Below-par Reds stung by Wasps

Nov 12 2008

THERE is normally something special about derby day but this is an occasion best forgotten by those of a red and white persuasion.

Indeed, in an attempt to do just that, some supporters left early to seek solace in the pub with their team 3-0 down early in the second half. In the end, Allan Moore’s men almost salvaged an unlikely draw from a frantic finish. They wouldn’t have deserved it.

Albion could, and possibly should, have had a penalty when substitute David McKenna was impeded by goalkeeper Ray Jellema in the final minute but the great escape would – as Moore admitted later – only have papered over the cracks.

The result doesn’t really do justice to an Alloa outfit who could easily have scored six or seven. For a spell in the second half it was hard not to think back to that awful afternoon of August 1998 when Albion were mauled 7-0 at this venue.

Mercifully, the hosts missed some great chances and Myles Hogarth pulled off a couple of good stops before the visitors recovered some pride, if not any points.

Stirling were fortunate to beat Stranraer 3-2 the previous weekend but there was no “get out of jail card” here. The visitors were horribly exposed at the back and a lack of width in midfield added to the problems, at least until the introduction of Chris Hamilton – a player who impresses most when coming off the bench.

Injury ruled out Ross Forsyth and Nathan Taggart was ill. He wasn’t the only one feeling a bit off colour by the end as Alloa ended a run of eight derby games without a win to record a third straight home success and move to within two points of the Binos.

As manager of Clyde, Allan Maitland guided the Bully Wee to eight wins out of eight against Stirling, sometimes by embarrassing margins, but the tables had been turned since his move to the Wee County. In recent times, Albion had stung the Wasps 4-0 and 5-0. As recently as September they came from behind to seal a 3-2 success at Forthbank.

Almost two years had elapsed since Albion’s last visit to Recreation Park. Then, Moore’s men were riding high in Division Two and would go on to win promotion via the play-offs but that looks a distant ambition this time round.

There have been other changes, too. Stirling fans can now take the train to the game and many did so before walking up the hill to take their places in the new-look Recreation Park, where Alloa proudly opened their 500-seater stand for away supporters.

There’s an artificial pitch too, something Stirling played on between 1987 and 1992. They look less comfortable on it now. The surface was no excuse for some ropey rearguard displays but Albion have not been fantastic on plastic of late. They were scuttled 5-1 at Montrose and 4-0 at Hamilton last season, albeit before securing a worthy 0-0 draw at New Douglas Park.

With only one clean sheet behind them in 2008-09, it was never likely to be goalless on Saturday but Moore must have been shocked at how easily his defence was dismantled. All this from an Alloa team who have struggled to create chances of late, according to manager Maitland.

Martin Grehan missed a good early opening for Stirling but they were performing poorly and it was little surprise when Alloa scored midway through the half. Andy Graham might have been impeded when a long throw was hurled into the box but nothing was doing and the ball bounced into the path of Jamie Stevenson, who swivelled to fire past Hogarth.

Albion have come from behind in each of their three victories this season but hopes of a fourth evaporated in a terrible start to the second half. Brown Ferguson kept his composure to tee up the unmarked Kyle Macaulay and the former Peterhead striker planted the ball past Hogarth little more than a minute after the restart.

Worse was to follow. Stevenson swung a free-kick into the box and Fraser Forrest found the corner with a header on 51 minutes. Stirling looked like falling apart and Pat Scullion wasted a glorious chance to make it 4-0 but they hauled themselves back into some sort of contention when Grehan swept a Mark Docherty corner past Jellema in 63 minutes.

Was the comeback on? Not yet. Andy Lawrie got tangled up with substitute Graeme Brown and Ferguson gave Alloa what looked like an unassailable advantage with 15 minutes left when he stroked the penalty into the bottom left-hand corner.

They did their best to blow it. Liam Corr’s weak shot was deflected into his own net by Dougie Hill then a terrific passing move ended with substitute Paul Murphy firing a fine shot high into the rigging. The hosts were on the ropes and John O’Neill almost made it 4-4 but his shot trundled agonisingly wide before referee George Salmond ignored Albion’s spot-kick appeals.

Alloa should have added a fifth at the death when Stevenson blazed over, but their first derby win since August 2005 was secure – not something you could say about the Stirling defence.

Alloa: Jellema, McClune, Campbell, McKeown, Forrest, Hill, Scullion (Barker 80), Ferguson, Stevenson, Macaulay, Scott (Brown 69). Subs not used: Spence, McKenzie, White.

Albion: Hogarth, Graham, Devine, Lowing (Hamilton 57), Lawrie, O’Neill, Corr, Molloy, Harty (McKenna 57), Docherty (Murphy 65), Grehan. Subs not used: Roycroft, Christie.

Referee: George Salmond