Albion Rovers 0 Stenhousemuir 2

Last updated : 20 August 2005 By Footymad Previewer

Stenhousemuir maintained their 100 per cent record thanks to a comfortable 2-0 win over Albion Rovers at Cliftonhill.

The Warriors set their stall out early as veteran striker Paul McGrillen went close with two good chances in the opening five minutes.

After 13 minutes the game kicked into life when Lee Sichi was put through on goal by the excellent vision of Scott Houston, but defender Robbie Henderson did just enough to put the striker off as he was just about to pull the trigger.

As the home fans were still cursing their luck, the visitors charged up the park through Frankie Carroll and his cross was met by Joe McAlpine at the back post, and his looping header found the back of the net to put Stenhousemuir ahead.

Albion thought they had an opportunity to get back into the game when Sichi was brought down inside the box by William McCulloch, but referee Martin Sproule waved away their claims.

Stenhousemuir then doubled their lead after 34 minutes when former Albion player Jim Mercer turned the last defender and fired the ball home.

The Warriors could have put the game beyond doubt early in the second half, but a John Paul McBride diving header went just over from close range.

It was Stenhousemuir who were creating all the chances in the final third and they should have made it three after 68 minutes when Mercer picked out McGrillen who controlled the ball well and fired his shot off the advancing Jamie Ewings in the Rovers goal.

Another former Albion player almost made an immediate impact for Stenhousemuir minutes after coming off the bench. Marc McKenzie used his pace to beat the last defender, but his shot went agonisingly wide.

McGrillen almost notched a spectacular third in the dying minutes with a superb lob from an acute angle but the ball just went past the post.