Boost for Albion ahead of Ayr test

Jan 16 2009 by Donald Morton, Stirling Observer Friday

STIRLING Albion go into the home match tomorrow (Saturday) against second-placed Ayr United in good shape after three wins in their last four games.

The Binos defeated leaders Raith Rovers 2-1 on Saturday to close to within three points of the play-offs and assistant manager John O’Neill admits they are desperate to maintain their fine run against the Honest Men.

Albion’s improving injury situation means only Nathan Taggart will miss out tomorrow and the club were given another boost this week when central defender Scott Gibb agreed to extend his loan from Falkirk for another month.

O’Neill said: “It’s pleasing that we have Scott here for a bit longer. He has formed a good partnership with Sean Roycroft and we are looking solid at the back. Having Ross Forsyth and Andy Graham back from injury is a big plus as well. We have competition for places now and that can only be a good thing.”

Falkirk boss John Hughes is equally happy with the arrangement, adding: “With the SPL Reserve League in cold storage it’s important that guys like Scott get regular competitive football and the deal is good for both parties.”

Ayr might be 12 points ahead of Albion in the table – they are four behind leaders Raith with two games in hand – but there has been nothing to choose between the teams this season.

Stirling fought back for a 2-2 draw at Forthbank in August and again came from behind to draw 1-1 in miserable conditions at Somerset Park at the end of October, when O’Neill equalised with a stunning strike and Albion then passed up several chances to defeat the 10-man hosts.

Tomorrow marks Ayr’s first Division Two game of 2009 and they go into it boosted by a terrific 2-2 draw against Kilmarnock in the Scottish Cup and with Thursday’s Rugby Park replay to look forward to.

Brian Reid’s men won 1-0 at Brechin in their most recent league outing on December 30 and have suffered only three defeats – all away from home.

O’Neill said: “Ayr are obviously a decent team but I felt we could have beaten them the last time and the spirit in the camp is very good. It was a big result for us to beat Raith on Saturday and there is a sense of belief about the place. It is important that we keep things moving in the right direction.

“We would still like to bring in a striker but David McKenna and Martin Grehan are linking up well at the moment and David has scored a few goals recently which is great. I was pleased to score against Raith but we’ve said before that it’s important that as many people as possible are chipping in.”

The likes of Steven Waddell, Liam Corr, Myles Hogarth, Johnny Boyle, Mark Docherty, David Lowing and Andy Lawrie all featured in a bounce game against Falkirk Amateurs on Tuesday night, which Albion won easily, and boss Allan Moore now has plenty of options in most areas of the park.

It is unlikely he will stray too much from the team that beat Raith Rovers as Albion seek to put pressure on East Fife and Peterhead in the race for the play-offs with a win over Ayr. They end the month away to bottom club Stranraer and third-placed Brechin, who have named Jim Duffy as their new manager after Michael O’Neill departed to take charge of Shamrock Rovers.

Allan Moore said: “When we beat East Fife before Christmas we were battered by Queen’s Park in the next match so we need to build on the win over Raith. We have a good record against the teams above us but in the weeks ahead it’s also important that we do the business against the others as well.”