Match Report

Albion Rovers v Stenhousemuir at Cliftonhill. Coatbridge on 17.10.20

SPFL League Two

Albion Rovers 1 [Doherty 89] Stenhousemuir 3 [Spence 31, Little 72, Biabi 85]

Albion Rovers – Goodfellow, Lynas, Ecrepont [b52], Fagan, Burke [L.Wilson 82], Fotheringham, Skeoch [Doherty 82], C.Wilson, Jamieson, Aitken and Moore [Glover 56]

Subs not used- Leslie, Moran, Dolan, Henry, Fernie,

Stenhousemuir – Smith, Tiffoney [b39][Fairley 89], Munro [b82], Little, Yeats, Hopkirk, Brown [b53][Biabi 80], Hodge, Tappng [b36], Muir [Grigor 88]and Spence [McGuigan 83].

Subs – Erskine, McQueen, Watters, Halleran and Graham

Referee – Lloyd Wilson                       Assistants – Ross MacLeod and Colin Drummond

After the preliminary encounters in the Betfred Cup this was the start of the bread and butter action with the resumption of the League Two matches. With the League reduced from 36 games to 27 the need for a good start is vital. The venue for the first game of Cliftonhill would have been low down the list of favoured venues by the Stenhousemuir support due to the club’s dreadful record there in recent times and it was away back in 2009 when the Warriors tasted victory there. Albion Rovers during the close season lost a lot of their more experienced players as well as changing manager. Brian Reid has a fairly young squad but realistically needs a few old heads in the team whilst the younger players develop.

Stenhousemuir started well and Greg Spence struck the crossbar with a header in the second minute but was flagged offside.  Rovers though responded with a strong run by Joseph Moore which Stenhousemuir struggled to stop but eventually the danger was eventually cleared. The best chance though in the opening exchanges fell to Spence in the 11^th minute when he did the hard work to shrug off his marker but then proceeded to blast the ball over the bar. Matt Aitken caused problems beating a couple of tackles when marauding forwards but once again the danger was scrambled clear.

Stenhousemuir eventually took the lead in the 31^st minute after Tommy Muir crossed from the right flank for Spence to tuck the ball home. The home side responded and Moore shot wide after the referee had used the advantage rule to good use as Callum Tapping was subsequently cautioned for a foul in the build up.

Stenhousemuir were well on top in the half and should have extended their lead before the interval. Spence was unlucky with a spin and shot that went just wide but Jack Hodge will have been disappointed with his effort from a David Hopkirk pass.

There were less openings for the visitors in the second half but they were to extend their lead in the 72^nd minute when Tapping ‘s free-kick was headed home by Creag Little. It was a simply executed goal and eased any tension in the Stenhousemuir ranks.

Botti Biabi had a great chance to extend the lead in the 82^nd minute when set free by Hopkirk but fired wide. An almost identical chance though came his way three minutes later and this time he made no mistake dispatching the ball past Ryan Goodfellow.  Kyle Doherty scored a consolation goal for Rovers in the 89^th minute taking advantage of poor marking.

This was a good start to the season and it’s just a pity that the supporters who have suffered a number of times at Cliftonhill were unable to witness it.