Binos battle to make their point

Aug 27 2008

THE wait for a win goes on but Stirling can draw encouragement from salvaging a point after a terrible start at Forthbank.

Albion were in the soup when they fell behind to a Bryan Prunty double inside 12 minutes but they fought back thanks to a fine Nathan Taggart effort and an Ian Harty penalty against the still unbeaten league leaders in a thrilling encounter.

This was a fabulous spectacle which could easily have ended 4-4. Both teams struck the woodwork – Ayr twice – and chances came and went in a contest that highlighted how little there is between most of the teams in Division Two.

Only Alloa have fewer points than Stirling after four matches but Allan Moore’s men looked the equal of an Ayr outfit tipped for promotion. If they can cut out some basic errors and start converting a few more opportunities then there could be much to enjoy in the months ahead.

That said, the whole club do with a victory soon. Albion go to Arbroath – a win wasteland for the last decade – on Saturday and could use all three points. The season is in its infancy but Stirling need to start climbing the table.

There seemed little prospect of even a point at the weekend when Ayr stormed 2-0 ahead. Prunty, once of Celtic and Aberdeen, is a player with obvious talent and took full advantage of some slack defending to give Ayr control of the match.

He opened the scoring with a terrific angled drive after seizing on a loose ball and skipping past a couple of challenges then he curled a beauty into the top corner after Ryan Stevenson had been allowed to charge unchecked through the midfield.

Prunty was Ayr’s outstanding player and was denied his hat-trick when he sent a header against the crossbar after another Stevenson assist just after the half hour. Early in the second period he found himself with only Hogarth to beat and was racing off to celebrate his treble, only for his lob to bounce back off the bar.

By that stage Stirling were firmly back in the game, courtesy of a goal from Taggart on 19 minutes. He arced an effort beyond Stephen Grindlay and high into the net after being picked out by David McKenna.

An end product has sometimes been lacking in the winger’s armoury but he was outstanding against the Honest Men. Taggart, who turns 21 tomorrow, possesses an amazing ability to control a ball and speed past opponents with an incredible ease. On days like this, he is almost unplayable and wasn’t far away from equalising when he spun and fired over the bar.

Taggart and Prunty lit up this occasion but it was a quieter afternoon for former Albion skipper Chris Aitken on his return to Forthbank. He had a couple of chances to profit from free-kicks but failed to cash in. Another ex-Bino, Alex Williams, offered little threat and was replaced with 20 minutes remaining.

Having lost 1-0 at Stranraer in the previous outing, Moore made changes for this one. At the back Andy Lawrie and Andy Graham swapped positions while in midfield there was a debut for Mark Docherty – a 20-year-old recruited from St Mirren.

Although caught in possession a few times, Docherty had a good first game and looks as if he could develop into a useful player once he finds his feet and full fitness – he was replaced by Liam Corr 17 minutes from time due to a bout of cramp.

Moore sprang a surprise by fielding Martin Grehan on the left of midfield as Stewart Devine was out injured but the ex-Motherwell striker performed well and came within inches of a spectacular 61st minute equaliser when he lashed a 25-yard drive against the bar.

In truth, the equaliser should have come just before the break when John O’Neill failed to convert a great chance from close in and the ball somehow stayed out in the ensuing scramble. To be fair, 60 seconds earlier the Ayr fans thought Prunty had made it 3-1 but his shot had actually flown wide and nestled in the net behind the goal.

Stirling eventually got their reward for some fine football in 66 minutes. Having been denied good penalty claims in each of their last two matches they were rightly awarded a spot-kick by referee Chris Boyle when Harty was impeded as he tried to meet a Graham cross.

With Albion’s penalty expert Aitken now in the Ayr ranks, Harty claimed the responsibility and stroked his kick to the left as Grindlay went right.

Late goals have wounded Stirling this term and Ayr probably finished the stronger side but, unlike against Brechin, Arbroath and Stranraer, Moore’s men held on to gain their second point of 2008-09.

Stirling Albion: Hogarth, Graham, Lowing, Lawrie, Forsyth, O’Neill, Taggart, Docherty (Corr 73), Harty, McKenna (Waddell 60), Grehan (Hamilton 77). Subs not used: Murphy, Christie.

Ayr United: Grindlay, Dempsie, Easton, Walker, Campbell, Stevenson, Agnew (Borris 70), Aitken, Prunty, Williams (Gormley 70), Keenan. Subs not used: Weaver, Stewart.

Referee: Chris Boyle