East Fife 2 v 3 Albion Rovers 
Division 3
12th February 2002
East Fife 2 v 3 Albion Rovers
Division 3
12th February 2002
Attendance : 301
Scorers ~ East Fife : Gallagher (65 pen), Herkes (81). Albion Rovers : Diack (13), Harty (76, 84).
Goal hero Martin Harty played just 22 minutes of this match at rain-lashed New Bayview, but in that short time he scored twice to earn his side the valuable win which once again pushes them into the promotion race.
After the disappointment of Saturday’s defeat at Montrose, manager John McVeigh bolstered his defence with the inclusion of Jordan Smith, with Gerry McKenna moving to a more forward role in place of the injured Paul Bonar.
The first few minutes of action were quite unremarkable, with the Fifers probably just shading things and forcing Scott Shearer in Rovers’ goal to make a good save from Paul McManus in seven minutes. However, it was Rovers who lit the fuse with a simple-looking 13th minute strike. Charlie McLean collected the ball on the right and raced almost to the limit before firing over a slide-rule cross to the waiting Iain Diack who had the simple task of diverting it into the net.
East Fife, though obviously shocked, nevertheless continued to have the lion’s share of possession and around the 20 minutes mark Lee bailey fired in a strong 25-yarder which Shearer saved well. Within another minute, McManus again tried his luck with a fierce low drive, but again Shearer denied him, diving to his left to turn the ball for a corner. In 31 minutes a splendid through-ball by Mark Booth found McKenna on the left, but his final shot slipped just past the far post. A few minutes later, Booth was unlucky to be booked for what looked to be a clean tackle; a booking which means he is likely to miss three matches at the end of the month.
The Fifers’ Keith Gibson was next to have a go at reducing the leeway, but once again Shearer was well positioned and touched the 30-yard effort over the top. With just five minutes remaining until the interval, the Fifers broke clear on the right and it took a great block by captain Steve Hamilton to prevent James Allan’s cross reaching the danger area.
Five minutes into the second half, Allan shot past from reasonable position, then McKenna tried a lob cum shot which was too high. After Ryan McMullan had replaced Robert Coulter, East Fife regained equality in the 65th minute. Referee Charlie Richmond considered that Hamilton had impeded James Herkes and former Rover John Gallagher competently stuck the spot-kick behind Shearer. Rovers then made the substitution which was destined to make the headlines, with Martin Harty replacing the tired Iain Diack who had run his heart out for the cause.
Shortly after McKenna became the second yellow-card villain of the night, Rovers again nosed ahead. McLean took off down the left and cut in, only for his final shot to be blocked by home ‘keeper Ross Godfrey. However, the ball broke kindly for Rovers and the alert Harty gleefully slammed it into the net to restore the lead. The match was now quite enthralling and in 81 minutes East Fife seemed to have salvaged a point when after Shearer had brilliantly blocked a drive, the ball rebounded to Herkes who drove it into the net off the underside of the crossbar.
Rovers were not done however, and pressed forward yet again. In a crowded box, a blocked Jamie McKenzie shot fell at Harty’s feet and the substitute fired the winner through the proverbial forest of legs. There was no way back for East Fife, and Rovers had the points in the bag.
East Fife : Godfrey, Wilson, Gallagher, Munro (Ovenstone 78), Mortimer, Cunningham, Herkes, Bailey, McManus, Gibson, Allan. Unused Subs : Miller, Lofting, Nairn, McGovern.
Albion Rovers : Shearer, Smith, Coulter (McMullan 57), Hamilton, Easton, Booth, Waldie, McKenzie, McLean (Rankin 89), Diack (Harty 68), McKenna. Unused Subs : Struthers, Fahey.
Referee : Charlie Richmond.
Man of the Match : Scott Shearer
