It’s the old story as Rovers fail to find back of net

Apr 29 2009 by Colin Paterson, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

Stenhousemuir 2 Albion Rovers 0

PERHAPS Albion Rovers’ season was summed up in one second half incident as they hurtled towards another defeat.

In the 54th minute, hard-working young striker Marc Pollock speeded up the wing, cut inside and fired in a fantastic shot.

He thought it was his moment.

The travelling faithful sensed that it might be a major turning point.

But damn the woodwork.

The ball glanced the fingertips of keeper Scott Bennett before striking the junction of post and bar.

The danger was subsequently cleared.

It’s the Rovers way, it seems. Always looking to get there, but never quite managing to make it.

Goals from Kevin Motion and Iain Diack earned the home side three points which maintained their charge towards the play-offs.

It was another afternoon of frustration and, ultimately, disappointment for Rovers who are ending a promising season on a real low.

The run without a victory has now been stretched to 11 games and boss Paul Martin will wonder where the next taste of success is coming from.

Once again, his side’s inability to hit the target proved costly.

Over 350 minutes have passed since Rovers last found the back of the net.

The team’s goalscoring prowess has been a bone of contention for some weeks, and the longer this poor run continues, the more it is scrutinised.

In the days after defeat to Elgin City, Martin admitted he should have done better with his signings in January, but the clock can’t be turned back.

Decisions made then have come home to roost but wondering what might have been does few any favours.

Learning from mistakes, however, ensures history isn’t repeated.

Martin will have learned a lot about not just himself, but his players during this nightmare period.

It will have made him all the more determined to achieve success at Cliftonhill.

“We got a bit of pride back in the performance,” the gaffer said after Stenny’s win. “There wasn’t a lot between the teams.

“When you are on a bad run like ourselves, you don’t get any luck.

“Marc does really well, strikes an unstoppable shot the keeper gets his fingertips to and then it goes and hits the frame of the goal.

“The ball then drops to one of their players instead of one of ours.

“That’s the way it just seems to go sometimes.”

After the 3-0 humbling at the hands of Elgin City the previous week, Martin wanted a positive reaction and, to an extent, that’s what he got.

“I was pleased with the work-rate but there is no question about where our problems lie.

“We need to strengthen from middle to front and become more physically strong.”

Rovers’ fans turned out in large numbers for the trip to Larbert and made plenty of noise as they attempted to rally their side.

The first half was a forgettable affair with neither outfit able to confidently stamp their authority on the contest.

Stenny had more about them in the final third of the pitch, but Coatbridge keeper Jamie Ewings was rarely tested.

So it was frustrating, then, that John Coughlin’s troops broke the deadlock in the 48th minute.

Stenny were awarded a free-kick just outside the box and Motion fired a lovely shot past the defensive wall and into the corner of the net.

Pollock’s bullet was dodged by the hosts six minutes later, and it was Stenny who eventually went on to wrap the match up.

In the 76th minute, Diack, who had been taunted mercilessly by the Rovers fans, finished off a blistering run with a nice finish.

These are trying times for everyone at Cliftonhill.

Dark clouds are looming but just one win would change all that.

There is still time for it to be achieved.

Advertiser man of the match (3pts) - Marc Pollock. Put in a great effort. Michael McGowan (2pts), Ciaran Donnelly (1pt).

Moment of the match: Rovers might have earned a point had Pollock’s shot not hit the woodwork.

Stenhousemuir: Bennett, Lyle, Reid, Thom, Smith, McLeod, Love (Brand 88), Molloy, Diack (Dalziel 80), Brazil, Motion. Subs not used: Stirling, Thomson, Renton(gk).

Booked: Diack, Lyle.

Albion Rovers: Ewings, Reid, Fleming, Walker, McGowan, Donnelly, Crozier (Harris 75), McKeown, Pollock, Barr, Adam. Subs not used: Andreoni, McGoldrick, Ferry, Scott(gk).

Referee: Anthony Law.

Attendance: 428