Hectic month for depleted Albion

Mar 4 2009 by Donald Morton, Stirling Observer Wednesday

STIRLING Albion manager Allan Moore praised his players for extending their unbeaten run to seven games despite a below-par performance against Arbroath.

An injury-time equaliser from substitute Mark Docherty after good work by fellow replacement Michael Mullen earned the Binos a 1-1 draw to keep their play-off hopes intact after the visitors looked set to win at Forthbank for the second time this season, writes David Ogilvie.

Stirling ended the weekend stuck in sixth place, just a point behind East Fife and Peterhead but four adrift of third-placed Brechin, who grabbed a last-gasp winner over the Methil men, while the Blue Toon secured an impressive 3-3 draw at Raith.

Albion were at home to Alloa last night (Tuesday) and face the second part of a derby double header on Recreation Park’s plastic pitch on Saturday. March is a hectic month, with top-four rivals Brechin, Peterhead and East Fife all due at Forthbank in the next few weeks.

Moore said: “All credit to the players for keeping going until the end. Arbroath were very difficult to break down because they had 10 men behind the ball after they scored. We lacked width without Nathan Taggart and Chris Hamilton but we stuck at it and that point could be very important in terms of the play-offs come the end of the season.

“I can understand that the fans are disappointed that we didn’t win but there are no easy games in this league. Arbroath have been on a good run and we have no divine right to beat them. I’m pleased that we kept the run going – they had some chances in the second half but that was always going to happen because we were pushing forward.

“We are down to the bare bones with Andy Graham picking up a hamstring injury and Chris Hamilton struggling with a hernia problem. Nathan Taggart won’t be back for several weeks, Scott Gibb is facing a suspension and David McKenna came off just after half-time because he had been feeling unwell.

“A few weeks ago it seemed like all of our problems had cleared up but they are mounting again now. The other results weren’t great for us either on Saturday but we have to show a bit more in the two games against Alloa.”

Ryan McCord missed the game with Alloa after being sent off for a reckless tackle on Ian Dobbins but Moore was not too critical of the midfielder: “It was a typical young boy’s challenge. It’s not as if he hurt their player and if it had not been in front of their fans then we might have got away with it but, to be fair, the reaction of our players may have been a factor when Barry Sellars was sent off.”

Docherty was played out of position at left back in the recent 1-1 draw at Raith but was delighted to have scored his first goal for the club and his manager is demanding more of the same from the ex-St Mirren midfielder.

He said: “We brought him here because he is capable of getting on the end of things but that’s not been happening often enough and that is why he has not been in the team - he might get his chance now with Ryan McCord out.”

Meanwhile, Arbroath boss John McGlashan was surprisingly upbeat despite seeing his side shed two points in the dying minutes of the game.

He said: “If you said before the game that we would have got a point away from home to a very good Stirling team I would have been happy with that. It’s always disappointing when you lose a goal so late but these things happen and it’s not the stage in the season where it was a must-win game for us.

“There was a good shape and a good energy about us and we started the match very well. We had the chances to get a second goal but it didn’t come and you are always vulnerable when it is 1-0. I thought Stirling were waiting for things to happen rather than making them happen but it was a bit of quality that brought them an equaliser.”