Lady luck does no favours for plucky Rovers

Aug 13 2008 by Colin Paterson, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

SOMETIMES all you need in football to succeed is a bit of luck or a decision in your favour.

Rovers found the well empty on both counts at Ochilview on Saturday.

Temporarily playing at the home of neighbours Stenhousemuir, solid East Stirling picked up the win that consigned the Coatbridge outfit to the foot of the Third Division table.

Four days after taking Second Division title hopefuls Raith all the way in the League Cup, Paul Martin’s men again gave it their best shot.

“It is still very early on in the season,” the manager said. “We did very well and whilst our performance was certainly not as high as last Tuesday night, it wasn’t far off it.

“It is very difficult to criticise the players. Over the piece we created chances and enjoyed more possession than they did - our use of the ball was excellent at times.

“We just really didn’t get any breaks in the game. The players deserved a reward for their efforts on Tuesday and Saturday.”

Rovers starlet Bobby Barr again cut an impressive figure and early-on he tested Shire keeper John Hillcoat who expertly palmed away his shot on goal.

The visitors had made a bright start and in the 12th minute referee Brian Colvin, making his Scottish Football League debut, was at the centre of controversy.

Willie Martin headed the ball down for Tommy Coyne who beat a Shire defender but appeared to be brought down in the box.

However, the whistler decided there was no foul and waved away Rovers’ claims.

Barr was proving to be a real box of tricks and he was unlucky to see a cute lob tipped over the bar by scrambling stopper Hillcoat inches before the ball crossed the line.

Shire attacks were rare but Andy Rodgers came close on two occasions, one effort zipping past the post with the other rebounding off keeper David Scott.

There was more penalty misery for Rovers in the 23rd minute. Barr played in Coyne who supplied Ciaran Donnelly who was felled in the area.

Once again though, Mr Colvin felt there was little in it and when tempers flared, midfielder Donnelly was flashed a yellow card for dissent.

“I felt we should have had at least one penalty,” added gaffer Martin afterwards.

All of Rovers’ hard work was undone in the 31st minute as Shire took the lead courtesy of a set-piece.

David Dunn’s corner was flicked on for Eddie Forrest and the defender, starting his first match for his new club, powered a header beyond Scott.

The Cliftonhill troops fashioned chances in the closing stages of the first half but it was to be a frustrated Rovers who went in for their interval cuppa.

Scott was called into action immediately after the break when he smothered a Dunn header and minutes later, he saved at the foot of his goalpost from a Forrest snap-shot.

Mr Colvin then jotted a flurry of names down in his notebook as the crime count increased.

Boss Martin made a double substitution in the 64th minute with namesake Willie and Brian Smith replaced by Patrick Walker and Gary McKenna.

The latter quickly established himself as the playmaker and while a couple of passes failed to reach their target, you couldn’t fault his perseverance or will to turn the tide in Rovers’ favour.

Chris Hughes and Marc Pollock combined late-on in a bid to catch an equaliser but it was all in vain as the Shire rearguard held their nerve to keep the visitors at bay.

The final opportunity of the game fell to Shire as they hunted a second goal.

Craig Donaldson set up Brian Graham who smashed a shot from the edge of the box off the crossbar.

Rovers had produced another display full of effort and endeavour but ended up with nothing.

Advertiser man of the match: Ciaran Donnelly. Midfielder was a real influence in the middle of the park.

Moment of the match: Eddie Forrest’s goal ensured victory for the hosts.

East Stirling: Hillcoat, Donaldson, Ure, Forrest, Bolochoweckyj (Moffat 46), Tully, Dunn (McKenzie 69), Gibson, Rodgers, Nicholls (Anderson 60), Graham. Subs not used: Richardson, Mitchell(gk).

Booked: Moffat, McKenzie, Gibson.

Albion Rovers: Scott, Reid, McGowan, R Walker, Hughes, Donnelly, Barr, Ferry, Coyne (Pollock 79), Martin (P Walker 64), Smith (McKenna 64). Subs not used: McGoldrick, Mitchell(gk).

Booked: Donnelly, Ferry.

Referee: Brian Colvin.

Attendance: 348