By Chris Toner
Albion Rovers’ first game of 2022 ended in a 2-1 defeat to Stenhousemuir at the Reigart Stadium Saturday.
Following heavy snow in Coatbridge on Friday, Rovers could not reward the fans who ensured the pitch was clear in order to pass a 12pm inspection with three points. A brace by Thomas Orr cancelled out Max Wright’s opener. Despite solid outings, new signings Blair Malcolm and an appearance from the bench for on-loan St Mirren forward Josh Jack could not salvage Rovers any points.
The result sees Rovers drop to ninth in the cinch League Two table, 11 points clear of bottom of the table Cowdenbeath and level on points and only a goal behind Elgin City, with both teams having a game in hand. Stenhousemuir, on the other hand, leap into the last promotion playoff spot following Edinburgh City’s draw with Elgin Friday evening.
Wright opened the scoring for Rovers after 13 minutes when he came out on top of a goal line scramble after Kieran Dolan knocked the ball back down into the box. Stenny would equalise five minutes later as Ross Forbes picked out an unmarked Orr, who side-footed past Cammy Binnie.
The next best chance of the half fell to Dolan, but his shot was blocked by Nicholas Jamieson and into the hands of Ryan Marshall.
Stenny came out threatening after the break and were rewarded in the 56th minute as Darren Christie’s shot was spilled by Binnie into the path of Orr who coolly slotted the ball into an open net.
Just before the hour mark, Stenny had two chances in the space of a minute to put the game truly out of site. Ross Forbes put a free kick narrowly wide before Christie blasted the ball over the bar on the counter with only Binnie to beat.
Orr would later have a chance to complete his hat trick after a four-on-one counter attack, but was denied as Binnie tipped the ball round the post.
With stoppage time approaching, Binnie was the hero again, this time making a terrific double save from Nathaniel Wedderburn, but this time Rovers failed to find a second straight last gasp goal at home to come away with any points.
