‘Four’midable Albion Rovers continue impressive start

ALBION ROVERS 4

Albion Rovers made it three wins from three with a comfortable 4-1 success away to Sporting BJD on Saturday afternoon.

The Monasterboice outfit started off much brighter but were caught on the counter with 10 minutes played as the hosts took the lead with a goal from close range.

Albion reasserted themselves once more and began to dominate in midfield as the game grew more physical.

Their reward came on 22 minutes when a ball into the box from a free kick broke to Stephen Martin and from 12 yards out the midfielder volleyed a shot right into the roof of the net to restore parity.

Then, with half-time fast approaching, Albion took the lead with another goal from a set piece. This time Noel Myles whipped in a free kick and Eric Winters rise highest and bulleted a header past the Sporting BJD keeper.

The Cavan outfit were not shy in committing to tackles and the free count quickly began to run up against the hosts.

With 58 minutes played an over-zealous challenge led to yet another Albion free kick on the edge of the opposition box.

This time Myles went for goal and from 25 yards out he curled a shot around the right-hand side of the box into the bottom corner to make it 3-1.

After that there was little sign of a comeback from BJD, with James Tester and Dylan Quinn both dominating their respective wings in support of the front two.

The outcome was effectively decided beyond doubt on 67 minutes when Sporting were reduced to 10 men as Ross Kinch was upended on the edge of the box.

This time Tester took the set piece and rifled his shot into the top corner to make it 4-1.

Geoff McQuillan made a raft of changes in the latter stages to give some of his fringe players a run-out as his side easily saw out the win.

Albion ROVERS: Stephen Beirth, Ryan Levins, Dylan Myles, Noel Myles, Ross Kinch (Ian Cusack), Stephen Martin, James Tester (Georgi Hristolov), Eric Winters, Josh O’Reilly (Callum Sheedy), Conor McQuillan, Dylan Quinn (Jamie Kirwan).