Match Report - By John Hoey

A Paul McManus goal six minutes before half-time was enough to net City three vital points against Albion Rovers at Cliftonhill.

This was City’s second successive victory, the first time they have achieved two back to back wins this season, and there was no doubt that they fully deserved to win the game.

The visitors mastered the horrendous gale-force wind better than their opponents and this win will set them up nicely for next Monday’s local derby against Forfar Athletic at Glebe Park.

There was a blow to City supporters just prior to the kick-off when it was revealed that fans’ favourite Charlie King was missing from the City team due to injury.

He was replaced up front by Paul McManus who joined Jim Lister in attack with a midfield of David McKenna, Craig Molloy, Gary Brady and Bryan Hodge. Mick Dunlop and Scott Buist continued in central defence with Paul McLean and Scott Smith in the full-back positions. Craig Nelson was in his normal place in goal.

It was clear from the outset that the extremely strong swirling wind was going to play havoc with proceedings but City stand-in skipper Mick Dunlop won the toss and elected to play with the wind in his team’s favour.

The visitors won a corner after only four minutes, but Garry Brady’s in-swinging kick was easily gathered by Rovers keeper Derek Gaston and the keeper was called into action again just four minutes later when he dived to his right to hold a Scott Smith cross from the left.

City were having slightly the better of things at this early stage of the match and they threatened again in the 16th minute when they won another corner after a David McKenna shot from the edge of the box was deflected but Brady’s corner was again well held by Gaston.

In the 23rd minute Craig Molloy passed to Paul McManus at the edge of the box but he blasted the ball high over the bar.

Albion threatened for the first time in the 26th minute when an Alan Reid cross into the box for striker Jamie Gilmartin who managed to get in a header but it lacked power and penetration and the danger was cleared by the City defence.

City went back on to the attack and McManus made space on the right for himself just a minute later and delivered a low cross into the box but unfortunately, there were no takers.

City kept trying to go forward in the difficult conditions and they got their reward in the 39th minute when they scored a vital opening goal.

Molloy picked up the ball at the edge of the box and slipped it through to McManus around eight yards from goal and the ex East Fife men fired home a low drive into the back of the net.

City tried to keep the momentum going after the break and they won a free-kick at the edge of the Rovers box in the 53rd minute but Smith’s kick was easily saved by Gaston.

The visitors threatened again five minutes later when another Smith cross was headed over by McKenna.

City’s defence were keeping the home strikers at bay and all of Rovers efforts were long-range.

Robert Love had a go from 30 yards in the 62nd minute but it was well wide of the target and Scott Chaplain tried a shot from 25 yards three minutes later which was well saved by Craig Nelson.

Nelson was City’s hero three minutes later when he tipped a net-bound Tony Stevenson drive over the bar

City though were still pressing whenever they had the opportunity and they were unlucky in the 79th minute when a McKenna cross cum shot was just missed by Jim Lister.

Other Results - Irn Bru 2nd Division

Forfar Athletic 2 Airdrie United 3

Diamonds Edge Out Loons

Stenhousemuir 0 Cowdenbeath 2

Good Away Win for Blue Brazil