Albion Rovers 0 v 0 Livingston 
Scottish Cup Round 3
8th January 2002
(Abandoned at half time)
Albion Rovers 0 v 0 Livingston
Scottish Cup Round 3
8th January 2002
(Abandoned at half time)
Amid scenes of anger and disbelief, referee George Clyde abandoned this Scottish Cup Third Round tie at half-time because he considered that the floodlights - which had suffered a reduction in power during the first 45 minutes - were still not able to adequately light the pitch. To spectators, it was obvious that at the time of abandonment there was more light on the playing surface than there had been for most of the first half, and his decision was therefore all the more strange.
Nevertheless, the die was cast and there was no second half, meaning that the teams will return to Cliftonhill next Monday to try again, a factor made all the more galling because Rovers had played absolutely splendidly for most of the first period and with luck might have gone in a couple of goals to the good.
In the first minute, Paul Bonar strode down the left wing and beat two players before firing in a low drive which Livingston 'keeper David McEwan saved with a bit of difficulty. Just two minutes later, Steve McCormick - recalled to the starting eleven - made space, but his final shot was too straight and McEwan collected easily. Todd Lumsden was somewhat unlucky to be booked for a sixth minute foul before another McCormick shot from a tight angle troubled the visiting defence. Then, fifteen minutes into the match, some of the floodlights failed, but after a couple of minutes deliberation and consultation, Mr Clyde decided there was enough light to continue. Conditions were not ideal, but the illumination was more than adequate.
Shortly after this unscheduled break, Livingston seemed to give themselves a shake and for the first time there was anxiety in the home defence. First, 'keeper Chris Fahey sprinted from goal to collect a through ball, then - even thus early - staked his claim as Man of the Match with a good save from a Francisco Quino shot and a brilliant block to deny David Fernandez from the rebound. In the 28th minute, a splendid Rovers' move ended in disappointment when McCormick could only fire weakly at McEwan, and at the other end, a perfectly-timed late tackle by Gerry McKenna robbed Barry Wilson almost in the act of shooting.
Almost on the break, Steven Tosh raced up the right wing and sent a flashing cross in front of goal, but the brave Fahey dived at the feet of Wilson to save the day. Seconds from the break, David Bingham had the ball in the net for the visitors, but the offside flag cut short his celebrations. With no hint of the drama to come, we all looked forward to Rovers continuing to play well in the second half, but it was not to be, and the game of one half certainly gave the assembled scribes plenty to write about.
Albion Rovers : Fahey, McKenna, Lumsden, Hamilton, Easton, Booth, Waldie, McKenzie, McLean, McCormick, Bonar. Unused Subs : McMullan, Diack, R Coulter, Burrows, Shearer.
Livingston : McEwan, Quino, Brinquin, Bollan, Anderson, Andrews, Rubio, Wilson, Tosh, Bingham, Fernandez. Unused Subs : Caputo, Aurellio, Del Nero, Hart, Culkin. Referee : George Clyde
Man of the Match : Chris Fahey
