David Ogilvie reports from Forthbank

Jan 22 2010 by Jean Pedder, Stirling Observer Friday

STIRLING booked a Scottish Cup fifth-round trip to Dingwall to face Ross County on February 6 but they made hard work of overcoming their Third Division visitors.

As in the previous round against Auchinleck Talbot, Allan Moore’s men found the going tough against supposedly inferior opponents and Rovers must still be wondering how they went in at half-time trailing by three goals to one.

Ultimately, progress is all that matters in a cup competition but it was a disappointing and disjointed display from the Binos. Monday’s Cliftonhill surface was bumpy and partly frozen but Forthbank was in good nick for the replay – Stirling simply didn’t play well.

How ironic that they have battered teams and failed to win in Division Two this season – the home games with Clyde and Dumbarton spring to mind – yet disposed of Rovers when Paul Martin’s men deserved a better fate.

They were undone by failure in front of goal and some shoddy defending that was out of character for a team who have struggled to score goals this term but who have the meanest defensive record in Division Three.

Rovers had seen off Lossiemouth and Elgin to reach this stage and were Scottish Cup finalists back in 1920 but haven’t journeyed to the last 16 since that era. They must feel it is never going to happen after putting so much into the game only to lose out.

Injured

Both camps made one change to their starting line-ups from Monday night. Stewart Devine came in for injured Stirling full-back Ross Forsyth while Rovers defender Alan Reid was replaced by ex-Bino Mark Canning.

Stirling were slow out of the blocks but took the lead in nine minutes when hesitant defending allowed Michael Mullen to nip in and lift the ball over keeper Derek Gaston. It was alert and tidy finishing from the ex-Stranraer man who was up front alongside David McKenna in the absence of injured Martin Grehan.

Any hopes that one goal would prove enough against a team averaging less than one per game in Division Three were soon extinguished. On 18 minutes Michael McGowan cut in from the left and crossed for Pat Walker to sweep the ball past Scott Christie.

In their first home game since December 15, Moore’s men looked anything but at home and were perhaps fortunate to escape a penalty shout when Kenny Feaks – who was replaced before the interval by Craig Young – tangled with Mark McCusker in the area.

Ex-Clyde striker McCusker was proving a handful and midway through the half he should have given Rovers the edge but shot straight at Christie after being sent clear.

A goal looked imminent and the only surprise was that it came for Stirling. Andy Gibson’s cross caused panic in the defence and Mullen was on hand to profit from close range. It was a scarcely deserved lead and should have been cancelled out by Chris Boyle who somehow failed to convert from close range as Rovers continued to threaten.

Inablity

But their inability to defend routine balls into the box cost them again just before the break when Paul Murphy slotted home after Gibson’s corner wasn’t dealt with.

The second half was largely forgettable, although Christie was forced into a couple of fine stops and Mullen came close to his hat-trick when he smacked a low drive narrowly wide.

In the end, Stirling were simply glad to make that date with Ross County next month. As Moore’s men discovered against Dundee in the Challenge Cup earlier this season, a fine performance doesn’t always count for anything. Winning, ugly or otherwise, was all that mattered on Wednesday – although it was hard not to feel for Rovers.

Stirling Albion: Christie, Feaks (Young 32), Devine, Graham, Roycroft, Murphy, Gibson, Robertson, McKenna (Corr 84), Mullen, O’Brien (Taggart 44). Subs (not used): O’Neill, Hogarth.

Albion Rovers: Gaston, Canning (Ferry 77), McGowan, Donnelly, Benton, O’Byrne, McKeown, Tyrrell, McCusker (McFarlane 82), Walker, Boyle. Subs (not used): O’Boyle, Dignam, Ewings.

Referee: George Salmond