When I was at uni ah kicked about wi' a few folk fae Coatbridge (well, Sykeside, if truth be known) and occasionally even now I still bump into Jones (even though, of course, I try not to). I'd half expeced him to be at today's match and when he didn't show I half expected him to be waiting in ma living room when I got home, having already tried (and failed) to knob ma missus. Sadly, there was no sign of the Jones and so that story, for now at least, will have to wait for another day.... (if you see me, make sure you ask me about his 'wife' and the worst kept secret of the twentieth century!).

So, today it was the turn of the Wee Rovers to be put to the sword by the Fife (by now, I s'pose we'd be justified in calling them the Mighty Fife). The scoreline makes it look like this afternoon was another stroll in the park for our heroes but the truth is that, with twenty minutes to go, I was already rehearsing a match report that went along the lines of, 'even when it's no' pretty, it's great tae see that the boys can grind out a result'. I should have remembered that with Paul McManus and Johnnie Smart in the form they're in at the moment, we're unlikely to ever win another game by just a single goal.

Unseasonally pleasant weather welcomed the boys out onto the pitch today (just three layers of clothes and nae need for ma jacket until after half time) and after a minute's applause for the memory of Jeek Fleming (well observed by the travelling support as well, so thanks for that), the game kicked off shortly after three. Right away it was apparent that this one was gonna be a toughie.

Cheered on by a small but boistrous band of fans, the Rovers looked a decent outfit and were obviously comfortable in their efforts to get us on the back foot. As, on the park, they pushed forward, on the sidelines an over zealous East Fife steward decided to cause some bother by moving the away support (all three dozen of them) into their own bit of the stand - 'ahent they chains'. That got them upset, that got them singing, and that got through to the players on the pitch who started to press us even harder. Way to go ya officious dafty!

Just past twenty minutes the ref awarded Albion a penalty. I'd like to be able to come up with something like 'looked like a fifty/fifty' or 'just a mis-timed tackle' but the truth is I don't even think that the whistler would be able to tell you why he awarded the spot-kick. But never worry, McCulloch was more than a match for the Rovers' Roddy Hunter's tame effort; the visitors' pain compounded when the rebound effort thundered off the post and went wide.

The boy who'd missed with the rebound had obiously walked under a ladder on the way tae the team bus this morning - fifteen minutes later Ciaran Donnelly was given his marching orders, handling in his own box after Paul McManus's attempt looked goalbound. Such was the control and composure that the ref was excercising this afternoon that for a minute or two nae bugger knew what was happening - penalty for the Fife? Free kick for the Rovers? Booking for Tweedie?

Thankfully, when the dust settled, the ball was popped onto the penalty spot and Dougie Cameron stepped up and casually poked it away. Not exactly against the run of play, but I was more than happy to be a goal to the good when the ref blew for half time five minutes later.

Despite being down to ten men, the Rovers continued to make things hard for the Fife. However, slowly our superiority began to show. I've noticed this season that, apart from in the Huns game (and that's understandable....), we've consistently looke like we're all capable of lasting the full ninety minutes. Equally consistently, our opponents have run out of steam on the hour mark. That, together with some inspired substitutions by UberBoss, Dave Baikie, was again to prove to be fundamental in our success today. Craig O'Reilly and John Martin replaced Kevin Gordon and Paul Stewart and were their usual hard working selves. But new boy, Robert Linn, on loan from Morton, was to have a belter of a debut.

With about twenty minutes remaining, Paul McManus, kept up his recent outstanding record and doubled our lead. It was a long ball from McCulloch but Paul controlled it perfectly, rounded the keeper (leaving the dispairing number one lookibg like a prize prick - well done Mr McManus) and slipped the ball home from close range. If that one calmed the nerves, the next one nearly took the roof off.

Barely ten minutes after making his first appearance, Rob Linn pretty much guaranteed immortal-hero-status by nearly bursting the net with a perfect thirty yard shot. The quality of the finish would have graced any game in Europe this weekend; it was pleasing that we had a few more in Bayview today to enjoy it. If this kind of fare isn't worth ten quid a go I really don't know what is!

Thereafter, it was 'shooty in' for the last ten minutes. With the Rovers in disarray, Smartie was able to forget about his duties at the back and head forward. And with just two minutes left he was rewarded with another great goal from close range. Set up by a lovely wee pass by Craig O'Reilly, the big centre half blasted it past Mitchell in the Albion goal and secured another great victory for our heroes.

With Stranraer dropping two points at home against Arbroath, we've now stretched our lead at the top of the table to five points. That's a quarter of the season over, twenty two points already secured and the goals just keep on coming. The boys now have a well earned break for a fortnight. Always, the task master, however, Dave Baikie, has arranged another wee 'friendly' for Thursday night - this time it's against Dundee who, by all accounts (and I mean by that, from John Jackson at ma work, who's a Partick Thistle fan), they're looking pretty strong so far this term. It'll be another opportunity to see just how far this group of players is progressing before we get back to the real job at East Stirling in a fortnight. C'mon the Fife!

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