Gilzean collided before the ball was cleared.
Just two minutes into the second half, Stewart Easton tried a low shot which passed the wrong side of a post, then a City free-kick into the box was booted to safety by Bonar. Elgin were beginning to contribute more to the game at this stage and a 20-yard drive by substitute David Craig was too high. In a period of intense pressure, Rovers forced three corners in quick succession and from the third, Mark Booth fired a yard over the crossbar. In the 57th minute a spectacular diving header by Lumsden almost counted and soon afterwards a strong Rovers’ penalty claim was ignored by referee John Gilmour.
With fifteen minutes remaining, another Booth header was close and three minutes later City had probably their best chance of the match, lanky David Ross heading wide of the target when a goal looked odds-on. Within a minute, McLean almost made the win more comfortable, latching on to a long clearance and successfully lobbing the goalkeeper before watching the ball pass the wrong side of the goal. Towards the end of the game, Elgin gave themselves a bit of a shake, but they flattered to deceive and Rovers easily contained their generally weak threat.
This was a match which yielded not a single booking, although Mr Gilmour did exchange a few pleasantries with Messrs McVeigh and Smith in Rovers’ dug-out. There were a number of genuine contenders for Rovers’ best player, but Charlie McLean just shades it - not only for his goal, but also for his excellent work-rate up front.
Elgin City : Pirie, Hind, McBride, Furphy, MacDonald, Dlugonski, Ross, Campbell (Craig 46), Kelly (Morrison 84), Gilzean (McGlashan 71), Tully. Unused Subs : Macdonald, Rae.
Albion Rovers : Fahey, McKenna, Lumsden, Hamilton, Easton, Booth, Waldie, McMullan, McLean (Rankin 86), Harty (Silvestro 70; McCormick 90). Unused Subs : Struthers, Shearer.
Referee John Gilmour
Man of the Match : Charlie McLean
