Harty axed on eve of derby

Jan 2 2009 by David Ogilvie, Stirling Observer Friday

Harty played one game as a trialist for Stirling in January 2007 before returning to Forthbank for the start of the current campaign. He got his fourth goal of 2008-09 at Queen’s Park on October 4. His final appearance was against Alloa in the 4-3 defeat at Recreation Park on November 8, after which he struggled with injury.

STIRLING Albion manager Allan Moore has released striker Ian Harty for disciplinary reasons which he refused to divulge.

Thirty year-old Harty signed a six-month contract in the summer after leaving Stenhousemuir but has not featured since Albion’s defeat at Alloa at the beginning of November.

Harty, whose previous clubs include Albion Rovers, Clyde, Stranraer, Raith, Airdrie United and Darlington, played one game as a trialist for Stirling in January 2007 before returning to Forthbank for the start of the current campaign.

He made a bright beginning with an impressive work rate and a reasonable return of goals that saw him notch his fourth of 2008-09 at Queen’s Park on October 4.

However, that proved to be his last goal in red and white and his final appearance was against Alloa in the 4-3 defeat at Recreation Park on November 8, after which he struggled with injury. Moore has favoured the David McKenna-Martin Grehan partnership of late.

Harty’s departure leaves Albion short of attacking options, with Steven Waddell having featured infrequently and Jon Boyle – who made his debut at half-time in Saturday’s 2-1 win at Arbroath – untried at this level.

Moore was impressed by the U19 striker’s display but is desperate to bring in an experienced forward as Albion aim to eat into the six-point cushion enjoyed by Peterhead and East Fife in the race for that fourth play-off spot.

Stirling have struggled for consistency this term, as highlighted by recent results. Moore’s men were worthy winners at East Fife in mid-December but then crashed 3-0 at home to Queen’s Park, only to recover with a well earned success at Gayfield.

The derby match tomorrow (Saturday) is vital to both clubs as Alloa currently occupy the relegation play-off spot and will move to within a point of the Binos if they can win at Forthbank.

Stirling recovered from the loss of an early goal to win 3-2 when the sides met at that venue in the middle of September. Albion enjoyed 4-0 and 5-0 home wins in the promotion season of 2006/07 but Allan Maitland’s men gained revenge with a 4-3 triumph at Recreation Park in November, when Albion produced a very poor performance despite a late rally.

Moore will hope home advantage is decisive as Albion begin a run of three successive Forthbank fixtures, with leaders Raith due for a rearranged game on January 10. Ayr United visit on January 17 before the Binos end the month away to Stranraer and Brechin.

Alloa have toiled on the road so far, picking up just one point out of a possible 27, but they recently held Raith at Stark’s Park in the Scottish Cup and knocked them out in the Recreation Park replay to set up a tasty tie on the plastic pitch against Aberdeen.

Nathan Taggart will again miss out because of a back problem but Ross Forsyth, who featured as a late sub at Gayfield, and Andy Graham both came through a midweek bounce game against Cowdenbeath on the Forthbank plastic, which the Blue Brazil won 1-0.

Grehan and Andy Lawrie both missed Tuesday’s training due to illness so Moore will delay his selection for the Alloa match until the last minute to see who is available and hope the cold snap is not severe enough to prevent play tomorrow.

Albion will face a blank weekend next month if East Fife are successful in their Scottish Cup fourth-round tie at Stenhousemuir on January 10. Dave Baikie’s men are due at Forthbank on February 7 but that date is set aside for the fifth round of the cup and victory for the Fifers away to the Third Division leaders will see the league clash postponed.