ALBION ROVERS 1 SHIRE 5

Shire made the short trip to Coatbridge hoping they might end a 23 year wait for a Scottish Cup victory over another league team.

Little did they think at the time they would leave Cliftonhill Stadium having recorded their biggest win in the premier national cup competition for more than 60 years.

It was a day when almolst everything Gordon Wylde's men tried came off, although even they would accept they were helped by the award of a 19th minute penalty which broke the deadlock and a red card for Rovers' Barry Donald a minute before half time.

The coach rung the changes after a lacklustre 1-1 draw in the team's previous match against Stenhousemuir. Out went Ryan Carr, Gordon Moffat and Sean Simpson and in their place came Marc McKenzie, Derek Ure and Gary Kelly, returning after a month's injury lay-off.

The first quarter hur was cagey but there was one good chance at either end. On four minutes Rovers' Roddy Hunter got a 20 yard effort on target but Darren Hill in the Shire goal did well to save.

After twelve minutes Rovers' keeper Scott fired a clearance against Joe Savage and the ball broke to McKenzie. The Shire winger tried to chip the standed goalie from the edge of the box but the strong wind took his effort wide of goal.

There was literally nothing to divide the two teams until the 19th minute when Savage was brought down inside the box by Reid just as he looked set to fire McKenzie's dangerous right wing cross towards goal.

Referee Frank McDermott pointed straight to the penalty spot and Gary Kelly sent the keeper the wrong way, firing the spot kick low to Scott's right-hand corner.

The home team may have been behind but they weren't out of it and Hunter proved that on 23 minutes with a great header from a throw-in which Hill had to stretch to save.

On 34 minutes Shire produced some superb flowing football involving Savage and McKenzie to set Craig Donaldson free but his shot flew across goal and agonisingly wide.

But on 35 minutes Shire were 2-0 in front. A long clearance from Hill was collected deep in Rovers' half by Andrew Brand. The Shire skipper then released Derek Ure with a clever reverse pass and Ure then sent in a a great effort into the far corner of Scott's net.

There had been too much niggle in the first 45 minutes which resulted in four bookings and that boiled over just before the interval when Donaldson skipped past Rovers' Barry Donald. The home player swiped out with his leg as Donaldson made towards goal.

There was minimal contact but the intent was there and the referee produced a straight red card, reducing the home team to ten men.

Less than a minute later Shire took full advantage when Savage turned on the edge of the box to sweep home a Kevin McBride corner to make the interval lead 3-0.

To be fair to Rovers they started the second half in very positive fashion. After 54 minutes a Jamie McKenzie free-kick required a full length diving save from Hill to push the ball round the post for a corner.

And in 66 minutes the Shire keeper pulled off a wonder save from a point blank John  Gemmell header, somehow touching the striker's netbound effort onto the crossbar and over.

Three minutes later Shire put the issue beyond any doubt when McKenzie slipped the ball to Brand more than twenty yards out. The Shire skipper then went on a slalom run through the Rovers defence, leaving three home players prostrate on the ground in his wake before slamming the fourth goal past Scott.

Rovers had a decent presence up front and on 79 minutes they got some reward for their enterprise with a well-worked goal, Gemmell scoring with a powerful shot after being sent clear by Hunter's clever pass.

But Shire had the last laugh. With two minutes to go Donaldson received the ball on the edge of the box and beat Scott with the deftest of lobs for the fifth goal.

Albion Rovers : Scott, Reid(Donnelly 46), McGowan, R. Walker, Benton, Donald, Wright(Chisholm 71), McKenzie(Smith 64),Hunter, Adam, Gemmell.

Shire : Hill, Gibb, K. McBride, Doyle, Thywissen, Kelly(Brownlie 56), McKenzie, Brand, Savage(Simpson 70), Donaldson, Ure.

Referee : Frank McDermott.

 

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