Fort William’s Scottish Cup adventure was ended by a blistering first-half display by Albion Rovers, who stormed to a 4-0 interval lead.
Rovers will face Airdrie in the third round but Fort can take comfort from the fact nearly 700 fans turned out in chilly conditions to cheer on the youngsters.
Fort William manager Russell MacMorran said: “They were always going to come at us strongly right from the start. I’m sure that was part of their game-plan after the comments they made about our young lads when we were the better side technically.
“This was always going to be a more physical game but our young lads showed they can handle that, and that is a great development from where we were at the start.
“I’m not too disappointed and the fact that we had nearly 700 fans here to see the game speaks volumes for what we’ve been able to do here at Claggan this season.
“It has brought a lot to the town.”
Fort William were at full strength for the replay on a Claggan Park pitch which had held up well after heavy rain. It was a magnificent setting for the tie with a dusting of snow on the surrounding peaks.
The home goal survived a great let-off within the first 60 seconds when Smart Osadolor’s close-range effort rebounded back off the inside of the post and rolled along the length of the goal-line before being hacked clear.
It took a great save by Albion Rovers goalkeeper Daniel Potts to deny Fort striker Roddy Kennedy a ninth-minute opener with a fine angled drive.
The visitors took the lead after 15 minutes when Fort failed to clear and Jack Breen gave Mateusz Kulbacki no chance from 10 yards.
Two minutes later, Rovers doubled their advantage when centre-forward Ousman See rose unchallenged to head home from six yards.
In the 23rd minute, Fort William’s cup dream was all but over when See ran on to a through-ball and hammered it past Kulbacki from 12 yards.
Two minutes from the break, Rovers sealed their win when Smart Osadolor nodded home a fourth goal which went into the net off the underside of the crossbar.
With 10 minutes left, Kulbacki made an outstanding double-save to deny firstly Osadolor and then Scott Roberts.
But the goalkeeper could do nothing as Scott Roberts rifled in Albion’s fifth goal from 10 yards.
In stoppage-time, Albion midfielder Will Graham was sent off for remarks made to referee Duncan Williams.
Albion Rovers manager Kevin Harper said: “We set out our stall to be more professional than we were last week, and we were on it right from the very first minute when we hit the post. After that, the goals took care of themselves and we were certainly dominant throughout the game.”
FORT (4-4-2) – Kulbacki 9, Hastings 7, Morrison 7, Nicolson 6, Fyffe 6, Brown 6, Gunn 7, Nevison 6 (MacLellan 46), Kennedy 7 (Gilchrist 89), Chalmers 7, Taylor 6 (Knowles 63). Subs not used: Farrance, Henderson, MacDonald, McGhie.
ALBION ROVERS (4-4-2) – Potts 6, Lynas 6, Clarke 6, Wharton 6 (Fagan 60), Krones 6, Breen 7 (Scally 54), Roberts 7, Graham 6, See 8 (Philips 63), Osadolor 7, East 7. Subs not used: Byrne, Smith, Morena, Docherty.
Referee – Duncan Williams 7.
Attendance – 675.
Man of the match – Mateusz Kulbacki.
