Peterhead
0 v 2 Albion Rovers 
Division 3
6th April 2002
Peterhead
0 v 2 Albion Rovers
Division 3
6th April 2002
Click on photo to enlarge
Attendance : 720
Scorer ~ Albion Rovers : McMullan (84, 90).
It’s an ill wind that blows no good, says the old proverb, and it was certainly the case at Balmoor Stadium last Saturday when Rovers carved out the vital win which gained them three crucial points in their quest for promotion. Oh, there was the usual stiff breeze blowing along the length of the hill-top ground, but it was the early injury to midfield powerhouse Mark Booth which eventually proved to be the turning point of the game.
With only twelve minutes played, Booth received a nasty foot knock and limped off to be replaced by striker Ryan McMullan - on the surface an odd substitution - but a bit of reshuffling worked wonders and the although the replacement took a long time to make his mark, his clinical finishing in the closing stages was enough to give his team the victory they worked so hard to achieve.
Quick-fire Rovers won a corner in only five seconds and although it led to nothing, their intent was immediately obvious. However, before they had time to launch another attack, Peterhead raced upfield and Martin Johnston was a shade unlucky to clip a ball past Chris Fahey - and a post. Within minutes, David Carr crossed to the far post and Steve McCormick poked it just wide from close range. As Rovers continued to dictate matters, a Martin Harty shot was turned for a corner by home ‘keeper Ivor Pirie and when the kick came over, Todd Lumsden’s drive looked a scorer all the way until stopped by the relieved goalkeeper.
Following the enforced substitution, McCormick was again out of luck at the back post before a free-kick by Steve Hamilton was cleared with difficulty and a Tom Tait instinctive stab was inches away from counting. TT was again in the limelight a few minutes later when he became the only booking of the day. On the half hour, Peterhead’s Johnston got the break of the ball in a clash with Lumsden and threaded a fine pass though to Iain Stewart, but the stocky striker could only pop the ball tamely into Fahey’s arms. Rovers’ goalkeeper was again in action almost immediately when he brilliantly turned Steve King’s overhead kick round the post. Rovers retaliated within seconds and McCormick was once more out of luck as his near post effort was no more than a foot off target. Then, with the whistle expected at any moment, Fahey was forced to make a good blocking save as Johnston fired in a shot from the left.
In the 48th minute, a splendid Rovers’ move saw Colin Waldie’s cross back headed by McCormick to the unmarked Martin Harty who really should have done better than blast high over from excellent position. Although playing against the wind, Rovers were still largely in control, and in the 64th minute McMullan passed up a great chance to open the scoring by slicing the ball wide of what was almost an open goal.
With about a quarter of an hour remaining, Peterhead briefly seemed to come alive and substitute Kevin Bissett headed past before Fahey did well to touch a long-range drive from Stuart Mackay over the crossbar. With a couple of penalty claims having been dismissed by referee Garry Mitchell, the game looked to be heading for the draw which no-one wanted. However, with only six minutes left, Iain Diack found McMullan with a perfectly weighted pass and although there was a suspicion of offside, the youngster strode on confidently to take the ball round Pirie and slide it into the empty net. There was joy unconfined in the visitors’ ranks - on and off the field - and after Rovers had survived what looked like a reasonable call for hands inside the area, McMullan did it again! With only seconds to go, another excellent pass found him in acres of space and he slid the ball behind Pirie to complete a glory day for himself - and his team.
This was a fine team performance by Rovers for whom there was not a single failure. Every player did his job exactly as required, and generally completely snuffed-out the Blue Toon threat.
Albion Rovers Man of the Match :
Peterhead; Pirie, Smith, MacSkimming (Mackay 55), Yates (Livingstone 55), Simpson, Tindal, Cooper, Stewart, Robertson (Bissett 70), Johnston, King. Unused Subs : Clark, Buchanan.
Albion Rovers : Fahey, Tait, McKenna, Lumsden, Easton, Booth (McMullan 12), Waldie, Hamilton, Carr (Diack 59), McCormick (Coulter 84), Harty. Unused Subs : Smith, Shearer.
Referee : Garry Mitchell.
Man of the Match : Ryan McMullan
