Saturday, 17 March 2018

VENUE #105 ALBION ROVERS Cliftonhill Stadium

 CLIFTONHILL STADIUM 





              Home Of:  Albion Rovers                Ground Opened:  1919
Previous Ground:  Meadow Park
       Other Uses:  Stock Car Racing
                                Greyhound Racing
                                Speedway



Venue #105

NEAREST RAILWAY STATION
     The nearest railway station is Coatdyke, which is about a ten minute walk away from the Cliftonhill Stadium. As you come out of the station bear left and proceed up Quarry Street. Continue over the crossroads (with a shop on one corner) and after about a quarter of a mile a church on your right. At the end of Quarry Street turn left onto Muiryhall Street and then turn right onto Main Street. Pass the Fire Station on the left and then Owens Bar. Continue along the Main Street and you will reach the stadium on your right.

CLIFTONHILL STADIUM
     From the outside Cliftonhill Stadium looks interesting as from the roadside the bright colours and raised elevation of the Main Stand, certainly catch the eye. However on the inside you quickly see why the ground is is not one of the better in the League having only two sides open to spectators for matches. On one side is the small Main Stand, which is a strange looking affair, as at some point it has had an extension to its roof bolted onto the front. It has wooden seating to the rear and terracing to the front, with several supporting pillars which may impede your view. However, the terraced paddock is no longer in use. Opposite is the reasonably sized covered Albion Street Terrace. This terrace runs about half the length of the pitch. Again, this simple stand has several supporting pillars. It is a pity that this terrace has been closed for a number of years now due to safety concerns. In 2015 a small open terrace was constructed at the Airdrie End of the ground, whilst the opposite West End is unused. There is a cinder track that runs around the playing surface and at one time the ground was also used for speedway meetings as well as greyhound and stock car racing. The stadium is also overlooked by a number of residential properties located above the Albion Street side.
     Away fans share part of the Main stand, there is no segregation as it would be virtually impossible to impose separation in such a small area plus there seems to be no need, there was plenty of banter yesterday between rival supporters but all taken in good nature.  

GROUND LAYOUT


 A   MAIN STAND



 B   ALBION STREET TERRACE



 C   WEST END ( UNUSED)



 D   AIRDRIE END



Today's Visitors  ARBROATH  are currently third in the Ladbrokes league one table.  In fact, both these clubs did each other a favour last weekend, Rovers visited Stair Park and stunted Stranraer's bid for a play-off place by beating the Blues 3-2 while Arbroath took on Rover's fellow relegation candidates Forfar Athletic at Gayfield beating the Loons 2-0 leaving Rovers just one point adrift of the Angus outfit in the relegation play-off position.
     It's a well known fact that Arbroath hold the record for the biggest win in football's history beating Bon Accord of Aberdeenshire 36-0 in the first round of the Scottish cup on the 12th of September 1885.  Amazing as that sounds the Red lichties had 5 goals ruled out for offside, just imagine that Bon Accord side taking on the present day Manchester City team, the term cricket score would most definitely be more realistic.

     Arbroath have visited Cliftonhill Stadium 10 times in the last 10 years winning 3 times, losing 5 times with honours shared twice.  The last time the Lichties won here was on the 9th of February 2013 winning by one goal to nil, the scorer was Colin Hamilton in the 35th minute.  On Saturday 15th 2007 Albion Rovers beat Arbroath by 5 goals to 2 with goals from, (Albion Rovers), Patrick Walker (10, 90), Kenny Wright (25 pen), Graham Watson (53) and Rod Hunter (84) and for Arbroath, Barry Sellars (36) and a David Scott (38)  own goal. let's hope today's game is as entertaining with lots of goals.


ALBION ROVERS ... 1   ARBROATH ... 2

     It was a freezing cold wind that ruled this game from the start, Arbroath were kicking with it in the first half but couldn't seem to work it to their advantage although they dominated for the first 15 minutes.
    The Wee Rovers took the lead in the 17th minute against the wind and the run of play, a Ross Perry corner was converted virtually on the goal line by the head of Alan Trouten.
    The goal inspired confidence into Rovers who seemed more able to cope with the conditions and a strong Arbroath side, they kept the ball better and pressed the Lichties back in their own half for 15 minutes but then Arbroath regained their momentum and became one with the beastly wind from the east using it to get behind the Rovers defence and in the 37th minute a shot from the left by Danny Denholm was parried out by Albion keeper Keiran Wright straight into the path of Omar Kader who slotted the ball home from 10 yards for the equaliser. 

     Rovers had the wind advantage in the second period but suffered as Arbroath did early in the first half with a hit and hope attitude that never really troubled the Lichties to be fair except for a 30 yard shot that cannoned off the Arbroath bar early on.





     The turn around was completed in the 54th minute when Harlain Mbayo was adjudged to have brought down Ryan Wallace in the penalty area and the Arbroath centre forward stepped up himself to convert the spot kick.  





     The team from Angus held on comfortably till the end and secured another three points leaving them in third place in the table 3 points clear of Alloa with Rovers still in that relegation play off place with bottom placed Queens park closing in.

                             MATCH DETAILS


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