Binos triumph at second attempt

Mar 11 2009

FILM buffs might disagree but, in football, sequels can be better than the original.

Only four days after these sides had dished up a drab derby along the road they produced a thrilling encounter of five goals, numerous chances and a splash of controversy chucked in for good measure.

There might be only a matter of miles between Forthbank and Recreation Park but there is something about playing away from home that seems to suit Allan Moore’s men, who have now lost just once in 12 games on the road since August.

Wasps boss Allan Maitland, February’s Division Two manager of the month, labelled it the best match at Recreation Park this season. The second half was exceptional but home fans may have preferred their 4-3 triumph in November.

This was a contest that could have gone either way but Stirling played the better football and had the game’s outstanding performer in midfielder Ryan McCord. What a pity this was his last outing before he returns to Dundee United.

McCord will be missed in the weeks ahead but he was not the only performer of note. David McKenna and Martin Grehan’s partnership again bore fruit and their movement was often too much for the home defence.

Grehan, in particular, took a bit of a battering but a ninth goal of the season will have eased any pain. McKenna weighed in with a double to take his tally to eight, although Alloa were unhappy at the award of the penalty that brought his first goal and allowed Stirling a way back into the match.

Albion were unsteady at the back for much of the afternoon but ended it with three points thanks to some sparkling attacking play on the plastic pitch, much of it going through McCord.

After back-to-back home draws against Arbroath and Alloa this was a massive win in the play-off chase, on an afternoon when rivals East Fife lost and Brechin and Peterhead were both held.

Both sides made changes following last Tuesday’s stalemate at Forthbank. For Stirling that meant starts for McCord and McKenna, with Stewart Devine and Michael Mullen dropping to the bench.

Grehan had an early effort parried by Ray Jellema as Stirling started brightly but they were behind in just six minutes when Brown Ferguson was allowed to run unchecked towards the penalty box and his cross from the left was tucked away by Stuart Noble.

The ex-Airdrie striker was then denied by Scott Christie and the hosts also wasted a couple of free-kicks from good positions. At the other end McKenna was furious at not being awarded a penalty but a spot-kick was not long in coming.

John Grant fired over for Alloa soon after the restart but in 53 minutes a flowing move from the visitors ended with Ross Forsyth sprawled on the turf after a challenge from Scott Buist. Referee Scott MacDonald, who had upset Brechin and Raith by calling off their midweek clash, angered those of an Alloa persuasion by pointing to the spot. Video replays suggest they had a case.

McKenna ignored the fuss to hammer home the kick and within four minutes the Reds, wearing blue, were ahead courtesy of a sumptuous volley from ex-Motherwell man Grehan after Mark Docherty had hooked the ball into the box.

It was a lead that did not last long. Pat Scullion tip-toed through the defence and prodded the ball past Christie to make it 2-2 after good work by Ferguson. It was breathless stuff and Noble should have snapped up another chance soon after.

Albion were soon back on the attack and Jellema made a fine stop to flip a McCord curler over the bar but, with 73 minutes gone, he was beaten again. A wonderful break following an Alloa corner concluded with McCord’s effort being saved and McKenna had a simple to task to ram in the rebound.

Defence didn’t come into it now as both sides attacked as if this was a basketball match. Alloa should have been on terms when Noble found himself clean through but Christie repelled his effort. Then, with seven minutes left, Ferguson nodded a McClune cross wide when it looked easier to score.

Grehan should have bagged his brace after a John O’Neill shot fell at his feet but he could not direct the ball into the net and there was just one more scare to survive when Brian Carrigan sent an injury-time header over the top.

That made it nine matches without loss for Albion, whose fine record against Alloa now stands at only one defeat in the last 11 derbies.

ALLOA: Jellema, Grant, Campbell, Townsley, Buist, Hill, Wilson (McClune 57), Ferguson, Spence (Scott 57), Noble, Scullion (Carrigan 75). Subs not used: Macaulay, White.

STIRLING ALBION: Christie, Lawrie, Forsyth, Gibb, Roycroft, O’Neill, McCord, Murphy, Grehan, McKenna (Mullen 82), Docherty. Subs not used: Devine, Corr, Boyle, Hogarth.

Referee: Scott MacDonald