ALBION ROVERS 0 SHIRE 2

In the end a win was not enough. A 2-0 victory over Albion Rovers was routine enough but Dumbarton won too and that ended any realistic prospect of a league title challenge.

There was some good news. Cowdenbeath’s draw with Forfar Athletic moves the team up to second place in the league table for the first time since February and gives them an advantage heading into the final league game of the season.

The three point haul allowed another milestone to be reached; the 61 point tally is the most the club has ever amassed under the three points for a win system.

Shire were forced to leave out the suspended Brian Graham but coach Jim McInally’s plans to cope with his absence were disrupted before kick-off when Dean Richardson had to pull out after feeling sick during the warm-up.

That meant a change of plan with Eddie Forrest coming in to the starting eleven at left-back and Derek Ure, who was supposed to start in that role moving into the midfield.

As expected, Shire changed their formation and lined-up 4-4-2 with Craig Tully moved into midfield and Jamie Stevenson partnering Andy Rodgers in the twin-pronged attack.

The Cliftonhill pitch was looking surprisingly lush and the sun was shining at kick-off and the visiting fans were  out in good numbers anticipating a fine display from their team.

But they made a slow start with Forrest, who was expecting to be sitting on the bench, targeted by Rovers as a weak link. But Eddie held his ground along with the rest of the back line and the only real sniff the home team got was a Callan Adam shot from 20 yards that went well over Mark Peat’s crossbar.

Rovers were holding their own at the back and in the first quarter hour Shire were finding it very hard to break through. Rodgers made some clever runs but was thwarted by a well-organised offside trap.

The Coatbridge side certainly weren’t afraid to take the game to Shire and dangerrman Bobby Barr sent a free-kick just over the bar from 20 yards.

The whole complexion of the match changed on 25 minutes when Rodgers collected a through ball and was poised to go clean through on Rovers keeper Jamie Ewings but was caught late by Alan Benton and referee Brian Colvin showed the central defender a straight red card.

It didn’t take Shire long to make their extra man advantage tell. After 29 minutes Derek Ure swung over a cross from the left which Tully volleyed onto the bar and when the rebound fell to Rodgers he had no problem in finding the net from just inside the penalty box.

Two minutes later a lovely exchange of passes sent Paul Weaver clear and he found the net from the back edge of the box with a curling shot but he was correctly judged to be offside.

But Rovers were not out of things and after 37 minutes Mark Pollock fired in a shot from the edge of the six yard box which Peat had to dive full length to save. Barr then tried his luck from distance but his effort went well over the bar.

The ten men did their level best to get back into the match at the start of the second period and Adam had a great effort with an angled drive from eight yards out but Peat was equal to it, throwing himself full-length to save.

But after 50 minutes Shire made it 2-0. A quick throw-in sent Rodgers clear down the right and he flicked the ball over the Rovers’ defence for Stevenson who raced into the box before firing past Ewings.

Forrest was then replaced by Marc McKenzie after 52 minutes and, within a minute of coming, he should have scored but lobbed a crossfield pass from Paul Hay over the bar with the goal gaping.

Ten minutes later Tully was played in at the back post but hit his effort straight at the keeper. Squib’s pace got him behind the Rovers defence time and again but he failed to find the net from decent positions.

Once, after 68 minutes, he got in behind and squared for Rodgers but the Shire striker was denied his 17th of the season with a fantastic save from Ewings.

After 71 minutes a great run from McKenzie ended up with a shot into the side net when a better option would have to have slipped the ball to the more cent rally-placed Rodgers.

However, after 80 minutes he was genuinely unlucky with a shot from the edge of the box that crept across the face of goal and just wide of the far post.

ALBION ROVERS : Ewings, Reid, McGowan, McKeown, Benton, R. Walker, Pollock(Harris 81), Ferry, Adam, Donnelly, Barr.

SHIRE : Peat, Hay, Tully(Dunn 65), King, Bolochoweckyj, Weaver, Donaldson, Stevenson(Kelly 65), Forrest(McKenzie 52), Ure, Rodgers.

REFEREE : B. Colvin

ATTENDANCE : 346.