Binos back on target

Dec 30 2008 by Donald Morton, Stirling Observer Wednesday

STIRLING Albion welcome Alloa to Forthbank on Saturday for a New Year derby in what is the first of three successive home fixtures.

The Binos entertain leaders Raith Rovers in a rearranged match on January 10 and play host to Ayr United the following weekend before ending the month with away games at Stranraer and Brechin City.

David McKenna was the two-goal hero as Albion defeated Arbroath 2-1 at Gayfield on Saturday to bounce back from the pre-Christmas setback against Queen’s Park and move four points clear of the relegation play-off place, which is currently occupied by Alloa.

Stirling remain in sixth spot, six points adrift of East Fife and Peterhead, who are immediately above them in the table, and are looking to begin 2009 on a high against an Alloa side who deservedly won 4-3 at Recreation Park in November but were beaten 3-2 at Forthbank in mid-September.

Allan Maitland’s men were held to a 2-2 home draw by bottom club Stranraer on Saturday but it is their away form that has been a problem for the Wasps this season, with only a single point collected on their travels.

The most recent New Year derby between Albion and Alloa was at Recreation Park in 2007, when the hosts grabbed a last-minute equaliser to claim a 1-1 draw. The 2000 version – also 1-1 – was interrupted briefly by an escapee budgie.

Stirling have rarely been flying in 2008/09 but Moore will be hoping his side can take off in 2009 and build on the 2-1 win at Arbroath, where the Reds recorded their fifth victory of the season as the campaign reached the halfway stage.

Moore said: “After last week’s disappointing performance against Queen’s Park we asked the players to roll up their sleeves and get stuck in and that’s what they did at Arbroath, especially in the first half.

“We didn’t play particularly great football but got the goals so credit to the players for the win. Gayfield is a hard place to come to and it was good to go into a two-goal lead after good goals by David McKenna – both he and Martin Grehan were excellent in the first half and caused Arbroath all sorts of problems.”

Moore was also boosted by the return to action of skipper Ross Forsyth after two months on the sidelines with a knee injury while Andy Graham was also back in the squad following a lengthy absence.

Mark Docherty was ill but should be available for the Alloa match but winger Nathan Taggart is struggling with a back problem.

John McGlashan admitted his side didn’t do well enough on the day as Albion gained revenge for a recent defeat to the Red Lichties at Forthbank. He said: “We were sub-standard. Only a couple of the players got pass marks and we gifted Stirling their two goals.”

McKenna, meanwhile, will be hoping he can build on his two goals at Gayfield by netting at Forthbank for the first time since October 2007, when he completed the scoring in a memorable 3-0 win over Dunfermline.

The ex-St Mirren hitman has bagged all three goals at Arbroath this season but will be facing the most generous defence in Division Two on Saturday – Alloa have shipped 39 goals in their 19 games to date.

“I wish I could play here every week,” said McKenna in the wake of his Arbroath brace. “To be honest, I’ve had a fair few chances this season and the gaffer has stood by me, which has been good. Hopefully this win will kick-start our season.”

Alloa reached the play-offs last season but have struggled for consistency – like Stirling – this time around. They are certainly a capable team and knocked Raith Rovers out of the Scottish Cup to set up an intriguing fourth-round clash with Aberdeen on the Recreation Park plastic on January 10.

Twelve months ago, Albion began the year with a 0-0 draw at home to Morton but it would be a surprise if the derby clash ended goalless.