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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Andy McGilvray

Albion Rovers 1, Stranraer 0: Wilson rocket hands Rovers a vital win

Albion Rovers bagged back-to-back wins in League Two thanks to Callum Wilson's second-half rocket.

The captain struck in 59 minutes to give Rovers a win over Stranraer that they just about deserved, and the Coatbridge side even had the luxury of a missed penalty.

Rovers took the lead in 59 minutes when captain Callum Wilson sent a rocket ripping into the top right corner.

Stranraer edged the first half, with James Hilton seeing his low shot well blocked by Rovers keeper Jack Leighfield, a minute after Charlie Reilly sent a shot whistling past the post after a good move by the hosts.

Dean Hawkshaw saw his header crash off the bar, and Hilton sent a shot wide when he might have done better.

Reilly was a problem for Stranraer though and created chances for himself and others, but too often Rovers were off-target.

But the hosts dominated the second half and even had a couple of penalty claims denied before they were finally awarded one - only to miss.

Rovers went into this on the back of a four-game unbeaten run, with a win and three draws, as they hit form at a crucial time..

Rovers boss Brian Reid perhaps unsurprisingly kept faith with the team that beat East Fife last weekend.

Charlie Reilly caused Stranraer problems in the first half but should have done better with an early chance (Stuart Vance/ReachPlc)

His Stranraer counterpart Jamie Hamill made one enforced change to the side that lost against Stenhousemuir last time out, with Sean McIntosh coming in for suspended Kyle Girvan.

Rovers had the early chances, with Charlie Reilly seeing a free kick and subsequent shot both blocked, and his corner from the right was headed over by Jamie Leslie in seven minutes.

A good, long ball over the top should have released Callum Wilson, but he was caught, and when the ball made its way into the centre, Reilly blasted well over from around 25 yards.

Rovers were looking good, but slack play just outside their own box led to Stranraer nearly taking the lead in 14 minutes when Scott McLean sent a low shot just past the left post.

But the hosts should have taken the lead in 17 minutes when Leslie made a superb turn in midfield and released Reilly on the left, but his angled shot landed inches past the right post.

Stranraer missed a gilt-edged chance of their own 60 seconds later when James Hilton found himself with a sight of goal, but Rovers keeper Jack Leighfield made a superb block with his right foot.

Callum Wilson linked up a lot of Rovers' first-half play (Stuart Vance/ReachPlc)

Rovers thought they had a penalty claim in 20 minutes when Adam Fernie picked out Callum Wilson inside the box, and he appeared to be tripped, but referee Graham Beaton was having none of it.

Dean Hawkshaw went closer in 25 minutes with a looping header that struck the underside of the bar and was hacked clear off the line by Rovers.

Reilly did some good work to race down the left flank in 36 minutes, but his cross over the face of goal was too far ahead of Callum Wilson.

At the other end, Hawkshaw's corner from the right was headed past the near post by Hilton in 40 minutes.

Rovers' Fernie went on a run in 43 minutes before hitting a rising shot, but it was straight at Luke Scullion.

The hosts were denied what looked like a decent penalty shout in 57 minutes when Callum Wilson went down under a challenge by Dylan Forrest, but the referee wasn't interested.

Stranraer passed up another good chance in 57 minutes when Matty Grant sliced a shot wide of the right post, with virtually an open goal in front of him.

Rovers took the lead in 59 minutes when Scullion made a terrific save from Blair Malcolm's effort, but could do nothing to prevent Callum Wilson's shot from ripping into the top right corner.

Rovers scored another fine goal (Ben Kearney)

The hosts were awarded a penalty in 77 minutes when Reilly was decked inside the box, but he stepped up and saw the spot-kick saved by Scullion at the bottom right corner.

Rovers went close again in 83 minutes when Wilson played a short free kick to Reilly, but his shot hit the outside of the left post.

ALBION ROVERS: Leighton, Fernie, Sonkur, Graham, E. Wilson, Reilly, Fleming, Leslie, Malcolm, C. Wilson, Roberts (Dolan, 76).

Subs (not used): Smith (GK), Testa, McArthur, Duncan, Wright, Fagan.

Bookings: Sonkur (53), Reilly (56)

STRANRAER: Scullion, Robertson, McIntosh, Ross, Hilton, Gallagher, Hawkshaw (Walker, 64), Forrest (Brady, 80), McLean (Elis, 64), Kouider-Aissa (Malcolm, 74), Grant (Watt, 80).

Subs (not used): O'Connor (GK), Dunn, Eze.

Bookings: Grant (67), Robertson (77)

Referee: Graham Beaton.

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