By Chris Toner
Albion Rovers were thrashed 6-1 by cinch League Two leaders Kelty Hearts at Central Park today.
Despite Corey O’Donnell’s equaliser when Rovers were trailing 1-0 through Nathan Austin’s opener, it was cancelled out by Austin scoring a second later in the game for the Fife side, with Botti Biabi also grabbing a brace and goals from Danny Finlayson and Jamie Barjonas ensuring it was a miserable afternoon for Rovers.
The result sees Rovers remain eighth in the table, four points clear of Elgin City who have a game in hand.
It only took five minutes for the home side to open the scoring as Austin rounded Cammy Binnie and slotted into an empty net. Minutes later, O’Donnell nearly equalised as his shot rattled the post.
On 15 minutes, Barjonas had a goal ruled out for offside before forcing Binnie to tip his shot wide moments later. Kelty had another goal chopped off for offside from the ensuing corner. At the other end, James McGowan’s header went just wide.
Rovers got their equaliser through O’Donnell on 27 minutes as his shot from range found the bottom corner of the net. However, Rovers were only level for 10 minutes as Finlayson passed into an empty net following an assist from Biabi.
Things went from bad to worse for Rovers early in the second half as Austin blocked Binnie’s clearance and tapped it home. And Kelty got their fourth minutes later as Biabi’s volley from inside the box smashed the net.
O’Donnell almost pulled one back for Rovers on the hour mark from a free kick, but he struck the woodwork for the second time in the game. And on 75 minutes, Biabi had another volley find the net, before Barjonas rounded off the thrashing three minutes later with Kelty’s sixth and final goal of the afternoon.
