Bairns too strong for Binos

Aug 1 2012 by David Ogilvie, Stirling Observer Wednesday

Bairns too strong for Binos

Falkirk 3 Stirling Albion 0

ON A weekend of surprises that saw Rangers forced into extra time by Brechin, Forfar dump Dunfermline, Annan account for Livingston and East Stirling stun Ayr, Stirling were unable to claim the scalp of the Ramsdens Cup holders in their opening game of the season.

Two years ago the Binos kicked off their campaign with a penalty shoot-out win over the Bairns in the same competition at Forthbank but Steven Pressley’s men, who lifted the trophy against Hamilton in April, eased comfortably into the second round.

You have to go back to New Year’s Day 1975 for Albion’s last away success against their local rivals, Mickey Lawson scoring twice at Brockville, but this was always going to be an arduous assignment for Greig McDonald’s team.

Stirling’s record at The Falkirk Stadium makes for predictably grim reading: a 5-3 defeat in the Challenge Cup in 2004 and 3-0 and 4-2 reverses in the miserable Division One campaign of 2010/11.

This latest setback was certainly no disgrace and a repeat of the scoreline in a closed-door friendly between the teams at the beginning of July was perhaps widely anticipated.

For all that, Albion were largely comfortable in the first half and were unfortunate to end a low-key 45 minutes trailing to a Kieran Duffie strike. Two quick goals from new signing Lyle Taylor early in the second period rendered the remaining half-hour largely irrelevant.

McDonald had something of a full-back crisis to contend with as Kieran McAnespie, Shaun Fagan, Ross McGeachie and David McClune were all ruled out. Gary Thom and Danny Ashe were either side of a central pairing of the player-manager himself and skipper Brian Allison.

Bradley Coyne made his debut wide on the right of a midfield five that saw Mark Ferry start on the left and Jamie McCunnie, Gavin Macpherson and Daly McSorley patrol the central beat. Graham Weir was the sole striker, with Scott Davidson on the bench.

It was an understandably cautious approach but Stirling almost made a sensational start. With less than 10 seconds on the clock Falkirk teenager Stephen Kingsley misjudged a ball over the top and Coyne had a sight of goal but his powerful shot was saved by Michael McGovern.

Falkirk had out-passed Bolton in a 1-1 midweek friendly but they were less slick here and had a fortunate escape when Ferry’s header was blocked then Weir was thwarted by a defender.

Sam Filler, who got the nod ahead of new signing Mark Peat, had only fielded a couple of long-range efforts before Falkirk made the breakthrough in 34 minutes. Albion were caught with too many men up the pitch and Jay Fulton, son of former Celtic midfielder Steve, picked out Duffie and the 20-year-old spun his marker and lashed the ball high into the net.

Stirling were still well in the tie at the interval but it slipped away from them within 10 minutes of the restart. Taylor, recruited from Bournemouth, was allowed too much time and space as he cut in from the left wing and his low 20-yarder flew beyond Filler.

Taylor had followed up last week’s hat-trick against Middlesbrough with another goal against Bolton on Wednesday and took his haul to six goals in seven days when he volleyed home after Filler had only been able to punch out a corner from Andy Haworth.

Falkirk, skippered by 37-year-old Darren Dods, missed a couple of chances to add to their lead but the game was flat now and substitutes Gary Brass and Jamie Clark, the latter making his debut, might have claimed a consolation goal as the 90 minutes meandered towards a conclusion.

Stirling’s attention now turns to the Scottish Cup Communities League Cup clash at Arbroath, who were 7-5 winners in an incredible match at Elgin on Saturday.

FALKIRK: McGovern, Duffie, Kingsley, Dods, Flynn, J Fulton (D Fulton 78), Sibbald (Dick 82), Murdoch, Taylor, Haworth, Leahy (White 78). Subs not used: Smith, Bowman.

STIRLING ALBION: Filler, Thom, Ashe, McCunnie (Clark 86), Allison, McDonald, McSorley, Macpherson (Davidson 59), Weir (Brass 74), Coyne, Ferry. Subs not used: McCulloch, Peat.

Referee: John McKendrick