Boost for Binos as they await Spiders

Dec 17 2008 by Donald Morton, Stirling Observer Wednesday

STIRLING Albion have secured the services of 20-year-old Falkirk defender Scott Gibb for another month.

The centre-half’s loan deal expired after Saturday’s 1-0 win at East Fife but he has now agreed to extend his stay at Forthbank until the middle of January.

Gibb’s arrival at the club has coincided with some improved performances and he was outstanding at New Bayview, helping Albion claim their first away shut-out in 11 months.

Manager Allan Moore said: “There is no SPL Reserve League over the winter so Falkirk were happy to let Scott stay with us for longer. I think he was hoping to maybe go to a First Division club on loan because of the full-time factor but late on Saturday night he agreed to sign for another month.”

Craig Molloy’s loan is up after Saturday’s home match with Queen’s Park and it can’t be extended as the maximum period allowed on an emergency loan for players over the age of 21 is 93 days and the midfielder moved to Forthbank from St Mirren in September.

But Moore has not given up hope of landing Molloy on a permanent basis and said: “Craig has shown a willingness to come here if he can get a pay-off from St Mirren so we will see what happens.

“I think he and Mark Docherty have found their feet in the Second Division now and both played well on Saturday. I took Mark off because he had been booked and I was worried he might end up with a red card.”

The Albion boss was delighted with his side’s performance at New Bayview, where Kevin Fotheringham’s 42nd-minute own goal moved the Binos to within three points of the play-offs with the halfway stage approaching.

He said: “I think it has been coming. We have been playing better in recent games although we are still missing too many chances. Martin Grehan and David McKenna were excellent but they both should have scored – we could easily have had four goals.

“It was a big win for us, particularly with Peterhead losing at Arbroath, but we have to take that into the Queen’s Park match and get another three points. We only drew there earlier in the season so it won’t be any easy game.

“That was a real low point for me and I stormed out of the dressing room and went home and fell out with the wife and kids! If I had stayed I think I would have fallen out with the players as well but hopefully we are on the up now.

“Fourth place is the aim at the moment. We have played East Fife (1-1 and 1-0) and Peterhead (0-0 and 1-1) and I feel we have been the better team each time. I don’t think there is anything to fear and we are capable of beating anyone.”

With the recently-postponed match against Raith Rovers now rearranged for January 10 – Scottish Cup fourth-round day – four of Albion’s next five games are at home. The Spiders visit on Saturday then Moore takes his side to Arbroath before successive Forthbank fixtures against Alloa, Raith and Ayr.

He said: “It’s a bit of a worry that East Fife might have the money to change things in January because we don’t because of the financial situation at the club but I’m hoping that Andy Graham and Ross Forsyth could be back for the Arbroath game on December 27 and that would be a big boost for us.”

Albion have been hit hard by injuries this season and goalkeeper Scott Christie became the latest victim when a back strain forced him off at half-time on Saturday. However, it was more of a precaution than anything else and he should be available for the visit of Gardner Speirs’ side on Saturday.

Moore said: “We were lucky in a sense because if it had happened in the previous game we would have had to throw one of the young lads in because Myles Hogarth was out of action after his car crash.

“I thought Sean Roycroft was outstanding at the back against East Fife given the length of time he has been out and Stewart Devine also did well on his return. It’s good to have some players available again but Nathan Taggart is still struggling with a back problem and we are hoping he can see a specialist this week.”

Queen’s Park have not played a league match at Forthbank since a 0-0 draw back in March 2004 and also held Albion at Hampden on October 4 this year when a very sloppy display allowed the hosts to grab a last-gasp equaliser after Ian Harty had given Stirling the lead.

Ex-Bino Steven Nicholas netted for the Glasgow club at the weekend but they went down 2-1 at home to Raith, having lost by the same score to Arbroath a week earlier. However, they won their most recent away game 3-1 at Alloa and are just four points behind Albion in the table.

Moore said: “With all the chances we are creating I would hope we are going to score a few goals sooner or later but I’ll take 1-0 with an own goal every week.”