SHIRE 4 ALBION ROVERS 5

A game that seemed to be in the bag after half an hour turned out to be another false dawn for Shire.

Gordon Wylde's men at first seemed to make light of the driving wind and rain as they surged into a 3-0 lead, with the threat of more to come. But they did not count on the spirit and determination of a fine Rovers side, whose never-say-die attitude deserved to win the day.

Shire were forced into one change from the team that was so unlucky to lose at Stranraer the previous week. Carl Thywissen's knee injury had failed to show sufficent improvement so he missed his first game of the season, replaced in the heart of defence by David King.

The home team made an amazing start, winning three corners and forcing Rovers' keeper David Scott into two great saves within the opening 90 seconds.

From the third of those flag kicks Craig Donaldson launched the ball onto the head of the unmarked Andrew Brand at the back post and he found the back of the net with ease.

Shire never let up and Joe Savage was unlucky not to double the lead on seven minutes but Scott managed to save his overhead kick. The Rovers' keeper then pulled off another marvellous stop to deny Donaldson a certain goal.

There was no surprise at all when the home team went 2-0 ahead after 27 minutes. Derek Ure's run down the left ended with a cut into the penalty box and a shot which Scott could only parry into the far corner of the net.

The conditions were deteriorating by the minute with the rain reaching monsoon proportions and the gale force wind making ball control impossible.

But Shire piled forward in search of more goals and after 32 minutes the impressive Donaldson fired in a long-range effort which Scott saved but could not hold. Joe Savage was in the right place at the right time to collect the rebound and fire it high into the net.

There was not enough time for Shire to protect their lead. Just two minutes later Callan Adam swung over a corner which John Gemmell met with a powerful, unmarked header to make the interval score 3-1.

Two minutes after the break Rovers sensed they were in with a chance when Gemmell was allowed to run from deep to the edge of the box before unleashing a shot which slithered along the wet turf and into the corner of the net.

The visitors now had all the momentum and Shire were stuck on the back foot. It was no surprise at all when Jamie McKenzie whipped in a free-kick and, with the home defence now in disarray, Ian Chisholm rose highest to head the equaliser past Darren Hill.

That was after 54 minutes and, with the score now 3-3, it was back to square one.

The rain had by this time turned to snow but Shire at last found a forward gear again. After 61 minutes Donaldson's superb run from midfield ended with a great pass to play Brand in and he easily beat Scott to re-establish the home team's advantage.

But that last just two minutes. Another deep McKenzie free-kick again caused havoc in the Shire penalty box and once more Gemmell took advantage, ramming the loose ball past Hill from six yards.

At that point the game could have gone either way, although Shire substitute Sean Simpson should have put the home team 5-4 in front when clean through.He slipped the ball past Scott but it fell just the wrong side of the post.

Barely sixty second later Savage flashed a free header wide of the Rovers' goal when he ought to have scored.

All this came back to haunt Shire on 75 minutes when yet another McKenzie free-kick was shelled into the penalty box. Gemmell met it with a downward header which Hill palmed out only for the in-rushing Roddy Hunter to squeeze the ball over the line.

Shire : Hill, Gibb, K. McBride, Doyle, King(Oates 64), Brownlie(Simpson 64), McKenzie, Brand, Savage, Donaldson, Ure.

Albion Rovers : Scott, Buckley, Chisholm, R. Walker, Benton, P. Walker, Wright, McKenzie, Hunter(Demilta 89), Adam, Gemmell.

Referee : C. MacKay

Attendance : 239.

Derek Ure in action against Albion Rovers.

Joe Savage takes a tumble.

Photos : Falkirk Herald

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