Scorers ~ Albion Rovers : McLean (84), McKenzie (86). Elgin City : Hind (18), Gilzean (66).

So, it’s the Third Division for Rovers for at least another season. This draw against Elgin City, latterly exciting and honourable though it was, failed to secure enough points to prevent Dumbarton from moving upstairs. If the truth be told however, it was not Saturday’s game which was the cause, but the few silly results earlier in the season which did the damage.

Added to the on-field drama was the behind-the-scenes turmoil involving the eventual resignation of manager John McVeigh to take over at the helm of Stenhousemuir, that high-flying outfit of unlimited potential just relegated to the Third Division. However, that’s another story which will be dealt with elsewhere.

Rovers might have taken the lead before two minutes had been played. A Paul Bonar corner was met by the head of the leaping Todd Lumsden and if his header had been a couple of inches lower, well, what a start it would have been. As it was, the ball crashed off the crossbar and was booted clear. Rovers had the upper hand at this time and a long Steve Hamilton throw-in actually reached the back post without meeting the foot of friend or foe.

Cliftonhill was silenced in the 18th minute when, totally out of the blue, Elgin City took the lead. In a rare attack, the ball reached David Hind on the edge of the box and his excellent volley was bulging the net before anyone realised it. Rovers did fight back however, and although Iain Diack appeared to be fouled when boring in on goal, referee Ian Brines saw nothing amiss. Then Stewart Easton found Martin Harty on his own in front of goal but the final shot was weak and plopped tamely into the grateful arms of City ‘keeper Martin Pirie.

In the 37th minute, City might easily have gone further ahead but when Connor Campbell’s deep cross reach the back post, Michael Sanderson’s diving header flew high over the crossbar. Approaching the interval, Ryan McMullan replaced Bonar and Pirie made a good stop from a strong Diack cross. The same player had a chance a few minutes later, but could only hit a trundler straight at Pirie.

The second period started rather quietly and following Diack’s withdrawal to give Charlie McLean a run, Hamilton hit the side net and Campbell sclaffed a free-kick past at the other end. There was little to enthuse over until an Ian Gilzean 20 yarder clipped Chris Fahey’s crossbar, then, in 66 minutes, the home aspirations suffered another blow when Gilzean was allowed to head a Sanderson corner-kick into the net off the underside of the crossbar. Two down, and promotion receding even further into the darkest recesses of the mind. A few minutes later, it looked as if Rovers were bound to score, but Pirie pulled off great successive saves to deny McLean and McMullan.

Jamie McKenzie entered the field of battle at the expense of the tired Lumsden, who had a great game, before Tom Tait was on the spot to clear a Richard James shot off the line after Fahey had partially blocked the ball.

With only six minutes to go McLean gave the home support some hope when found the net with a superb overhead kick, and when McKenzie shot a fine goal within another two minutes, there was an excited buzz around Cliftonhill. Rovers applied the pressure in an effort to get the winner and even Chris Fahey came upfield to help his attack. Indeed , the ‘keeper fired in a strong drive which was netbound until it struck City defender Mike Teasdale. Even then, there was time for another go, but McMullan’s shot on the turn was just a yard too high.

An enthralling end to what might have been, but with events off the field making the headlines, the day was much more dramatic than might have been imagined.

The match had bookings for Rovers’ McLean and the visitors’ J MacDonald, S MacDonald, Campbell and Gilzean, the latter two for blatant time-wasting.

Albion Rovers : Fahey. McKenna, Lumsden (McKenzie 75), Tait, Easton, Harty, Waldie, Hamilton, Carr, Diack (McLean 51), Bonar (McMullan 39). Unused Subs : R Coulter, Shearer.

Elgin City : Pirie, Mailer, J MacDonald, Teasdale, S MacDonald, Tully, Campbell, Hind, James, Gilzean (McBride 89), Sanderson. Unused Subs : Bremner, Wilson, Smith, Rae.

Referee : Ian Brines