Albion Rovers 4 v 4 Elgin City 
Division 3
26th February 2002
Albion Rovers 4 v 4 Elgin City
Division 3
26th February 2002
Attendance : 249
Scorers ~ Albion Rovers : Diack (18, 35 pen), Smith (31), McLean (78). Elgin City : Ross (48), MacKay (55 pen), Kelly (79), Tully (84).
An eight goal thriller? Don’t you believe it! This was anything but a thrilling spectacle for Rovers’ fans as they watched the first half heroes disintegrate into a bunch of virtual nonentities in the face of City’s splendid fight back. Having said that, it was only some "Mickey Mouse" defending (comment courtesy of John McVeigh) and an inexplicable penalty award which turned what was a stroll in the dark into the nightmare on Albion Street.
The first half display by the yellow-shirted lads was possibly the best of the season as their overall appetite and incisive passing had the visitors all at sea, and the three goals to their credit were no more than they deserved at that stage. We looked forward to the second period with keen anticipation, but that lasted for precisely three minutes until Elgin scored to reduce the deficit. From then on things steadily deteriorated with only Charlie McLean’s excellent goal to lift the spirits.
After Robert Coulter powered an early header inches wide of a post and brilliant play by Iain Diack went unrewarded, the striker scored his fourth goal of the season. Excellent work by Gerry McKenna out on the left gained him space to send over a low cross which Diack swept home from close range. Rovers continued to dominate, but it was not until the 31st minute that the second goal arrived. This time, Jamie McKenzie sent in a deep cross, McLean did well with an overhead kick and Jordan Smith found the net, again from close range.
When, just four minutes later, Elgin ‘keeper Michael Rae impeded McLean in the area and Diack confidently smashed the spot-kick into the net, Rovers were home and dry. Or so we thought!
Even when gangling David Ross netted in the 48th minute, it was never going to be too important. Again, how wrong we were! Seven minutes later, referee Colin Hardie - never a favourite with the Cliftonhill aficionados - saw something that no one else did. To the astonishment of everyone, including the grateful Elgin players, he awarded a penalty, booking Smith for an alleged pushing offence. Steven MacKay needed no persuasion however, and thumped the penalty behind Scott Shearer. However unjust the award, the question remains - why was the Elgin goalkeeper not booked for the challenge which led to Rovers’ penalty?
City, now with their tails up, began to take control of things and all too often Rovers were left chasing shadows. Nevertheless, Mark Booth was desperately unlucky in 64 minutes when his splendid drive crashed off a post, Robert Coulter hitting the rebound wide. City fought back and were twice out of luck when Connor Campbell and Russell McBride saw efforts strike the crossbar.
Then, against the run of play, Rovers extended the lead in 78 minutes. A long ball from the back found McLean in space wide on the right and with no defenders around, ‘keeper Rae opted to visit pastures new in an attempt to deny the striker. Charlie, however, was having none of it and from near the corner of the box struck a beautifully judged shot into the unguarded net. A peach of a goal, and one which - given the time - would surely seal the win. Surely we couldn’t be wrong this time? Oh, yes we could! Hardly had the game been restarted when City’s Jonathan Kelly found himself in front of goal. Although there were two defenders in front of him, they footered about and he was able to poke the ball past them and the bamboozled Shearer for number three. Rovers were grimly hanging on to their single goal advantage but that, too, evaporated after City were awarded a free-kick about 35 yards out. Craig Tully decided not to wait for the referee’s whistle and quickly lobbed the ball over the stranded and shamefaced Shearer for a stunning equaliser. Referees really must decide whether or not to make players wait until given permission to take such kicks. It must be one or the other - they can’t have it both ways. In spite of home appeals that the kick was taken too soon, the goal stood and astonishingly, City were on level terms.
Charlie McLean had the final attempt when he headed over in the final minute, but shell-shocked Rovers were left pondering just how this reversal of fortunes could have happened.
Albion Rovers : Shearer, Smith, R Coulter, Hamilton, Easton, Booth, Waldie, McKenzie (Carr 74), McLean, Diack, McKenna. Unused Subs : Tait, Lumsden, Struthers, Fahey.
Elgin City : Rae, Hind (Mailer 39), McBride D McKay, S McDonald, Tully, Ross, Kelly, Gilzean (Campbell 46), Dlugonski (D Craig 46), S MacKay. Unused Subs : J MacDonald, Watt.
Referee : Colin Hardie.
Man of the Match : Ian Diack
