Albion Rovers fought back from two goals down to claim their first point of the Lowland League West campaign
Devan McColl’s stunning 25-yard strike completed Albion Rovers’ comeback after Barry Duncan had pulled a goal back in the second half.
Devan McColl’s stunning strike from 25 yards completed a second-half comeback for Albion Rovers, who found themselves two goals down inside 20 minutes, to earn a difficult point against Johnstone Burgh at Keanie Park.
Steven Saunders made two changes to his starting XI ahead of a difficult trip to Johnstone Burgh, hoping to pick up the first points of the campaign in the Lowland League West.
St Mirren co-operation loanee Grant Tamosevicius kept his place between the sticks, with Chris Neeson, Innes Clark and Rock Moses joined by new signing Liam Dolan to complete the defence.
Barry Duncan returned to a more natural position alongside Conor McLaughlin in central midfield, with Nathan Brown, Dan Hunter and Owen Ronald ahead of them. Tony Garth again led the line.
The other new signing, Alex Eguagie, featured in the matchday squad, with Dean Rhappozzoh dropping to the bench alongside ARCC goalkeeper Aaron Pollock, Devan McColl, Adam McMillan, Alfie Lumsden and Leo Clark.
Albion Rovers got proceedings underway at Keanie Park, where Johnstone Burgh started the better of the two sides. The Wee Rovers struggled to get their foot on the ball or create anything, with the hosts looking dangerous every time they went forward.
The first warning sign came from a corner, with a lovely delivery finding the head of Malky McDonald, who headed just wide of the post.
Referee Scott Donohue waved away penalty claims for Johnstone Burgh when McDonald and Broque Watson linked up nicely down the left-hand side, with McDonald going down under a challenge from Chris Neeson.
Moments later, amid claims of innocence from the Rovers players, Kian Gilday won the ball in a dangerous area and sent a cross into the box. The delivery was only cleared as far as Max Kerr on the edge of the box, and the midfielder picked up the loose ball before slotting a low effort past Tamosevicius to give Johnstone Burgh the lead in the 10th minute.
The hosts continued to turn the screw, looking dangerous with every attack, and Kerr bagged his brace just minutes after opening the scoring. A short corner and cross was cleared once again, but only as far as the midfielder, who flicked the ball into the air over the head of a defending Rover before catching it on the half-volley. His effort bounced into the ground before looping over Tamosevicius to give the hosts a 2-0 lead.
Johnstone Burgh had the opportunity to put the game beyond doubt just after the 20-minute mark. Another dangerous corner caused problems, with Tamosevicius unfortunate to get caught underneath the ball, resulting in a scramble inside the six-yard box before the danger was eventually cleared.
The Burgh continued to apply pressure, and after Dan Hunter was penalised for a high boot just outside the area, Calvin McGrory whipped a superb ball into the box. Thomas Orr’s powerful header whistled just past the post.
The Wee Rovers’ best opportunity to pull a goal back in the first half came in the 32nd minute. Duncan won the ball high up the pitch before driving forward and putting pressure on the goalkeeper. The clearance fell to Owen Ronald with an open goal to aim at just outside the box, but a heavy touch allowed Scott Forrester to recover and clear for a throw-in.
At the other end moments later, Donohue pointed to the spot for the hosts. Gilday had cleared the ball up the field for the onrushing Orr, with Innes Clark finding himself on the wrong side of the attacker and tugging at Orr’s jersey. The referee adjudged the young defender to have fouled his man and awarded the penalty.
Fortunately for Rovers, youngster Tamosevicius, who has impressed in the opening games of the season, stepped up when it mattered. Orr’s powerful effort from the penalty spot was well saved before Neeson’s clearance gave Albion Rovers some much-needed breathing space.
The visitors gained some confidence following Tamosevicius’ huge save, growing into the game during the remainder of the first half, although the score remained unchanged heading into the break.
Saunders made two substitutions before the second half got underway, with Owen Ronald and Tony Garth replaced by Alex Eguagie and Leo Clark.
