Binos weather the leaders' challenge

Jan 14 2009 by Donald Morton, Stirling Observer Wednesday

BACK in September Raith required a dubious last-gasp penalty to deny Stirling victory at Stark’s Park so this was sweet revenge indeed.

Rovers could have climbed seven points clear at the summit but instead Albion’s third win in four games has edged them to within three points of East Fife and fourth-placed Peterhead in the play-off chase.

Add in a good draw at Peterhead and an impressive performance in defeat to Partick Thistle in the Scottish Cup and you could certainly make a case for Stirling appearing to have found some consistency – a theory blighted only by a terrible 3-0 pre-Christmas thumping by Queen’s Park.

Whether the play-offs can be reached remains to be seen but they are a realistic target and a positive result when second-placed Ayr visit Forthbank this weekend will further enhance the aspirations of Allan Moore’s men.

They showed great spirit to see off Rovers. Originally due to be played on December 6 but postponed because of a frozen pitch, this fixture went ahead in appalling conditions of wind and rain, although the surface held up well.

Quite why the match officials deemed it necessary to delay the start of the second half for a pitch inspection is hard to fathom as was there surely never any danger of this clash being abandoned.

Albion established a two-goal lead through John O’Neill and David McKenna and then dug in against the elements after Raith had reduced the gap courtesy of a goal straight from Robert Sloan’s corner.

It was no wonder Rovers boss John McGlynn was looking to fed up at the end. His team would have been hosting Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup had they not lost two late goals in a replay defeat at Alloa and now Ayr are four points behind them in Division Two with two games in hand.

With the New Year clash against Alloa frozen off, this was Albion’s first outing since they won 2-1 at Arbroath on December 27. Moore made two changes from the side that started at Gayfield – with Ross Forsyth and Andy Graham favoured ahead of Andy Lawrie and David Lowing.

The defensive duo had missed only one game between them in the league all season but Lowing didn’t even make the 16 and Mark Docherty – absent at Arbroath due to illness – was also left out.

There was a place on the bench for on-loan Dundee United midfielder Ryan McCord and he showed enough in his 15-minute appearance towards the end to suggest he will be a useful player during his month-long stay.

Stirling played some good football but this was a day for bravery and endeavour and they weren’t found wanting, surviving an early scare when Scott Christie saved superbly from the head of Gareth Wardlaw before finding their feet.

Martin Grehan fizzed an effort narrowly wide before the deadlock was broken in 32 minutes. Stewart Devine’s cross was headed only as far as O’Neill and the assistant manager skidded a terrific first-time shot across keeper David McGurn and into the far corner from 25 yards.

Sixty seconds later Grehan picked out McKenna who prodded the ball towards goal but McGurn slid from his line to smother the ball. Stirling were lively now and Grehan could have doubled the lead before half-time but he failed to hit the target when well placed.

Seconds after the restart Christie dived full-length to push away a Craig Wilson piledriver from 40 yards but within four minutes Albion were two goals up – and it was a dream goal for McKenna.

Devine and Chris Hamilton combined to set up the ex-St Mirren hitman who confidently whacked the ball first-time into the bottom corner from 14 yards. It was an emphatic finish but marked his first strike on home soil since he completed the scoring in the 3-0 defeat of Dunfermline in October 2007.

Given the conditions, Albion were not home, and certainly not dry, and there was an escape when Graham Weir slipped in Gary Wales. The former Hearts and Kilmarnock forward found the net but was thwarted by a narrow offside decision.

Raith did pull one back just after the hour and the weather played a big part. Sloan whipped in a corner which was headed against the underside of the bar by McKenna and ended up in the arms of Christie. Somewhere in there, the ball was judged to have crossed the line and Rovers had a lifeline.

They caused some moments of worry, with any ball into the box difficult to defend, but struggled to carve out clear-cut openings and fell to defeat – just as they had on their previous visit in May 2007 when Moore’s men thrillingly came from behind to win the play-off semi-final 3-1.

Stirling fans retain precious memories of that occasion and the subsequent victory over Airdrie United. It’s perhaps too early to start dreaming of a repeat but recent results have at least kept Albion’s season alive.

Albion: Christie, Graham, Forsyth, Roycroft, Gibb, O’Neill, Hamilton (McCord 75), Murphy, Grehan, McKenna (Boyle 86), Devine. Subs not used: Corr, Lawrie, Hogarth.

Raith: McGurn, Wilson, Cook, Lumsden, Ellis, Walker (Ferry 59), Wardlaw (Bryce 85), Davidson, Wales, Weir, Sloan. Subs not used: Whatley, Graham, O’Connor.

Referee: Thomas Robertson