Albion Rovers 0 v 1 Hamilton Academical 
CIS Cup Round 1
7th September 2002
Albion Rovers 0 v 1 Hamilton Academical
CIS Cup Round 1
7th September 2002
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Attendance : 520
Scorer ~ Hamilton : Callaghan (67 Pen.)
"The only way Hamilton were ever going to win this game was from a set-piece or a penalty - and that’s exactly what happened". So said Rovers’ boss Peter Hetherston after watching his lads being turfed out of the CIS Cup by Lanarkshire rivals Accies, and finishing with nine men for the second successive Saturday. "Although they play in the Second Division, I felt we matched them all the way", said a bitterly disappointed Silky, who was at a loss to understand how he could have seen four men red-carded in games which he felt were nothing out of the ordinary in terms of aggression and commitment.
The gaffer went on to pay tribute to his under-fire goalkeeper Scott Shearer who, following something of a nightmare last week, turned in a great performance of safe handling and confident kicking.
Although under a bit of pressure during the opening period, Rovers visibly grew in confidence and might have taken what would have been a surprise lead after 7 minutes when Charles McLean took advantage of a defensive slip to fire over a good cross which just eluded the foot of John Bradford waiting in front of goal. Accies were huffing and puffing in midfield, but a Rovers’ free-kick from Peter Cormack was blocked in the box and his try from the rebound was saved by Graham Potter in the visitors’ goal. After McLean and Accies’ Brian McPhee had come close, the visitors’ Martin Bonnar was put in the clear inside the area and looked odds-on to score, but Shearer advanced to make a brilliant stop by palming the ball away. A few minutes later, Potter was injured in a concerted home attack and lasted for only five more minutes before he had to be replaced by Ian Macfarlane.
With the interval almost upon us, McLean broke through on the right but at the crucial moment sliced the ball well wide of the intended destination. Shearer was again instrumental in saving Rovers when twice in quick succession he stretched to touch goal-bound shots over his crossbar.
Within seconds of the restart, a Chris Silvestro cross was cleared out to Craig Stevenson whose powerful drive was turned for a corner by Macfarlane. Rovers were certainly on top of things at this stage. but the best two chances came at the other end when McPhee and Stuart Callaghan came close.
Midway through the second half, Rovers were stunned when referee George Clyde awarded a penalty for a push on Gareth Anderson. Callaghan stepped up and clinically beat Shearer by firing straight down the middle as the ‘keeper opted to go right. Peter Cormack seemingly advised the referee that he might have got things wrong, and was booked for his trouble, as was Bradford for a foul. In 72 minutes, Rovers claimed a penalty when Jim Mercer was caught from behind, but Mr Clyde waved play on and five minutes later we had the first sighting of the middleman’s red card. Silvestro launched a two-foot tackle at Bonnar who took not very kindly to the assault and attempted to exact his own brand of retribution. When the resultant melee had dispersed, both antagonists were summarily shown the dreaded colour and left the arena.
With Rovers pushing forward in search of the equaliser which seemed well within their capabilities, Accies were under a bit of pressure. However, with only a minute left to play, the Coatbridge lads were dealt a further devastating blow when Jim Mercer was given his marching orders for apparent use of an elbow or arm while attempting to disrupt a defensive wall. As pushing, shoving and general mayhem had been going on in such situations since the first whistle, the big man may be deemed unfortunate to be punished at such an advanced stage of the game. In an unrelated incident, scorer Callaghan was booked at the same time.
So, the CIS cup is over for another season, but Rovers can be fairly pleased with their showing which saw them bounce back from the huge disappointment of the East Fife performance and result.
Albion Rovers : Shearer, Stevenson (Carr 82), McCaig, Smith, Cormack, Lumsden, McAllister (Dick 64), Silvestro, Bradford, McLean (Duncan 64), Mercer. Unused Subs : Coulter, Fahey.
Hamilton Accies : Potter (Macfarlane 40), Graham, Sherry, Dobbins, Sweeney, Smillie, Bonnar, Walker (Cunningham 64), Armstrong (McDonald 82), McPhee, Callaghan. Unused Subs : Nelson, Hillcoat.
Referee : George Clyde.
Man of the Match : Scott Shearer
