Binos start life in lower league

Aug 6 2008

LOSING their opening game two years ago did not prevent Albion going on to win promotion but an early defeat is always painful.

Allan Moore’s men began life back in Division Two with a performance that merited a point from Glebe Park but the failings of missed chances and slack defending – so costly at a higher level last season – sent Stirling to defeat.

There were only five minutes left when Darren Smith curled a shot beyond Myles Hogarth from the edge of the box to give City their first opening-day league success for seven years. Not that Albion’s record is much better: the 5-2 thrashing of Arbroath in 2004 represents their only SFL victory on the first day under Moore’s impressive reign.

Stirling will feel unfortunate to have lost after laying siege to the Brechin goal early in the second half but they faded in the final quarter of the contest. It is worth pointing out that, while Albion created enough good chances to have won, the only goal they scored didn’t actually appear to cross the line.

Four minutes after half-time John O’Neill broke down the left and picked out Ian Harty, who fired an angled volley towards the corner. The ball struck defender David White but was repelled by keeper Craig Nelson, who also blocked Martin Grehan’s follow up.

No Albion player in the vicinity claimed the ball had gone in so they and the fans were stunned when the hedge-side linesman awarded a goal. Nelson and John Ward were booked for protesting but you could hardly blame them for losing the plot.

It was a massive stroke of fortune for Stirling but they failed to capitalise. In a spell of domination Grehan glanced a Stewart Devine corner over and Harty expertly set up Paul Murphy, whose header was gathered by a grateful Nelson.

Then Harty scuttled away from his marker and squared for Murphy, who lashed the ball over. All this after Devine had wasted a great chance a mere 30 seconds into the second half.

Just before the break, O’Neill should have scored from close range but his effort was too straight and Nelson kept it out and plunged to parry Harty’s rebound. The ex-Clyde and Airdrie man then nicked the ball home from close range, only to be ruled offside.

It was all desperately frustrating on a muggy afternoon at Glebe Park. Albion had won on their last three visits to this venue, since a 5-3 loss on a February 2005 mudbath. In contrast this encounter was played on a surface that could have hosted a bowling match.

Hogarth got the nod between the posts after Scott Christie turned in a disappointing display at Dunfermline in the Challenge Cup, while ex-Motherwell midfielder Shaun Fagan was listed as a trialist among the substitutes. Fellow trialist Chris Hamilton – who has been playing in the States – was omitted from the squad as international clearance had not come through in time.

It was pretty even in the first half. Gary Twigg failed to convert when given a clear sight of goal and Grehan volleyed wide before City took the lead in 39 minutes. Smith curled the ball to the far post and Charlie King nodded it back for Twigg to net from close in.

Stirling’s bizarre goal restored parity soon after the interval but they couldn’t sustain the pressure and, despite giving up few clear chances, they were scuttled five minutes from time when concession of possession in the Brechin half allowed the ball to be shuttled all the way to Smith on the left edge of the area and he found the corner with a fine finish.

It was a horrible moment for the visiting fans, who were desperate to see their favourites start with a win after the difficulties of 2007-08, yet this was a display with promise. Harty was eager and inventive in attack, with strike partner Grehan not far behind.

But the midfield, as Moore knows, needs to be strengthened – Liam Corr limped out of the action after just 25 minutes to be replaced by Nathan Taggart – and City’s Smith could have been closed down better by the defence prior to both goals.

It is early days, though, and Stirling will now seek victories at Arbroath in the CIS Cup tonight (Wednesday) and against East Fife at Forthbank in the league on Saturday.

BRECHIN: C Nelson, Murie, Dyer, Ward (R Walker 64), White, Janczyk (A Nelson 82), Byers, Diack, Twigg, King (Canning 73), D Smith. Subs not used: C Smith, McCluskey.

ALBION: Hogarth, Graham, Lowing, Lawrie, Forsyth, O’Neill, Corr (Taggart 26), Murphy, Harty (Waddell 84), Grehan (McKenna 77), Devine. Subs not used: Trialist, Christie.

Referee: Colin Brown