Reds enter the home straight

Feb 25 2009

STIRLING Albion begin a hectic spell of five home games out of seven in the space of a month when they entertainArbroath on Saturday.

It is a long-awaited return to familiar surroundings for the Reds, who have not played at Forthbank due to a combination of the Scottish Cup, the weather and a run of away games since defeating Ayr United 2-0 on January 17.

Allan Moore’s men drew 1-1 with leaders Raith Rovers at Stark’s Park at the weekend and have taken 20 points out of a possible 27 since losing at home to the Red Lichties in mid-November.

That 2-0 defeat was a real low point and ended Arbroath’s long winless run but both teams go into Saturday’s encounter in fine form, with John McGlashan’s visitors just one place below the Binos after a run of three successive wins over Alloa (1-0), Stranraer (5-1) and Queen’s Park (3-0).

Albion are in sixth place which seems harsh given their superb recent form but only two points separate East Fife, Brechin, Peterhead and Stirling in the battle for two play-off places.

Raith and Ayr look set to fight it out for the title and the other play-off berth but Stirling will surely fancy their chances of a top-four finish, particularly if they can improve on some indifferent results against teams in the lower reaches.

Brechin are the only top-six side to have beaten the Binos this term but Moore’s men have already lost to Arbroath, Queen’s Park and Alloa – all of whom they face in a packed schedule in the coming weeks.

First up are Arbroath, followed by a double header against Alloa on March 3 (home) and 7 (away) before Brechin and Peterhead visit Forthbank mid-month. Bogey team Queen’s Park are next at Hampden on March 21 and March ends with a massive home match against East Fife.

Deserved

Looking back at the 1-1 draw with Raith, Moore was disappointed that his side didn’t build on their second-minute lead through David McKenna goal but admitted that Rovers ultimately deserved their point courtesy of Kevin Smith’s 21st-minute leveller.

He said: “I felt we dominated the first 20 minutes and got a good goal. At that stage I thought we would come away with all three points but we lost a bad goal soon after our corner so that was disappointing.

“The second half could have gone either way and the weather conditions weren’t great for good football. We tried to get the ball down and pass it and we might have nicked a goal at the end but a draw was probably a fair result overall.

“Martin Grehan and David McKenna have been doing well recently and they were causing the Raith defence a problem but we seemed to stop playing for a spell in the first half and that left them back into it. The good thing is that the draw keeps our unbeaten run going.

“If we had won then the gap would have been down to nine points with a game in hand which could have made it six. The way the boys are playing at the moment that wouldn’t have been beyond them but I have asked them to get us into the play-offs and we are on course for that. March is going to be a big month for a lot of teams so hopefully we can steer clear of injuries and keep the run going.”

Moore will be able to welcome back John O’Neill and Ross Forsyth after suspension this weekend, with Ryan McCord and Mark Docherty likely to drop out from the team that drew at Raith. On-loan Falkirk defender missed the Kirkcaldy trip due to an ankle injury but it is hoped he will be fit for the Arbroath match.