Stirling Albion 2 v 2 Albion Rovers 
Division 3
20th October 2001
Stirling Albion 2 v 2 Albion Rovers
Division 3
20th October 2001
Attendance : 474
Scorers ~ Stirling Albion : Williams (20), Goldie (24). Albion Rovers : Booth (30, 81).
What a recovery by the rampaging Rovers! From a team which looked down and out after conceding two quick first-half goals through slackness in defence, this was a superb performance which saw them come within the proverbial whisker of taking all three points. Indeed, if they had actually done so, it would have been no more than they deserved as they outplayed their hosts for most of the second half. In addition, referee Tom Brown seemed to favour Stirling with the majority of decisions, with the result that Rovers had to battle against an sense of injustice as well as their opponents.
Although still without the injured duo of Chris Fahey and Tom Tait, Rovers were happy to have Todd Lumsden back in the fold, with young ‘keeper James McKenzie finding a place on the bench.
In torrential rain, both sets of players were finding it difficult to keep their feet with the result that the opening exchanges were almost devoid of goalmouth action and somewhat less than enthralling. Then, completely out of the blue, Stirling struck twice in a few minutes to have Rovers reeling. Both goals came from the same set piece - a corner from the right - and questions must be asked of the defence. First, Alex Williams was allowed space to head home at the near post, then Darren Goldie (on loan from Hearts) was on the spot to net from close in after another stramash in the area. Quite frankly, it looked all over for Rovers even at this early stage, but the fighting qualities they have displayed already this season were quietly building-up, soon to be unleashed. With 30 minutes played, Chris Silvestro did well out on the right and his cross was met by the leaping Martin Harty whose header was goal-bound until stopped at the last possible moment. However, the ball came out to the waiting Mark Booth and within a second the net was bulging behind the helpless Chris Reid for a trade-mark strike by the prolific midfielder.
As the second period progressed, Rovers’ control of the match became more and more pronounced and Silvestro and Jordan Smith had good efforts saved by Reid. With only fifteen minutes left to play, Rovers’ striker Iain Diack collided with Reid and suffered a severe leg injury which necessitated him leaving the field on a stretcher. Rovers continued to push forward and got their reward in 81 minutes when substitute Charlie McLean and Booth harried the home defence to such an extent that the latter was able to squeeze the ball into the net for his own and Rovers’ second. Now with their tails up, Rovers went in search of the winner. Gerry McKenna took a pass from McMullan and fired just over the crossbar, McLean did likewise from at least thirty yards and Silvestro struck a left-footer a yard past a post.
At the final whistle, it was clear that the Stirling players were the more relieved to have escaped with a point from a game which at one time they looked like winning easily. All credit to Rovers, however, for overcoming the early blows and pressurising Stirling for long periods of the game.
The match threw up bookings for Stirling’s McCallion plus Rovers’ Silvestro, Harty and Lumsden.
Stirling Albion : Reid, Reilly (Munro 18), Devine, Morrison, Goldie, McLellan (McCallion 59), Moriarty, Henderson (Ross 85), Geraghty, Williams, Hay. Unused Substitutes : Stuart, Trialist.
Albion Rovers : Shearer, Smith, Lumsden, Hamilton, Jamie McKenzie (McLean 69), Booth, Waldie, Silvestro, Harty (McMullan 60), Diack (McKenna 75), Bonar. Unused Substitutes : Easton, James McKenzie.
Referee : Tom Brown
Man of the Match : Steve Hamilton
