ACCIES KIDS MADE TO PAY PENALTY

ALBION ROVERS secured a memorable bonus-point win after a dramatic clash with their more illustrious Lanarkshire neighbours Hamilton. The Wee Rovers, having led early, twice came from behind in the second half and then held their nerve in the penalty shootout against a youthful Accies outfit. Rovers goalkeeper Graham Bowman denied Massimo Donati and Greg Docherty from the spot with tremendous saves before hat-trick hero Alan Trouten scored Rovers’ fourth penalty to secure the bragging rights. Angry Accies boss Martin Canning said: ‘I’m very disappointed. I think to lose four goals coming here isn’t good enough. ‘I made eight changes tonight and on what I saw there’s not a lot of boys that are going to force their way into my first team.’ The visitors fell behind as Rovers shocked their Premiership opponents with a ninth-minute opener. Joao Victoria controlled the ball well on the edge of the area before his blocked shot fell to Trouten in the six-yard box and he slammed the ball into the net to give the underdogs an unlikely lead. But in the 38th minute, Accies levelled when a Steven Boyd corner fell to Donati in the box and he smashed the ball into the net. Accies struck again at the tail end of the first half, youth graduate Shaun Want heading the ball into the corner of the net — his first goal for the club. Trouten bagged his second on 53 minutes with a close-range finish but the Accies young guns went back in front five minutes later when Want netted from a few yards. Rovers hit back when Trouten sealed his hat-trick with a wonderful curling shot but ten minutes later, Accies regained control when substitute Rakish Bingham scored from the spot. But Rovers were rewarded in injury time as they forced the match to penalties when Ross Davidson lobbed Accies keeper Ryan Fulton. Rovers boss Brian Kerr said: ‘I’m just glad for the boys that they gave everything and proved that they can play at this level against Premiership sides.’