Play-offs 2011: Albion Rovers 3-1 Annan Athletic
Love hurts as Annan left heartbroken
By ANDREW SOUTHWICK at Cliftonhill
"FANTASTIC" said Rovers boss Paul Martin, but not a fantastic performance.
Over the piece Albion Rovers did enough to give them a comfortable two-goal cushion in Sunday's second leg.
However, a 4-1 defeat at Annan earlier in the season still lingers, and the Coatbridge side know they haven't booked their Division Two spot yet.
Robert Love was the hero for the home side, sinking Annan with a hat-trick, but it could have been so different on a windy night on the west coast.
Annan had recovered from the loss of an early goal to fire level before half-time, and proceded to lay siege to Derek Gaston's goal, but couldn't find the break.
Up against the wind in the second half, Albion Rovers - and Love in particular - took full advantage.
Love grabbed his first in the 14th minute. John Gemmell fired in a cross from the left, and with Annan's defence all at sea Love had an easy finish at the back post.
Annan though had the better of the first 45 minutes, but were failing to seriously trouble Gaston's goal, all until the last five minutes.
Sean O'Connor's cut-back for Aaron Muirhead perhaps should have ended with the ball in the net, but Muirhead's couldn't connect with any vigour.
However, he faired much better minutes later with the equaliser as his long throw caused all the damage, and Ian Harty nipped in for the equaliser.
They pushed for a second, Kevin Neilson putting an effort over the bar, but the half-time whistle came at the right time for the nervy home support.
With the tie very much open, it was with great disappointment that the second half struggled to get going, though the fierce wind was playing its part, wth every goal-kick from Craig Summersgill landing short of the half-way line.
With the wind behind them, Albion were now the aggressor, and took the lead with twenty minutes to go.
Tony Stevenson took advantage of Mark Docherty's indecision in defence to steal the ball off him, but he tried to be too clever taking on the goalkeeper and the chance appeared to be gone. However, he managed to cut the ball back to love who fired Albion back in front.
Love then made it 3-1 in the 77th minute with a neat finish from close range after Gemmell's flick.
Rovers manager Paul Martin was happy with the result, but knows his side didn't perform at their best.
"It was a fantastic result, but not a fantastic display. For a period they caused us problems.
"Annan can certainly cause us problems. There's a long, long way to go yet."
Annan boss Harry Cairney felt he saw enough from his side to suggest they can still make Division Two after the sides meet again on Sunday.
He said: "It's not over but we'll need to do much better on Sunday."
After a late bust-up between team-mates Aaron Muirhead and Mark Docherty, Cairney said there was no problems post-match.
"Mark was a bit annoyed with his part in one of the goals. But it's fine, there was no boxing in the dressing room."
Albion Rovers: Gaston; Reid, Donnelly, Lumsden, McGowan; Canning, Stevenson; Chaplain; Love (Innes 85), Gemmell, Lawless (Ferry 74).
Subs not used: Hamilton, Benton, Gilmartin(gk).
Annan Athletic: Summersgill; Watson, Neilson, Aitken, Docherty; Muirhead (Felvus 85), Steele, Macfarlane (Gilfillan 78), Sloan; O’Connor, Harty.
Subs not used: Jardine, MacBeth, Jamieson(gk).
Referee: Alan Muir.
Attendance: 1,014.
Man of the Match: Robert Love (Albion Rovers)
