Albion Rovers 1 Gretna 2
Scorers: Albion Rvrs - Chisholm (90); Gretna - Deuchar (6), Grady (76)
GRETNA moved into the second round of the CIS Cup courtesy of a hard-fought 2-1 victory over third-division Albion Rovers.
Albion made high-flying Gretna work all the way to the end for their victory, even though in the previous four encounters between the sides Gretna had scored 23 goals without reply.
Gretna striker Kenny Deuchar was involved in two chances within the first five minutes but Rovers keeper Jamie Ewings was on hand to foil him on both occasions.
However, it proved to be third time lucky for the big striker as he rose above the Albion defence to head home following a Ryan Baldacchino corner on six minutes. It was one-way traffic after that but Rovers held firm until the latter stages, when James Grady headed home a Baldacchino cross from close range on 76 minutes.
Many expected the floodgates would open at this stage but it wasn't to be, as it was Albion who notched a late consolation through Ian Chisholm.
Albion Rovers Ewings, Lennox, Black, O'Neil (Sichi 82), Lennon, McGhee, Bonnar (Franch 78), Friel, Chisholm, Young, Donnelly (Wilson 88). Subs: Noble, Creer.
Gretna Main, Nicholls (Tosh 70), Aitken, McGuffie, Townsley, Ennis, Baldacchino, Grady, Deuchar, Bingham, Skelton (McQuilken 70). Subs: Graham, Boyd, Mathieson Referee C Hardy Attendance 273
Stirling Albion 2 QOS 1
Scorers: Stirling - Connolly (10, 12); QOS - McNiven (31)
SECOND-division Stirling ousted their first-division opponents from the CIS Cup thanks to two early strikes from Paddy Connolly.
The striker netted his first goal for the club after 10 minutes, calmly converting a David O'Brien cross from the left. He then pounced again with a similar effort two minutes later, this time Robert Dunn providing the telling cross from the right.
The visitors looked down and out at that point but gave themselves hope on 31 minutes when Stephen Payne set up David McNiven to fire home a low drive.
But, despite this glimmer of hope, Stirling held on for the win.
Stirling Albion Hogarth; Nugent, Devine, Roycroft, Graham; Boyack, P Hay, Fraser, Dunn (C Hay, 76); Connolly, O'Brien Queen of South Barnard; Paton (Burns, 90), English, Gibson, Wood; Carr (Thomson, 52), Lovell, Bowey, McNiven; Lyle, Payne Referee Kevin Toner Attendance 723
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