Comeback complete
CAMBUSBARRON ROVERS ........................... 4 VIEWFIELD ROVERS ........................................ 2
Rovers got their President’s Cup campaign off to a winning start with a victory over old rivals Viewfield Rovers with a fine second half performance.
Viewfield scored twice in the first half but the home side came out more determined and within 15 minutes they were in front.
Kyle Allison and Mark McDowell levelled matters and Allison was on hand to put Rovers in front.
The comeback was complete on 72 minutes when Ross McEwan got on the end of a cross from the right and headed home to complete the scoring.
On Saturday, Rovers are away to Kilsyth in their second President’s Cup sectional match with a 2pm kick-off at Kilsyth Sportsfield.
Stirling Albion slumped to defeat against bottom club Albion Rovers as they suffered their third home loss in a row without scoring.
It was a desperately disappointing day for Kevin Rutkiewicz’s side, who have slipped to sixth in the table and remain 10 points outside the play-offs after Annan lost at leaders Peterhead.
Former Queen’s Park midfielder Gregor Fotheringham scored the only goal after just four minutes as Kevin Harper’s team notched up their first win and clean sheet since beating the Binos 3-0 at Cliftonhill at the end of September.
Visiting keeper Peter Morrison made a fine save in the last minute from a Scott Glover header on an emotional afternoon for the Rovers, whose goalkeeping coach Michael Duke tragically passed away the previous weekend.
“It’s been a difficult week and I think the big man was looking down on us with that save at the end,” said Rovers boss Harper.
On the field, things are looking up for the SPFL’s lowest-ranked club. In the morning they learned they had been awarded a 3-0 default victory after Clyde fielded an ineligible player in their recent meeting and this victory has moved them to within two points of Berwick Rangers.
Stirling have little left to play for now this season, with the top four as good as out of reach, but Rutkiewicz will expect more of his players when they go to Broadwood this Saturday.
It took a late Dylan Mackin goal to earn the hosts all three points against a battling Rovers team in a midweek fixture last month and this was a similar contest but with a different outcome.
On a bright but cold and windy afternoon, there was a minute’s applause before the match in memory of Duke. Stirling showed two changes from the team that beat Cowdenbeath 2-1 at Central Park last week, with Darren Smith (suspended) and Peter MacDonald replaced by Mackin and Max Ashmore – the latter lasted only 25 minutes before being hooked for Scott Glover.
Albion Rovers had scored just two goals in their last nine outings but were ahead inside four minutes. On-loan Dundee goalkeeper Calum Ferrie did well to deny George Newell but slack defending allowed Fotheringham to follow up and profit from close range.
It was a dreadful start and the first half ended with Stirling having scarcely created a chance. Rovers snapped into tackles and closed down the space