Albion Rovers 5 v 1 East Stirlingshire 
Division 3
19th January 2002
Albion Rovers 5 v 1 East Stirlingshire
Division 3
19th January 2002
Attendance : 310
Scorers ~ Albion Rovers : McLean (7, 12, 82 pen). McKenzie (18, 29). East Stirlingshire : Ure (73).
They say the show’s not over ‘til the fat lady sings. Well, when Jamie McKenzie’s back post touch on a Charlie McLean cross saw the ball enter the Shire net for the fourth time, the buxom one could have inflated her lungs and let rip, for even as early as the 29th minute, the show was most definitely over.
Man of the day was undoubtedly on-form Charlie McLean, the hat-trick hero who followed up his great display against Livingston with another superb performance which rightfully earned him a second successive Man of the Match award. Having said that, midfielder Jamie McKenzie’s contribution was also splendid, his two excellent goals making things just so comfortable for the Cliftonhill side.
Rovers set to with a will and after dominating the early exchanges went ahead in only the 7th minute. McLean, although looking suspiciously offside, was allowed to collect a pass from midfield, take the ball round Shire ‘keeper David Hay and plank it into the empty net. Before a further sixty seconds had elapsed, Paul Bonar was out of luck with a superb free-kick which struck the base of a post. However, the eager yellow shirts were not to be denied, and in 12 minutes McLean did it once more. Again, he was in the clear running in on goal and although this time Hay dived at his feet and got a hand to the ball, the striker was able to regain control and curl a great left-foot shot in at the far post. Two ahead and brimming with confidence, Rovers could do virtually no wrong and in the 18th minute McKenzie, in front of goal, collected a pass. Although surrounded by defenders, deft footwork by the wee man gained him enough time and space to thump number three past Hay.
Then, during a period of relative calm, Shire’s Sean McAuley was booked for a foul before Rovers struck again. It was in 29 minutes, and McLean did well way out on the left before slinging a cross to the back post where McKenzie was waiting to steer the ball into the net. Four goals up and barely half an hour played; the Coatbridge faithful were scratching their heads as to when, if ever, such a feat had been achieved before. It was all a bit unbelievable, and after a Steve Hamilton drive had been punched clear by Hay, there was a distinct lull in the proceedings with Shire having a bit more say in things.
When the second half started in a torrential hailstorm, the hitherto unemployed Chris Fahey had to look sharp to deal with a strong Sean McAuley drive. At this stage, Shire seemed to have woken up and were playing some neat football, albeit without actually threatening to score. On the hour, McLean displayed good control on the edge of the area but his final shot went straight to Hay. The goalkeeper’s clearance eventually reached Brown Ferguson whose powerful drive clipped Fahey’s crossbar as it went over. Gregor McKechnie knocked a free-kick a couple of yards wide before at long last Shire had something to celebrate. In 73 minutes, a strong McKechnie shot was parried by Fahey and substitute Derek Ure was lying handy to rattle it into the net from close range.
This was never going to be any more than a consolation, and so it proved, with Rovers even having the last laugh. Eight minutes from the end, a great home move saw Stewart Easton racing into the Shire box where he was summarily grounded by McKechnie. Referee Thomson was quick to point to the spot and McLean thumped the ball cleanly behind Hay to set the seal on a day to remember.
Albion Rovers : Fahey, McKenna, Lumsden (Coulter 46), Hamilton, Easton, Booth, Waldie, McKenzie, McLean, McCormick (McMullan 78), Bonar (Murdoch 49). Unused Subs : Diack, Shearer.
East Stirlingshire : Hay, Ferguson, McDonald, Russell, Hall, McAuley (Ure 53), Maughan, D Todd (Lorimer 61), McKechnie, Gordon, Scott. Unused Subs : McGhee, McLaren, C Todd.
Referee : George Thomson.
Man of the Match : Charlie McLean