The new legs brought energy to the Wee Rovers, who started the half brightly despite the worsening weather conditions. Hunter and Eguagie linked up well after the midfielder intercepted a pass and drove up the left-hand side before finding the striker. Eguagie held the ball up well before laying it back to Hunter, whose shot was blocked and turned behind for a corner, but the Rovers couldn’t make the opportunity count.
Johnstone Burgh’s best chance of the second half came in the 53rd minute. Rock Moses’ misplaced pass was picked up by Ian McShane, who attempted to chip Tamosevicius from inside the box, but his effort drifted wide of the mark.
Albion Rovers continued to fight, looking to get back into the match and creating some decent opportunities in the process, with Nathan Brown impressing. A ball over the top from a quick free-kick allowed Brown to get across his man, with the slippery conditions contributing to a poor clearance and giving the Wee Rovers some encouragement.
Minutes later, Brown controlled the ball beautifully on the left before playing it into the box for Duncan, who got a shot away. The goalkeeper parried the effort away before his defence cleared the danger.
The Wee Rovers’ perseverance finally paid off just after the hour mark. A clearance from McGrory went as far as Moses on the halfway line, who passed it forward to Innes Clark. The defender got his head up and played an incisive pass through the lines for Duncan, who received the ball on the turn before driving into the box and placing his effort into the top-left corner of the net to give the visitors a deserved goal.
Chances from Brown as Albion Rovers hunted for an equaliser added further tension to the game. Stevie Farrell turned to his bench to freshen things up, but as the substitutes took too long to leave the field, the hosts were forced to play with nine players momentarily. This resulted in a booking for Watson for obstructing Tamosevicius as the goalkeeper tried to restart play quickly, with a war of words then exchanged between the two technical areas.
Johnstone Burgh’s changes proved beneficial, with the introduction of Gabriel Erhabor allowing for better hold-up play and a few half chances from the big striker. Innes Clark was forced to withdraw through injury after putting his body on the line with a big block, with Devan McColl coming on to replace the centre-half. The impressive Brown then made way for Adam McMillan going into the final 15 minutes.
McMillan almost made an instant impact. Burgh captain Mark Durnan gave away a free-kick and found himself in the book after wrestling with Eguagie. Hunter’s resulting delivery was spot on, with McMillan rising highest to head past Brett Long, but the linesman raised his flag for offside.
Durnan gave away another foul in the same area five minutes later and was fortunate not to receive a second yellow card. Liam Dolan took the resulting quick free-kick, passing to McColl, who did well to beat two opposition players before driving forward and lashing the ball into the net from 25 yards, leaving Long with no chance and bringing Albion Rovers level.
The final ten minutes became increasingly intense, with both sides hunting for a winning goal. McLaughlin found himself in the book following a professional foul as the hosts went on a dangerous run.
The game became increasingly physical, and Durnan finally received his marching orders in injury time after picking up a second yellow card for a foul on Leo Clark.
The whistle blew shortly after, with both sides left frustrated at the full-time whistle. Johnstone Burgh were left to rue their failure to put the game beyond doubt, while Albion Rovers were disappointed that they couldn’t go on to claim all three points despite an impressive comeback.
The Wee Rovers leave Keanie Park with their first point of the new season and will look to build on an impressive second-half performance when Caledonian Braves visit Cliftonhill next week.
Johnstone Burgh: Long, Faulds, Durnan, Forrester, Gilday, McDonald (King, 88), McShane, McGrory, Watson (Murphy, 77), M. Kerr (K. Kerr, 67), Orr (Erhabor, 67)
Subs: Scullion, Williamson, Esplin
ALBION ROVERS: Tamosevicius, Neeson, I. Clark (McMillan, 74), Moses, Dolan, McLaughlin, Hunter (Rhappozzoh, 90), Duncan, Ronald (L. Clark, 45), Brown (McColl, 74), Garth (Eguagie, 45)
Subs: Pollock, Lumsden
