It's snow go at Central Park

Andrew Cowie • Published 31 Mar 2010 07:00 0 Comments

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Cowdenbeath 0, Stirling Albion 0 (abandoned after 18 minutes due to snow).

PROBABLY the shortest game in the history of Central Park. This re-arranged Barrs Irn Bru Second Division game on Tuesday night became yet another victim of the weather.

The original fixture was frozen off and while this one got underway the snow, which started to fall persistently, gave referee Tom Robertson no option but to abandon the match.

Referee Robertson explained, after he had got back into the warmth of his dressing room, that conditions had worsened after kick-off and the surface was getting more and more dangerous.

Then the lines started to disappear under the white blanket and in such an important game he felt it only fair to players and fans to call a halt.

Cowden boss Danny Lennon had no gripe with the decision. He said, "There was no doubt that the lines, especially the penalty area markings, were starting to go under the snow.

"It was an important game for both sides and in the circumstances it was totally the correct decision."

Albion manager Allan Moore said, "The pitch was fine at the start but the snow was being whipped up into a blizzard by the wind and making life very difficult for the players.

"The conditions were getting worse by the minute so there can be no complaints with the decision".

In what play was possible Cowden were the better side in terms of creating openings. In three minutes Mark Baxter sent over a lovely cross from the right and as Gareth Wardlaw prepared to net Jonathan Page managed to clear.

Albion's Scott Robertson tested David Hay with an 18 yarder that the 'keeper pushed away for a corner before Paul McQuade turned the ball across the face of the Stirling goal but before Wardlaw could get on the edge of it Brian Alison scraped it clear.

Scott McBride had a great run deep into the Albion box but his low cut-back was scrambled clear by Page then in the game's last move Chris Aitken's 25 yarder was held by Hay.

From the 'keeper's clearance the referee stopped the game and after consulting the managers called a halt.

For the record the teams were, Cowdenbeath: Hay; Armstrong, Adamson; McGregor, Baxter, Mbu; McBride, McQuade, Wardlaw, Winter, Stein. Subs were, Fairbairn, Linton, Dempster, Ramsay and Bower.

Stirling Albion: Christie; Graham, Forsyth; Alison, Page, Robertson; Gibson, Aitken, Trialist, Russell, Taggart. Subs, O'Brien, Murphy, McKenna, Mullen and Hogarth.

Referee-Tom Robertson. Attendance 250.

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