Reds falter in play-off quest

Apr 29 2009

ALBION’S slim hopes of an immediate return to the First Division ended on a grey afternoon in the North East where Peterhead booked their play-off spot with two matches to spare.

Allan Moore’s men knew nothing less than a victory would keep their top-four ambitions alive for at least another week and a second 1-1 draw of the season at Balmoor wasn’t enough.

Stirling gave it everything but fell behind to a stunning free-kick from Bobby Mann early in the second half and, despite Paul Murphy equalising within four minutes, they couldn’t conjure up a winner against the team with the best home defensive record in Division Two.

The remaining fixtures away to East Fife and at home to Queen’s Park now count for little but Albion at least halted a run of three straight defeats. They might have won but there wasn’t a great deal between the teams and it was hard to argue with the outcome.

As the exam season approaches, here’s a question though. If the red club play the blue club four times and don’t lose, how can they be eight points behind?

Students of Division Two might come up with this explanation. The bottom two – Stranraer and Queen’s Park – have managed just 10 wins between them all season. Four of them have come against Stirling. In contrast, Peterhead have taken maximum points against the Blues and have suffered just one defeat to the Spiders.

The arithmetic of it all must be deeply frustrating to Moore, who has achieved two promotions during his seven-year stay and had good reason to feel positive about another when Albion embarked on a sparkling run in the early part of 2009. But form has since dipped and even victory at the weekend would have made the play-offs an outside bet.

He made one change to the team beaten 1-0 by Raith the previous week, with Mark Docherty preferred to winger Chris Hamilton. The ex-St Mirren man had an impressive game alongside John O’Neill in the centre of midfield, with Murphy pushed out to the right.

Ross Forsyth started on the left of midfield but later swapped places with full-back Stewart Devine and Albion ended the game with a 3-5-2 formation after Hamilton had replaced Sean Roycroft as the search for a winning goal proved more frantic and ultimately elusive.

The Blue Toon went into the contest on the back of a 1-0 win at Stranraer but had suffered a rare home defeat to Brechin in their last Balmoor outing. That hadn’t turned off the locals and 855 rolled up to see them clinch a play-off place – the biggest gathering for a game against Stirling since they joined the SFL from the Highland League in 2000.

On a poor surface, chances were few in the first half, although Stirling enjoyed plenty of possession. O’Neill – who netted a spectacular equaliser on this snow-bound ground in November – wasn’t far away with a dipping volley then David McKenna should have done better than fire over the bar after being picked out by Docherty.

Peterhead hadn’t posed much threat but Scott Christie was required to make a terrific save from Graeme Sharp as half-time approached and soon after it, the Blue Toon were ahead.

Experienced SPL referee Eddie Smith judged that Roycroft had committed a foul when it looked like the other way around. At a distance of 30 yards out, it wouldn’t have been too much of a concern had it not been for Mann’s dead-ball expertise.

The imposing ex-Dundee and Inverness CT defender isn’t the most mobile these days but is a commanding figure at the back and can fairly skelp a ball. Unfortunately, his aim was spot-on here and he sent the ball hurtling into the top corner despite Christie getting a hand to it.

Albion’s response was swift and within four minutes Murphy had made it 1-1. O’Neill swung a free-kick into a crowded penalty area and the ball broke to the former Stenhousemuir player who whacked it past Paul Jarvie via the left-hand post.

One more goal would have kept the season alive but it wouldn’t come. Craig Gunn should have scored for the hosts but fired wide with Christie to beat.

Albion finished strongly and Hamilton had an opportunity but couldn’t hit the target. Fellow substitute Liam Corr had the chance to become a hero but his 18-yard effort lacked conviction and was eventually scrambled clear as Peterhead held on to take the place Albion so wanted.

Peterhead: Jarvie, Donald, Smith, Mann, MacDonald, Moore, Sharp (Kozminski 81), Gunn (Ross 66), Bavidge, Anderson, McKay. Subs not used: Skinner, Davidson, Kula.

Albion: Christie, Graham, Forsyth, Gibb, Roycroft (Hamilton 78), O’Neill, Murphy, Docherty (Corr 81), McKenna, Grehan, Devine. Subs not used: Dunn, Lowing, Hogarth.

Referee: Eddie Smith