Rovers remain rooted at the bottom of third division

Aug 20 2008 by Colin Paterson, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

ROCK-BOTTOM Rovers will be glad to see the back of Fife.

As if one defeat in the Kingdom wasn’t bad enough, Paul Martin’s men followed it up with another loss on Saturday.

The Cliftonhill outfit travelled east looking for revenge after bowing out of the Challenge Cup last Tuesday night at Central Park.

But in the end, all they suffered was more disappointment, made all the more galling thanks to John Gemmell’s late winner.

The 23-year-old was sold by Rovers in the summer after he asked to leave the club.

And he made his presence felt nine minutes from time by bagging the goal that secured all three points for promotion-chasing Beath and left the Coatbridge club rooted to the foot of the Third Division.

It hasn’t been the best of starts for gaffer Martin who must wish he could swap encouraging performances for the scrappiest of 1-0 wins to get his team off the mark in the league.

Rovers again played well but if scorelines don’t improve soon, the heads may begin to go down.

“I think anyone who watched the game will see that we aren’t a bottom-of-the-table team,” offered Martin.

“These narrow defeats are very hard to take and I think we just need one win to get our season going.

“I can’t fault the effort, commitment and work-rate of the players. We need to make sure that we keep believing in what we are doing.”

The home side took the lead in the 22nd minute. Slovakian Marek Tomana laid the ball into the path of Brian Fairbairn who fired a shot past keeper David Scott.

Gemmell was denied three minutes later by Scott who caught his header before a diving stop thwarted Darren McGregor.

Beath were creating the better chances with Fairbairn and Gemmell both off-target and those misses proved costly as Rovers equalised in the 58th minute.

A long ball upfield from Scott reached Pat Walker who raced clear and slipped a shot beyond David Hay.

It could have been 2-1 in favour of the Rovers had Tommy Coyne hit the target after Hay flapped at a corner won following Bobby Barr’s shot taking a deflection.

But in the 81st minute, Rovers conceded from a set-piece with Gemmell on-hand to deliver a killer finish.

Martin’s men refused to give up - Walker forced Hay into a good save as time ran out - but it was yet more disappointment for Rovers and their travelling fans.

Advertiser man of the match: Pat Walker. Got on the scoresheet and looked good going forward.

Moment of the match: Ex-Rover John Gemmell’s winning strike left his old club heartbroken.

Cowdenbeath: Hay, Shields (McKay 85), Adamson, McGregor, Droudge, Hodge, Fairbairn, Fleming, Gemmell, Tomana (Dempster 73), McQuade (Linton 67). Subs not used: Baxter, Morris(gk).

Booked: Adamson, Hodge.

Albion Rovers: Scott, Reid, McGowan, R Walker, McGoldrick, Donnelly, Barr, Ferry (Wright 58), P Walker, Martin (Coyne 54), Smith (McKenna 87). Subs not used: Mitchell(gk).

Booked: P Walker, Reid.

Referee: Bobby Madden.

Attendance: 302