St. Mirren v Albion Rovers match report

Saints’ travelled to Coatbridge on Saturday, to take on League One Albion Rovers in the third round of the Irn Bru Cup. It was a long day.

The League one side took the lead six minutes in when a free-kick was weakly punched away by Jamie Langfield and the rebound was converted by Ross Dunlop. Seven minutes later the lead was doubled by Rovers’ captain Michael Dunlop, who rose above everyone to score the second.

Half an hour in the lead was halved by academy graduate Lewis Morgan, who cut inside on the edge of the box and curled a shot into the top corner. Five minutes later and another academy graduate levelled the game. Stevie Mallan’s deflected effort made the score to a piece. Tom Walsh’s cross was converted by John Sutton to give the Buddies’ the lead. But the first half drama didn’t end there. A minute before the break the home side levelled thanks to Ross Dunlop’s second goal of the day leaving it three all at the interval after an action-packed first half.

Andrew McDonald was brought on at half-time for Jordan Stewart, for his first team debut and the full-back was unlucky not to open his account with a blocked effort. Lawrence Shankland was also brought on for David Clarkson and he would go on to score the winning goal in the first half of the extra 30 minutes as the game ended all square at the end of the regulation nine. The Aberdeen loanee won the game as John Sutton’s deflected effort came his way and he headed home from about two yards.

The other positive for Saints as they headed into Tuesday’s fourth round draw was the second half return of Rocco Quinn. The midfielder had been out with injury since the 16^th of July made a substitute appearance replacing Kyle Hutton. Full time from Coatbridge, saw the final score Albion Rovers 3 St. Mirren 4.

Full time from Coatbridge, saw the final score Albion Rovers 3 St. Mirren 4.

Article written by Kyle Gunn