Binos to take on leaders

Jan 27 2010 by Donald Morton, Stirling Observer Wednesday

STIRLING Albion have the chance to return to the top of Division Two when they take on leaders Cowdenbeath at Central Park on Saturday.

Allan Moore’s men were five points clear at one stage earlier in the campaign but an incredible run of eight wins and three draws saw the Blue Brazil move into pole position.

Their 11-match unbeaten sequence came to an end with a 2-1 defeat at Dumbarton at the weekend and that allowed Albion to trim the gap to two points, with a game in hand, thanks to a thrilling 3-3 draw against East Fife at Forthbank.

The Binos remain without a home league win since September but have won six out of eight on their travels and victory would be a massive boost ahead of the Scottish Cup fifth-round clash away to Ross County on February 6.

Cup commitments mean Stirling are not then back in league action until the trip to Dumbarton a week later, by which time Cowdenbeath will have hosted Peterhead and travelled to third-placed Alloa for a rearranged fixture on February 9. Weekend wins saw Alloa and Brechin close the gap on Stirling to two and four points respectively.

Criminal

Binos boss Allan Moore said of Saturday’s match: “I would have expected us to defend a lot better than we did and to go from 2-1 up to 3-2 down is criminal – you just have to clear your lines in those situations. We have brought in Brian Allison and Craig McKeown from a higher league but it is a new defence and hopefully we will do a bit better next week.

“We have to keep the back door shut. We are back to our usual in giving away the first goal but all credit to the boys for coming back. In some ways, it is a point gained because Cowdenbeath were beaten but we could have gone joint top of the league if we had won.

“It was a fair result. We had chances to win but so did East Fife. Paul McManus missed a great chance near the end and you have to give East Fife credit. Some teams sit in against us but they came here and had a real go and I had my heart in my mouth a few times.”

Moore sprang a surprise by fielding Falkirk Amateurs striker Derek Colquhoun as a trialist. The ex-Falkirk and East Fife frontman scored a hat-trick for Stirling against Rangers reserves at the start of the season and frequently nets against the Binos in bounce games.

Moore added: “I thought big Derek Colquhoun did really well – on another day he could have had two or three goals. He doesn’t train to the same extent as our boys with Falkirk Amateurs but he is a target man and it is a long time since Stirling Albion have had one of them.

“His team are still involved in the Scottish Cup so I don’t know if he will be available this weekend. I’ve been trying to sign him for four years and he would add to the options we have. Martin Grehan is still struggling with his hamstring injury and that is why we brought Derek in. I don’t know if he will be signing or not – that depends on money and what he feels as well.”

Midfielder Chris Aitken marked his return to Forthbank from Ayr United with the opening goal and he set up the second for David O’Brien, before Ross Forsyth headed a late equaliser.

Moore said: “We got the first goal off Chris because he is willing to shoot from the edge of the box. OK, it took a deflection but he could have had another one in the second half. He’s not played a lot of games in the last few weeks but he will definitely improve us.

“We had to take Stewart Devine off against East Fife because he tweaked his groin and Scott Robertson was treading water by the end of the game but that’s why we have a squad,” added Moore, who can also call on Liam Corr, Nathan Taggart, Sean Roycroft and Kenny Feaks – none of whom were in the 16 on Saturday.

East Fife assistant manager Scott Crabbe felt the two teams had served up a feast of attacking football but was frustrated at being denied victory.

He said: “It must have been a great game for the neutrals but I’m gutted not to get all three points because I thought we were fantastic.

Linked

“If we can keep playing like that we will definitely climb the league. Paul McManus and Stevie Crawford linked up brilliantly when we went to a 4-4-2 formation. At 3-2 up I thought we were going to win and for me it was a clear foul on Jamie McCunnie for their equaliser.”

Meanwhile, no new dates have yet been set for Albion’s five outstanding Division Two fixtures at home to Stenhousemuir, Peterhead and Arbroath and away to Brechin and Alloa but Scottish League rules mean they do not have to be played until the first midweek in March.

If Stirling’s forthcoming Scottish Cup tie against Ross County in Dingwall ends in a draw or is postponed, the teams will try again on Tuesday,February 16.