2Match Report
Albion Rovers v Stenhousemuir at Cliftonhill, Coatbridge on 27.09.08
Scottish League Division Three Att 279
Albion Rovers 1 [Adam 66] Stenhousemuir 2 [Motion 36, McGowan og 71]
Going into this game the Warriors had went seven games unbeaten since the start of the season and were looking to extend their run at Cliftonhill. Albion Rovers were however the last Third Division team to beat Stenhousemuir when they had met in the Challenge Cup in July so the management were under no illusions about the difficult task that lay ahead.
There were three enforced changes in personnel for the league leaders with Scott Dalziel, Jordan Smith and Alan Brazil all missing so in stepped Steven Hampshire, Garry Thom and Paul Tyrrell with Hampshire playing an unfamiliar role as lone striker in a 4-5-1 formation.
Albion Rovers were also missing key players as Pat Walker and Bobby Barr who had scored 11 goals between them this season both missing but they did have Kevin Watt who scored a hat trick available in the starting eleven as the top scoring team in the division met the top defence.
The Warriors started the game defensively as Rovers had territorial advantage but apart from a couple of efforts that were off target for the home side there was not a lot to write about as the Warriors tried to grind out a result.
In fact the first shot on target from either side came in the 36th minute and resulted in a goal for Stenhousemuir as once again the Iain Thomson and Kevin Motion partnership made the breakthrough when a Thomson free kick from the left was met by Motion who steered a shot past Rovers David Scott to put the leaders ahead. Albion had their best effort of the first period in the 40th minute when a good first touch by Alan Reid took him into the box past Motion but his well struck snapshot went into the side netting.
Rovers started the second half brightly and should have equalized within a couple of minutes of the resumption but Ciaran Donnelly headed over from close range. The Warriors had more of the play as the game progressed but the closest that they came to extending the lead was in the 57th minute when a Hampshire cross was met by Motion but his effort deflected off an Albion Rovers player and went out for a corner.
In the 66th minute Rovers equalized in fortuitous circumstances when an inswinging Callan Adam corner was misjudged by Kieron Renton who could only help the ball into the net. Five minutes later the Warriors took the lead once again through an even more lucky goal. The Rovers defence were caught napping when a John Ovenstone throw in was expected to go long but went down the line instead to Chris McGroarty who fired in a cross that was met by Michael McGowan fifteen yards out who inexplicitly side footed the ball past Scott and into his own net.
In the 82nd minute the Warriors almost scored their third after good control and volley from Stevie Desmond from a Thomson layoff was well saved by Scott.
Rovers though are not a team to give up and they were awarded a penalty in 87 minutes when Ovenstone tripped Watt. The striker on loan from Airdrie United stepped up to the mark and hit a well struck penalty but was to be denied a goal as Renton atoned for his earlier mistake with a fine diving save and meant that Stenhousemuir secured all three points.
Albion Rovers – Scott, Reid, McGowan, Donnelly, Lumsden, Benton, Ferry, Adam, Watt, Pollock [Coyne 79] and Canning [Trialist 59]. Subs not used – R.Walker, Hughes and Mitchell
Stenhousemuir – Renton, Lyle, McGroarty [b50], Thom, Ovenstone, Thomson, Tyrrell, Ferguson [b51], Brand, Hampshire [Desmond 79] and Motion. Subs not used – Shirra, Love, McEwan and Bennett
Referee – Bobby Madden
Assistants – Laurence Kerrigan and Frank Coyle
