Stirling Albion get late win over East Fife

Nov 18 2009

ON A day when a group of stranded players were forced to hitch a lift to New Bayview with some passing fans, Albion also took a circuitous route to victory in Fife.

For the eighth game in a row, Allan Moore’s men fell behind but they recovered to nab a precious win thanks to a last-minute goal from Martin Grehan to stay level on points with leaders Cowdenbeath, who visit Forthbank on Saturday.

When Ross Forsyth’s car broke down near Kirkcaldy he and his team-mates were shuttled to the stadium by a couple of helpful supporters and eventually repaid the favour by overcoming an East Fife outfit who were worthy of a point in a game that could easily have ended 3-3.

There were just seconds of the regulation 90 minutes left when Scott Robertson fed David McKenna. He weaved his way into the penalty area and fired in a shot which on-loan Hearts keeper Mark Ridgers could only parry. The ball fell kindly for Grehan, who seemed to take an age before smashing it into the net for his seventh league goal of the season.

Stirling needed this big time. After a run of just one win in five games, their title challenge was wobbling and a miserable first half on the coast did little to lift the spirits. Paul McManus gave East Fife a 20th-minute lead but in a second half that sometimes resembled a basketball match – minus the popcorn and heated indoor arena of course – David O’Brien levelled before Grehan pounced to send Stevie Crawford’s side into second bottom spot.

Having tossed away a lead to lose 2-1 at home to Peterhead in controversial circumstances the previous week, it was a bitter blow for the hosts and there were black and gold figures sprawled on the turf in despair when the final whistle blew.

It wasn’t really what they had hoped for on the 11th anniversary of the first ever match at this venue but after taking only one point out of 12 against the Binos last season and losing 3-0 at Forthbank in September, East Fife - who were missing the suspended Jonathan Smart and injured ex-Bino Paul Nugent - must have feared the worst.

Albion looked as if they had collectively run out of petrol in a first half when they only occasionally spluttered into life. Andy Gibson had an early shot blocked by a defender with the keeper stranded and Ross McCord – on early for the injured Stewart Devine - came close with a spectacular effort but little of their play was convincing and yet again they fell behind.

Gibson might have been fouled as he tried to usher the ball out for a goal kick but it should have been hoofed into the car park. Instead, the winger was robbed by on-loan Falkirk striker Paul Sludden - son of prolific ex-Ayr and Kilmarnock hitman John - and he calmly picked out McManus who couldn’t miss from inside the six-yard box.

If Sludden had been as deadly as his dad then Albion might have been further adrift by half-time but the youngster skewed a shot wide.

Albion rallied fro the second half and seven minutes in, Gibson redeemed himself with a perfect cross that was headed against the bar by Grehan before O’Brien did well to hook the rebound home.

Liam Corr, again impressive as a substitute, saw a shot come back off the inside of the post, although a mysterious offside decision might have denied him in any case. O’Brien’s mazy run then just lacked a finish before Grehan struck superbly, but he had strayed a yard offside.

A goal was coming, but at which end wasn’t obvious. Scott Christie made a wonderful save to keep out Lloyd Young’s header at the back post then Grehan missed a sitter when he nodded Andy Graham’s cross wide.

Graham was called into action in his more usual role, performing an incredible last-ditch tackle on McManus to prevent the ex-Raith striker from giving East Fife the lead after an error by Sean Roycroft, who had been restored to the team in place of Kenny Feaks.

Just when it seemed shoddy finishing would deny either side a victory, up popped Grehan to win it. There was still time for yet another chance but McManus had wandered offside before bashing the ball past Christie and Albion had their fifth away win of the campaign.

East Fife: Ridgers, Gourlay, McRae (Conway 83), Muir, Staunton (Kerr 81), Ovenstone, Young, McCunnie, McManus, Sludden, Cargill (Linn 65). Subs not used: Crawford, Brown.

Albion: Christie, Graham, Forsyth, Roycroft, Murphy (Corr 52), Robertson, Gibson (Taggart 78), Devine (McCord 28), Grehan, McKenna, O’Brien. Subs not used: O’Neill, Hogarth.

Referee: Bobby Madden