By Chris Toner
Albion Rovers’ SPFL Trust Trophy campaign has come to an end following their 4-1 third round defeat to Cove Rangers at Balmoral Stadium.
In a result not reflective of the overall game, a brace by Rory McAllister along with goals from Mitch Megginson and substitute Jamie Masson late in the game saw off Rovers, who grabbed a consolation goal from substitute Max Wright.
Rovers had the best of the chances in a first half that was as dreich and drab as the Aberdeen weather, as Callum Wilson and Michael Mullen both had shots go wide of the post.
The home side had shots on target from Connor Scully and Fraser Fyvie, but neither could seriously test Cammy Binnie in the Rovers goal, while Leighton McIntosh had a shot blocked.
The game sprang into life in the second half as Paul Hartley’s side looked more threatening. Robbie Leitch’s shot was blocked by McAllister’s heel, Megginson failed to get his head fully behind Blair Yule’s cross and Rovers captain Aron Lynas blocked a shot from Megginson.
Both keepers would then be tested within the space of a minute. Binnie dealt with substitute and debutant Ola Adeyemo’s shot, before Kyle Gourlay in the Cove goal gathered a shot from Wilson.
Binnie would then be forced into action as Morgyn Neill escaped unmarked and got a header onto Masson’s corner, with the Rovers keeper doing brilliantly to keep it out.
But Cove got the breakthrough with the clock approaching 80 minutes as Megginson slotted home McAllister’s assist from close range, who soon after added his name to the scoresheet after heading in from a Masson corner.
Masson then found the net after heading in from Adeyemo’s cross, before McAllister got his second of the afternoon after dancing past defenders and slotting the ball low past Binnie.
But Wright made sure that Rovers got something from the game, beating Gourlay in a one-on-one situation in the last minute of normal time.
