Match review: Albion Rovers 3 Montrose 1

Sep 13 2010 By Colin Paterson

Albion Rovers

IRN-BRU THIRD DIVISION:

ALBION ROVERS 3

MONTROSE 1

RED-HOT Albion Rovers floored Montrose with a display that left gaffer Paul Martin purring with delight.

The Coatbridge part-timers climbed into third place in the table with a third successive victory thanks to goals from Tony Stevenson, Robert Love and John Gemmell.

Montrose pulled a goal back with two minutes remaining through Aaron Sinclair but the Links Parkers were no match for a Rovers side who have ten points from a possible 15 so far this season.

"We deserved the win and I was delighted with the boys' display," said Martin. "The first half performance was the best football I have seen since I came to the club.

"It's impossible to play the way we did in the first half for the whole game and they were always going to come back into it.

"We are up to third now but there is a long way to go and the league is just starting to take shape."

Rovers took the lead from the penalty spot in the 17th minute through Stevenson after Ciaran Donnelly was fouled in the area by Montrose's trialist keeper Michael Fraser.

The ex-Motherwell goalie was picking the ball out of the net for a second time six minutes later when Love lobbed home his second goal of the season.

Montrose threatened in the 55th minute when Connor Thomson smacked a shot against the woodwork.

But former Gable Endies hitman Gemmell climbed off the bench for Rovers and rubbed his old club's noses in it when he headed a Steven Lawless cross past Fraser.

It was another disappointing day for Montrose who replied late-on with a Sinclair header.

Montrose assistant manager Ray Farningham said: "We didn't start the game well enough and we have to learn from this."

Albion Rovers: Gaston; Reid, Benton, Lumsden, McGowan; Hamilton (Lawless 70), Stevenson (Innes 72), Canning, Donnelly; McLeod (Gemmell 75), Love. Subs not used: Smith, Nugent(gk).

Booked: Gemmell, Innes.

Montrose: Fraser; McNally, Pope, Hegarty, Crighton (Trialist 33), Campbell, Milligan (McCord 61), Watson (Nicol 68), Tosh, Thomson, Sinclair. Subs not used: Fleming, Wood(gk).

Booked: Campbell, Pope.

Referee: Eddie Smith.

Attendance: 337.