0Match Report
Challenge Cup First Round
Stenhousemuir 0 Albion Rovers 1 [Donnelly 87 pen]
After a promising pre-season campaign there was an air of hope and anticipation for the first of our proper matches with this Challenge Cup match against Albion Rovers. The Warriors went into the game missing John Ovenstone, Stevie Ferguson Alan Brazil and Andy Brand but were still expected to get a positive result.
From the start however it was obvious that the Rovers were going to be a much harder proposition than many expected with youngster Marc Pollock causing the home defence no end of problems in the early stages with the Warriors looking jaded. Having said that there were few goalscoring opportunities at either end. The visitors came closest when a Ciaran Donnelly free kick from the edge of the ‘D’ was superbly tipped onto the bar by Scott Bennett who made a good claim for the number one jersey in this game.
The Warriors despite struggling should have taken the lead when Scott Dalziel was set free by Graham Gibson but after advancing on goal his final shot was weak and although it squirmed under the body of David Scott went wide of the post. Rovers had their keeper to thank for keeping the score level when substitute Robert Love was denied the opening goal when his point blank effort was saved by Scott. With three minutes to go and the game looking to drift into extra time referee Bobby Madden who was featuring in his first game awarded Albion Rovers a controversial penalty. Pat Walker went down in a challenge from Gary Thom and everyone in the ground was astonished when the referee blew for a foul. Rovers captain Donnelly stepped up and squeezed the ball past Bennett who managed to get a strong hand to it but it was not enough as Rovers took the lead.
The final whistle blew with that solitary counter the difference between the teams and Rovers probably just shaded the game through an energetic performance with Bobby Barr and Pollock the pick of their team. Stenhousemuir were left knowing that they can play better and despite not playing to their potential created the better chances but in all honesty the game lacked the passion of a cup tie and looked like an extension of the pre-season games. Note that although I have listed the competition as the Challenge Cup it became the Alba Challenge Cup due to sponsorship completed after the first round was played.
Stenhousemuir – Bennett, Lyle, McGroarty, Thom Smith, Tyrrell, Shirra, Hampshire [Ferguson 80], Dalziel, Gibson [Love 65] and Thomson. Subs not used – McEwan, Motion and Renton
Albion Rovers – Scott, Reid, McGowan, R,Walker, Benton, Hughes, Ferry [Martin 71], Donnelly, Pollock, Barr[b69] and P.Walker. Subs not used – Wright, Coyne, McGoldrick and Mitchell
Referee – Bobby Madden
Assistants – Steven Craven and Andy Tait
