Impressive Reds worth their win

Dec 17 2008 by Donald Morton, Stirling Observer Wednesday

SUDDENLY the play-offs don’t seem quite as far away after a weekend when Albion claimed a warming win at a dreich New Bayview.

Allan Moore’s men have endured an often indifferent campaign but now lie just three points behind Peterhead – who were hammered 4-0 at resurgent Arbroath – and East Fife, who even their manager admitted deserved to lose.

Stirling’s performance was spirited but, more than that, they played some excellent football. The movement of the front two – David McKenna and Martin Grehan – caused the home defence no end of bother.

If only Albion could finish you would fancy them to go on and nick that fourth place but this was yet another tale of missed chances. The only goal of the game was headed firmly past his own goalkeeper by Kevin Fotheringham just short of the interval following a dangerous delivery from Stewart Devine.

It may be a cliché, but surely someone is going to be on the end of a heavy defeat soon. Moore will be hoping it is Queen’s Park, who visit on Saturday, but any victory would suffice against the stubborn Spiders.

Four of Stirling’s next five fixtures are at home – the odd one out is away to Arbroath on December 27 – so the opportunity is there for the team to push on. Consistency, though, has been a problem so far for the Binos.

Moore’s men were certainly up for it on their first visit to this ground since season 2002-03. Only once before had Stirling triumphed here and that was back in November 1998 when Alex Bone’s hat-trick ensured a 3-2 success.

New Bayview offers spectacular views – of the now-closed Methil power station – and the one-stand stadium is not a great place to watch football. You yearn for the steep terracing of the old Bayview and the banter with opposition fans and players alike. Remember Willie Brown anyone?

East Fife don’t seem to be thriving on home turf these days – this was their fifth defeat here this season – with captain Steven Tweed suggesting in his programme notes that they had struggled to cope with negative opponents.

His prediction that Stirling would sit in and try to hold on could hardly have been wider of the mark. Albion could easily have scored four goals and took the game to the Fifers at every opportunity. Only the lack of potency in the final third ensured a nervous finish that came with four minutes of stoppage time.

This was Albion’s first league outing since the 1-1 draw at Peterhead on November 22, which was followed by a 3-2 defeat to Partick Thistle in the Scottish Cup and a free weekend because of the call-off against Raith Rovers.

Moore was concerned how his players might react after a long lay-off, but he needn’t have worried. Injury kept Andy Graham, Ross Forsyth, Nathan Taggart and Ian Harty on the sidelines but Stewart Devine and Sean Roycroft returned and John O’Neill and Liam Corr came off the bench.

This was a slow-burner of a contest. Not a lot happened for the first 30 minutes but thereafter it was a thrilling encounter, wide open and strewn with chances. A result of 3-1 to Stirling might have been a more realistic outcome.

The key moments in the first half all came towards the interval. McKenna had an shot saved by Willie McCulloch then had an effort ruled out for offside before winning the free-kick that led to the only goal.

The ex-St Mirren man was impeded by Dougie Cameron and Devine’s bending ball was a horrible one for the home defence. Fotheringham was forced to intervene but succeeded only in sending a header high into his own net.

It was only the fourth time this season that Stirling had been in front. On the previous three occasions they were pegged back for draws by East Fife, Raith and Queen’s Park but they were not to be denied this time and recorded a first away shut-out since drawing 0-0 at Hamilton way back on January 5.

East Fife had three big chances in a game where their main ploy was to hit long balls in the hope of releasing top scorer Paul McManus behind the defence. It worked once, early in the second period, but the ex-Raith man fired just past Myles Hogarth’s post – the keeper having replaced injured Scott Christie at the break.

Just before half-time Greig McDonald nodded a Bobby Linn corner against the bar and midway through the second period Linn was denied by the outstanding on-loan Scott Gibb, who blocked his low drive on the line.

But Stirling created far more. Grehan had the ball in the net but was flagged offside, McKenna fizzed a shot inches wide then Grehan fired over and Docherty came close from the edge of the area.

With eight minutes left, brilliant link-up play between McKenna and Grehan saw the latter hit the post. He had a second bite but somehow the ball stayed out. O’Neill and Corr also threatened but one goal was to prove enough.

The reaction of the players and fans at full-time showed how much it meant but the impressive Docherty and Paul Murphy were a bit too keyed up and were booked early in the second period – for clashing with each other!

That will to win will serve Albion well in the crucial games that lie ahead.

East Fife: McCulloch, McDonald, Cameron, Smart, Tweed, Fotheringham (Fagan 46), Linn, Stewart, McManus, Crawford (Templeman 72), Campbell (Young 72). Subs not used: Nugent, Brown.

Albion: Christie (Hogarth 46), Roycroft, Lowing, Lawrie, Gibb, Molloy, Docherty (O’Neill 72), Murphy, McKenna, Grehan, Devine (Corr 80). Subs not used: Hamilton, Waddell.

Referee: George Salmond