Late sickener for 10-man Bellshill Athletic

Bellshill Athletic fielded an unchanged starting 11 from the previous weekend's win against Johnstone Burgh for last Saturday's 2-1 home defeat by second top St Roch's at Rockburn Park.
St Roch's launch an attack on the Bellshill Athletic goal during Saturday's clash (Pic by Alan Watson)St Roch's launch an attack on the Bellshill Athletic goal during Saturday's clash (Pic by Alan Watson)
St Roch's launch an attack on the Bellshill Athletic goal during Saturday's clash (Pic by Alan Watson)

The visitors rushed forward from the kick-off and ‘Hill keeper Liam Grant did well to keep out efforts from McDonald and Martin.

But he was unable to prevent a fifth minute close range McGuire shot giving St Roch’s an early lead, when he fired a Roan cross into the net from 10 yards.

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Bellshill were reduced to 10 men in the 22nd minute when Brown was ordered off for deliberately kicking Roch’s defender Bryson.

Bellshill reacted well and a Nichol shot was blocked by Roch’s keeper Stark before Brown fired the rebound narrowly past the post.

The Roch’s keeper saved from Robertson and Smith and a McCormack header was cleared by Carter.

St. Roch’s striker Daw went close with a free-kick and Jeffrey headed a Bryson shot off the goal line.

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A 38th minute McGuire shot beat ’Hill keeper Grant but referee Crothers rightly disallowed the “goal” for offside against the Roch striker.

A 43 rd minute McCormack shot was headed clear by Mathieson and Stark denied the ’Hill with excellent saves from Nichol and Robertson.

St Roch’s striker McDonald fired a Carter cross narrowly over the top in the 50 th minute and ’Hill defender Jeffrey headed a Daw shot off the goal line.

’Hill keeper Grant pushed a McDonald header over the top and Jeffrey blocked a goal bound Road attempt.

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Bellshill’s Kane, Smith and Nichol then all had goalbound attempts saved.

Daw fired a Bryson cross off the home post in the 60th minute and ’Hill defender Jeffrey cleared a McGuire header off the line two minutes later.

’Hill’s Robertson had a shot headed behind by Carter and from the corner kick Nichols’ header went narrowly over.

A Jeffrey free kick was saved by Stark, who then did well to push a Kane free-kick behind.

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Bellshill’s pressure was rewarded in the 77 th minute when Robertson sent McCormack clear and the striker fired the ball into the net to level the scores.

An 80 th minute Kane shot was blocked by Bryson and a Robertson effort was pushed behind by Stark.

Grant did well to push a Carter free kick behind in the 80th minute but was left helpless when Roch’s Febers fired a Mathieson cross into the net.