Albion Rovers 2 v 1 East Fife 
Division 3
13th April 2002
Albion Rovers 2 v 1 East Fife
Division 3
13th April 2002
Attendance : 442
Scorers ~ Albion Rovers : Carr (27), Diack (85 pen). East Fife : Cunningham (43).
A bit too close for comfort. That seemed to be the general consensus of opinion around Cliftonhill after this important win which extended Rovers’ unbeaten run to eight matches and ensured their continued interest in the Third Division promotion battle.
Rovers were the better organised outfit for most of the match, but they seemed to lack much of the verve which gained them the points at Peterhead, and if the Fifers had been capable of inflicting damage, then the final outcome might well have been different. As it was however, the 85th minute penalty was probably just reward for all the previous huffing and puffing, and with only two matches to play, well, the nerves will soon be shredding!
Although Rovers did most of the initial probing, it was the Fifers’ James Herkes who caused the first flutter when in the 8th minute he opted to test Chris Fahey from about 20 yards but the shot flew straight into the ‘keeper’s arms. Within a minute, play raced to the other end and although David Carr’s pass to Ryan McMullan was perfectly weighted, the wee striker dallied slightly and was dispossessed. A few minutes later, the visitors threatened when Fahey had to race from his goal to beat Herkes to a through ball, then defender John Thomson headed over from a corner.
The goal which gave Rovers the lead came slightly out of the blue. Todd Lumsden found Carr on the left with a good ball and although the youngster drifted wide, he managed to send in the angled shot which gave him his first goal for the club put his side into the lead. Just after the half hour, a great home move involving four players ended with Martin Harty firing over from the edge of the box. Then Paul Mortimer, in space, collected a corner from the right but fired past the post. Carr then headed over from close range and a brilliant lung-bursting run by Steve Hamilton saw him pass to McMullan whose low shot was saved by Ross Godfrey. Just as it looked as if Rovers would enjoy their half-time cuppa, the visitors struck. Although they were around Rovers’ goal in numbers, there didn’t look to be too much danger until James Allan found the lurking Grant Cunningham, and the big man’s daisy-cutter of a drive whistled into the home net.
The second period turned out to much more in Rovers’ control and after Stewart Easton had demonstrated the typical defender’s attempt at goal, ie high over, the same player confounded the critics by firing in a bobby-dazzler which was just an inch or two too high and smashed off the crossbar. Once more Chris Fahey was forced to leave his charge to deny James Allan before Jordan Smith headed over and Carr sent over a great cross which Godfrey dived to cut out before it could get to substitute Charlie McLean.
Five minutes remaining and with the promotion dream receding, Rovers got the break which all successful teams need from time to time. Substitute Ian Diack, a 72nd minute replacement for Steve McCormick, ran into the area to collect a pass and was bundled to the ground by John Ovenstone - ironically only in the side because of former Rover John Gallagher’s red-carding the previous week. Diack himself elected to take the responsibility and carefully stuck the spot-kick behind Godfrey. There was no way back for the Fifers and Rovers celebrated what yet might be the gaining of three precious points.
Albion Rovers : Fahey, McKenna, Lumsden, Smith (McKenzie 82), Easton, McMullan (McLean 56), Waldie, Hamilton, Carr, McCormick (Diack 72), Harty. Unused Subs : R Coulter, Shearer.
East Fife : Godfrey, Wilson, Ovenstone, Oliver, Thomson, Cunningham, Nairn (Gilbert 32), Mortimer, Lofting (Bailey 70), Herkes, Allan. Unused Subs : Brown, McManus, McGovern.
Referee : Brian Cassidy.
Men of the Match : Todd Lumsden & David Carr
