Binos Squander chance to kick-start season

Aug 8 2008

ALBION crashed out of the Co-operative Insurance Cup on Wednesday night as Division Two rivals Arbroath twice came from behind to book their place in the second round.

After earlier defeats to Dunfermline in the Challenge Cup and Brechin in the league, Stirling badly need to get their season up and running when East Fife come to Forthbank tomorrow (Saturday).

Andy Graham gave the Binos an early lead but a howler from recalled keeper Scott Christie allowed Kevin McMullan to equalise soon after half-time.

Ian Harty restored the visitors’ lead in 63 minutes but Arbroath made it 2-2 straight from the restart – one-time Albion trialist Kenny Wright scoring with his first touch – and Jamie Bishop slammed home an 80th minute winner.

In an open and entertaining game played on a foul night in the North East, Allan Moore’s men should have scored more goals and Harty missed a great late chance to send the tie into extra time after being set up by substitute David McKenna.

But Arbroath also looked threatening every time they went up the park. John McGlashan’s men played some slick and forceful attacking football, always looking for balls in behind the defence. They struck the woodwork three times and ultimately deserved to go through.

This was yet another miserable Gayfield experience for the travelling fans, who last witnessed a win here a decade ago under John Philliben. Defeats have been the norm since and this scoreline was identical to the sides’ last clash in May 2005.

Arbroath also triumphed in the previous League Cup encounter – 2-1 back in 1990-91 – but Stirling have an opportunity for revenge when they return to this part of the world on Division Two business on August 30.

East Fife, Stranraer and Ayr United are on the agenda before that and Moore will hope to bolster his slim squad in the coming weeks.

There were two changes to the team that had been unfortunate to lose to a late goal at Brechin on Saturday. Christie was preferred to Myles Hogarth in goal and Nathan Taggart kept his place ahead of Liam Corr, who was forced off early at Glebe Park.

Stirling took just five minutes to hit the front. Stewart Devine swung in a corner from the right and Andy Graham thumped a header high past Darren Hill. It was a simple goal but, unusually, Albion looked menacing from corners all night.

With Harty and Martin Grehan combining well up front, Albion looked capable of adding to their lead but Arbroath had whacked Alloa 4-1 on home turf in their Division Two opener and their attacking intent was soon obvious.

Terry Masson smashed a long-range effort against the crossbar then Barry Sellars released the dangerous Bryan Scott, who seemed set to equalise but could only guide his finish into the side netting.

Scott, snapped up from Scone Thistle, was ranging all across the front line and when he and ex-Forfar man Sellars again combined it required a smart save from Christie to keep Albion in front.

With the elements in their favour in the second half Arbroath were always likely to apply the pressure, although there was no excuse for the careless defending that allowed Scott to stab the ball against the post 20 seconds after half-time.

That was a fortunate escape for the Binos but their luck ran out three minutes later. Scott Gates dashed past Devine – who had switched to left-back after Liam Corr replaced David Lowing at the interval – and sent over a cross which should have been easily dealt with by Christie.

But to his horror, the ball slipped from his grasp and McMullan, lurking more in hope than expectation, knocked it into the net.

Defensive security wasn’t much on show at either end and Stirling regained the lead in 63 minutes from another corner. This time John O’Neill’s delivery was nodded goalwards by Paul Murphy and Harty applied the finishing touch.

Immediately, Arbroath took off the influential Scott and sent on Wright. It seemed a strange decision but straight from the kick-off the ball was launched into the box and the former Stranraer hitman lobbed it over Christie with his first touch.

Wright then hit the woodwork from close range as the Red Lichties pressed for a winner .

With nine minutes left, the ball broke off a defender and Bishop drilled a low shot into the net to dump Albion out of their second cup competition in 10 days.

In 2006-07, Moore’s men also suffered early setbacks in league and both cups but recovered to win promotion. With invention in attack, Stirling need to tighten up at the back if they are to prosper in the coming campaign.

Arbroath: Hill, Rennie, Black, Rattray (Dingwall 71), Bishop, Masson, McMullan, Lunan, Scott (Wright 64), Sellars, Gates (Fraser 85). Subs not used: Reilly, Morrison.

Albion: Christie, Graham, Lowing (Corr 46), Lawrie, Forsyth, O’Neill, Taggart, Murphy, Harty, Grehan (McKenna 72), Devine (Waddell 85). Subs not used: Roycroft, Hogarth.

Referee: John McKendrick.