Stroll in the park for Binos

May 13 2009 by Donald Morton, Stirling Observer Wednesday

SATURDAY’S saturated Stirling turned into Monday’s Mediterranean May as Albion brought down the curtain on their up-and-down season.

Less than a week after the fans began their campaign to get 20,000 fans to rally round and help buy the Binos, a paltry 284 – Stirling’s lowest crowd of the season – turned out to watch Stirling hammer a Queen’s Park side more interested in their play-off tomorrow (Thursday) against Stenhousemuir.

With the big game for the Spiders only days away, it remained to be seen how strong a side they would field but in the end, those who did play made sure they wouldn’t be committing themselves too much.

It meant that Albion had the lion’s share of the play and the ball and a first-half 3-0 rendered the second half redundant.

As early as the fourth minute, Queen’s Park defender Andrew Boslem had to display Lionel Messi-like skills on the edge of the box after a poor passback caught keeper Alex Cowie unawares.

The first goal came in 12 minutes when Liam Corr burst through the centre of midfield to set up Michael Mullen for his third goal in two games.

Martin Grehan, back after suspension, could have made it two after he headed wide when it looked easier to score but he made amends in 34 minutes when Chris Hamilton ghosted through the centre of the Queens’ defence to lay the ball on a plate for him.

Grehan then decided to side-step two defenders and the keeper before rolling the ball home.

Hamilton himself netted the third when he took advantage of indecision in the centre of defence to burst through and shoot past Cowie.

With the game over and Queen’s Park playing out time, the second half dragged on and both teams used all replacements to try and instil some excitement into the game.

Two Stirling subs – David McKenna and Mark Docherty – combined in 67 minutes for the game’s final goal when the former crossed for the latter the volley home.

Seven goals in their final two fixtures with none conceded meant a great finish to the season for the Binos but they will rue double defeats earlier in the term against the Spiders and relegated Stranraer – 12 points which would have seen them in the play-off finals once again.

Stirling Albion: Hogarth, Feaks, Forsyth, Gibb, Roycroft (Graham 63), Corr, Hamilton, Murphy, Grehan (McKenna 46), Mullen and Devine (Docherty 55). Subs not used: McEwan and Christie.

Queen’s Park: Cowie, Ure (Baillie 80), Waters, Boslem, Reilly, Harkins, Coakley (Capuano 66), Dunliop, Odunewu (McGrady 46), Murray and Holms. Subs not used: Brough and Crawford.

Referee: M Northcroft.