No net gain as Reds fluff chances

Dec 3 2008

ALBION’S season of disappointment continued on Saturday as they wasted a stack of chances to cause a cup upset at a freezing Forthbank.

Losing to a Partick Thistle side 13 places higher in the league standings was perhaps expected, but surely not in this manner. Allan Moore’s men had enough opportunities to have won the tie, never mind force a Firhill replay.

David McKenna should have had a hat-trick but three times failed to beat Jon Tuffey in one-on-one situations. His overall play was outstanding but the ex-St Mirren man has netted just once since scoring in the 6-0 thrashing of Stranraer in this competition 12 months ago and it is goals that pay the rent.

Partick boss Ian McCall simply looked relieved that his side had squeezed into Monday’s draw. The team lying third in Division One were missing several defensive regulars and it showed, but they were sharper in front of goal and that killer instinct ended Albion’s hopes of a place in the hat with the big boys.

Last season’s scuttling of Stranraer set up a glamour clash with Celtic but Stirling now only have league business to look forward to, starting with the visit of Second Division leaders Raith Rovers to Forthbank this weekend.

“I thought we battered them - we had so many chances but didn’t take them,” said a deflated Moore afterwards. “It’s the same story every week and that is why we are struggling to win games.”

Thistle had lost on their last visit to Forthbank in February but that was a rare setback at a venue where they tend to prosper. Albion’s recent form – one point from nine – offered little encouragement but Moore’s men produced a display that merited more. It was undone by defensive frailty and toothless finishing.

Both clubs were missing several players through injury, with Ross Forsyth, John O’Neill, Sean Roycroft, Ian Harty and Nathan Taggart all Albion absentees. Scott Christie, recalled for the 1-1 draw at Peterhead, kept his place in goal while Liam Corr replaced O’Neill in midfield.

Thistle listed ex-Scotland striker Simon Donnelly in their line-up but their best players were lively frontman Liam Buchanan and recent Northern Ireland cap Jon Tuffey, who was kept busy right to the end. In injury time he parried a fierce McKenna drive then recovered to gather the loose ball as substitute Chris Hamilton attempted to snatch the equaliser.

This was a thrilling cup tie, although the first quarter of the match was quiet and didn’t hint at what was to follow. Partick had offered little threat prior to hitting the front in 28 minutes. Ryan McStay’s corner was poorly dealt with and the ball dropped to Scott Chaplain, who drove a low angled shot into the corner.

The visitors were soon two goals in front. David Lowing clumsily caught Buchanan and Gary Harkins sent the resulting penalty just inside the left-hand post.

It looked all over but Albion could have been level within minutes. McKenna robbed Ian Maxwell but shot weakly at Tuffey then the keeper saved easily from Paul Murphy, before Martin Grehan’s header was so close you wondered if had slipped through a hole in the net.

Watching all of this was SFA Chief Executive Gordon Smith, who had a brief stint with Stirling Albion in August 1988. He had a good career with Kilmarnock, Rangers and Manchester City but is often remembered for a miss that would have won Brighton the FA Cup against Manchester United.

He would, perhaps, have had sympathy with the Stirling strikers, who had an afternoon to forget. Not that they will – you imagine McKenna in particular might wake up in the middle of the night and wonder how he failed to score here.

Craig Molloy restored hope for Albion when he took advantage of Thistle hesitation to lash the ball home nine minutes after half-time. Almost immediately, Buchanan was only inches out with a drilled shot at the other end but the second half was generally one of Stirling dominance.

Just short of the hour, McKenna robbed a defender but could only hit Tuffey, not the net. Minutes later he was through again. This time the finish was better but the Thistle No 1 pushed the ball away.

Stirling kept pressing and Tuffey thwarted Grehan’s curler before springing to flip McKenna’s effort from the rebound over the bar. When Grehan landed a header on the roof of the net, you knew it was Thistle’s day.

They emphasised that with a third goal in 83 minutes - Buchanan converting a back-post header from Mark Roberts’ cross. It still wasn’t over and the impressive Paul Murphy made up ground to make it 3-2 with a composed finish but there were barely 60 seconds left and Thistle hung on.

Albion were left cursing their luck, but the defeat was self-inflicted.

Stirling Albion: Christie, Lawrie, Lowing (Waddell 78), Graham (Ross 46), Gibb, Molloy, Corr (Hamilton 69), Murphy, Grehan, McKenna, Docherty. Subs not used: Devine, Hogarth.

Partick Thistle: Tuffey, Paton, McKinlay, McStay (Turner 60), Archibald (MacBeth 82), Maxwell, Chaplain, Rowson, Buchanan, Donnelly (Roberts 68), Harkins. Subs not used: Robertson, Hinchcliffe.

Referee: Charlie Richmond