By Taylor Murray
It was late heartbreak for the Rovers as an 85th-minute goal saw the home side pick up their fifth draw of the season as they drew 1-1 with promotion-chasing Stirling Albion at The Reigart Stadium.
The Rovers’ performances have not reflected the league table position as, after another inspired performance from Brian Reid’s players, a late goal saw vital points slip away.
An early first-half strike from Charlie Reilly gave the Rovers the lead before Stirling Albion’s Dale Carrick broke the home side’s hearts and equalised with five minutes left on the clock.
Despite the equaliser, the point sees Albion Rovers remain off the foot of the table on goal difference separating the club from Forfar Atheltic.
First Half.
The Rovers started the half in the same fashion as of late with a wonderful strike from Charlie Reilly which saw the club score first in their fourth consecutive game. Blair Malcolm, who has been a positive addition to the team since joining the club in January. His driving run from the middle of the park allowed Reilly the space, and with a wonderful pass from the midfielder, the ball found Reilly who slotted it home.
From here, the home side looked the better side as they looked to capitalise on the momentum that they got from scoring as they almost doubled their lead six minutes later through a positive attack.
Halfway through the first half, Charlie Reilly almost scored his second of the game as his shot looked to nearly catch out The Binos goalkeeper as it was deflected wide by the post. From the resulting corner, Ayrton Sonkur got his head on the end of the delivery, but it went flying over the bar.
The chances kept coming for the home side as winger Scott Roberts had a chance to double the host’s lead after great build-up play. The 26-year-old performed a beautiful nutmeg as the home fans cheered with excitement, the Rovers player then drove into the box trying to find Reilly at the back post, however, it was intercepted and the attack broke down.
As the half came to a close, Scott Roberts was involved again as he looked to try and strike the ball across goal, after receiving the ball from Reilly. The brilliant link-up play from the two players gave Roberts the space to find the bottom corner, but his strike went narrowly wide with the first half ending with the Rovers leading
Second half
It was the Rovers who started the second half on the back foot as goalkeeper Jack Leighfield was called into action two minutes after the restart. The keeper pulled off the wonderful save by plucking out a Dale Carrick shot from the top corner as the Binos player looked certain to have equalised.
This seemed to kickstart the Rovers as they pushed to turn the game more in their favour with Callum Wilson missing a guilt edge chance. Wilson was played through with a wonderful pass from Charlie Reilly, but the Rovers winger couldn’t convert the chance and a chance they would come back and bite them.
Stirling Albion were reduced to 10 men after the Binos Robert Thomas was sent off for a late challenge on Devan McColl. The sending-off is the third in four games that the Rovers have been involved in which has seen a red card within the game.
Despite the red card, Stirling Albion looked to be growing into the game as they started to create more chances of their own, the away side almost equalised in the 79th minute with Dale Carrick failing to slot a chance by the ever-present Leighfield.
However, it would be the heartbreaking moment six minutes later when Carrick having a chance once again as he found space on the edge of the box. His strike managed to get past the Rovers keeper and drawing the match level.
Carrick looked to pile the pressure further on the Rovers as he almost sealed all three points for the visitors as he struck the bar in the 90th minute, making it a tough end to the game for the home side.
With the final whistle bringing the game to the end, it saw Rovers admittedly drop two points as they look to turn performances into results. The result sees the Rovers remain off the foot of the table on goal difference after Forfar Atheltic lost 4-1 at home to Annan Athletic.
Albeit sitting second bottom, a win and results going the Rovers’ way could see them jump up to seventh.
The club now look forward to taking on East Fife next Saturday at Bayview Stadium, with the Fife side sitting in third in the league and looking to further seal their place in the top four.
Team
Albion Rovers: Leighfield, Fernie, Malcolm, Sonkur, Fleming, C Wilson, Leslie, Roberts (Sub 82′ – Wright), Reilly, McColl, Graham Substitutes: Smith, Testa, Duncan, Dolan, Wright, Semirimu, Henderson, McArthur, McCallum, L.Fagan
