IRN BRU Scottish Football League
Division Three
Saturday 7th November 2009
Albion Rovers 0 Montrose 0

A disputed goal with five minutes remaining denied Montrose Football Club their first league victory of the at Cliftonhill Stadium on Saturday.
Striker John Gemmell was the man who netted the goal from close range, but despite the number nine being clearly onside the goal was chalked off for an offside flag from the assistant referee.
In a dour clash the point picked up was only the Gable Endies fourth of the season but made in three unbeaten away matches in a row following on from a draw at Forfar Athletic and the cup victory at Banks o Dee.
Manager Steven Tweed made three changes from side that lost 3 – 0 at home to league leaders Livingston the previous Saturday. Andrew McNeil returned to goal to replace Steven Coutts, Sean Crighton was back from suspension and came in for Marek Tomana who had picked up an injury in the Livingston fixture while Ryan Stewart was in up front in place of the suspended Sean Anderson.
Montrose lined up with McNeil in goal and Milligan and Campbell in the full back positions. Tweed and Crighton were in central defence. Hegarty, Davidson, Watson and Sinclair were in midfield while Gemmell partnered youngster Stewart in attack.
Tomana was on the bench alongside Gordon Pope, John Maitland, Daryl Nicol and Steven Coutts.
Ex Montrose midfielder Paul Stewart made a rare start for Albion Rovers.
In the 7th minutes Alan Reid crossed for Steven McKeown to shoot while but he was off balance and predictably the target was missed. Marc Pollock then passed the ball to Pat Walker only for Alan Campbell to intervene and cut it out.
Albion Rovers went close again when Paul Stewart fired in a shot that was met with a fine diving save by former Hibs stopper Andy McNeil. At the other end of the pitch former Albion Rovers frontman John Gemmell saw his snap shot be confidently dealt with by Derek Gaston in Albion Rovers goal.
Mark Pollock then provided Pat Walker with the ball which he struck but failed to unduly trouble Andrew McNeil.
Montrose went close a minute later Chris Hegarty fired the ball but it went well over the goal.
With half-time approaching Albion Rovers striker Walker got his foot to the ball a couple of yards from the Gable Endies goal only for the effort to be stifled by the ‘keeper and a defender in combination.
Half-time saw a minor floodlight failure destine the second period to be played in relatively murky conditions.
Albion Rovers made a change when Danny Ferry replaced McKeown in 54 minutes as the defender seemed to have suffered a dislocated shoulder.
A quality Fraser Milligan run ended with a poor cross into Albion Rovers box being cleared before any Gable Endies attacker could get close to it.
In the 65th minute Albion Rovers made another change when McCusker came on to replace Walker.
Play switched ends with Pollock advancing upfield and passing to Paul Tyrrell who in turn gave it to Ciaran Donnelly who proceeded to hit the ball wide of the mark.
Chris Hegarty shot too high a few minutes later Then Alan Benton of Rovers and John Gemmell were booked for an off the ball spat.
Montrose then made a change with Daryl Nicol coming on for Aaron Sinclair in the 72nd minute.
Albion Rovers Donnelly tried his luck from distance but had given the ball too much elevation. A Ferry move ended when he lost the ball and it subsequently finding Donnelly who once again fired over the opposition goal.
With ten minutes left Gordon Pope came on in place of Ryan Stewart. It was the left back’s first appearance since breaking his foot against Elgin City on the opening day of the season.
In 85 minutes it seemed that Montrose had stolen the three points when John Gemmell got between a couple of defenders and slipped the ball between Gaston and his post from a cross from Daryl Nicol. The Albion Rovers hearts started beating once more when the referee ruled it offside after seeing his assistant’s flag was raised. It seemed a harsh decision as Gemmell certainly wasn’t offside, so the decision must have been against one of his team-mates.
Montrose midfielder Paul Watson then tried himself to grab a late winner but his attempt from the edge of the box was wide of the mark. Then Benton for Rovers had a shot cleared on the line following a Donnelly free-kick.
Deep into injury time Paul Watson again when close for Montrose when he had his shot deflected wide when it looked destined for the back of the net.