Controversial red card seals Rovers’ fate

May 6 2009 by Colin Paterson, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

Albion Rovers 0 East Stirling 2

PAUL MARTIN might have endured a few sleepless nights as he ponders Albion Rovers’ horror end to the season.

But even when the campaign is brought to a welcome close at Links Park in Montrose this weekend, catching up on some shut-eye is unlikely to be an easy task.

The Cliftonhill gaffer’s wife, Joanne, was due to give birth to the couple’s second child yesterday, and the newborn’s middle-of-the-night demands will no doubt give Martin plenty of time to think about the future.

Goals from Andy Rodgers and Jamie Stevenson earned Shire victory from their trip to Coatbridge at the weekend, a result which saw the hosts’ winless streak extended to 12 games.

There will surely only be a few Rovers fans glad that this Saturday will be the last they have to endure for a couple of months.

For all the promise, for all the talk of the play-offs at the beginning of March, the campaign has well and truly fizzled out. It’s time for the team to be put out of its misery.

“It’s been a disappointing end,” Martin told the Advertiser. “We can’t ignore the fact that, in the final quarter of the season, we have failed to pick up enough points.

“We have to look closely at where we have gone wrong and I am very clear in what needs to be done.

“I realise there are minuses to reflect on but I am not too unhappy. We have won more games and claimed more points than last season.

“I do believe we are on the right track.”

Martin felt his side were harshly treated on Saturday as they were left facing an uphill battle when central defender Alan Benton was given a straight red card for a foul on Rodgers 40 yards from goal.

The gaffer said: “The performance of the referee was very disappointing and the sending-off decision very controversial.

“It was a coming together of two players, so the first question I would ask is ‘was it a foul?’

“The rule is that you have to deny a clear goalscoring opportunity to be red-carded and this was not a clear goalscoring opportunity.

“It was more accidental than intentional and I just felt the referee got it wrong.

“There were one or two other decisions that went against us, but there was a referee’s supervisor at the game and I am sure he will have picked up everything that we saw.

“We created chances and Jamie Ewings, our keeper, has hardly had a save to make. I was happy with the players and I thought they all worked really hard.”

Shire broke the deadlock in the 29th minute as they made the numerical advantage count. Derek Ure’s cross found Craig Tully, but after his effort hit the bar, Stevenson was on-hand to tuck away the rebound.

Jim McInally’s men have assured their play-off place, and they wrapped up another three points six minutes after the interval.

Rodgers found Stevenson and he pushed into the box before drilling a shot beyond Ewings.

The curtain comes down on Rovers’ season this Saturday when they make the long trip to Montrose, but many of the Coatbridge faithful are already looking to the future.

New signings are eagerly anticipated and the addition of centre-half Todd Lumsden to the squad could be on the horizon.

He has been told he is free to leave second division champions Raith Rovers, and should he sign-on at Cliftonhill, it would be the confidence boost everyone at the club is desperate for.

Advertiser man of the match (3pts) – Marc Pollock. Striker was always a threat going forward. Jamie Ewings (2pts), Bobby Barr (1pt).

Moment of the match: Brian Colvin’s decision to red card Alan Benton was a crucial one.

Albion Rovers: Ewings, Reid, McGowan, McKeown, Benton, Walker, Pollock (Harris 83), Ferry, Adam, Donnelly, Barr. Subs not used: Andreoni, Harty, Fleming, Scott(gk).

Sent-off: Benton.

East Stirling: Peat, Hay, Tully (Dunn 67), King, Bolochoweckyj, Weaver, Donaldson, Forrest (McKenzie 52), Stevenson (Kelly 67), Ure, Rodgers. Subs not used: Newman, Anderson (gk).

Referee: Brian Colvin.

Attendance: 346