Stirling team:- Hogarth, Graham, Lowing, Lawrie, Forsyth, O'Neill, Taggart, Dochery, Harty, McKenna, Grehan.
Subs:- Murphy, Waddell, Corr, hamilton, Christie.

Booked: Harty, Lowing
Sent Off: Docherty

Arbroath team:- Hill, Rennie, Black, Raeside, Bisho, Fraser, McMullen, Lunan, Tosh, Sellars, Gates.
Subs:- Morrison, Weir, Masson, Simpson, Campbell.

Booked: Fraser, Lunan, Sellars

Stirling Albion headed up the Angus coast this week to take on Arbroath for the second time this season after Arbroath managed to knock the Binos out of the CIS Insurance cup earlier in the season. This week’s away trip took on a colorful display as the Stirling Albion Supporters Club had organized a Beach Party theme day and most of the Stirling support turned up with Hawaiian shirts and various inflatable’s ranging from the humble beach ball to a rather large dolphin, hoping that the array of colours spurred the team on to their first win of the season. Allan Moore made no changes to last week’s squad that made the dramatic comeback from being two goals down to rescue a point from the game. Arbroath had former Stirling captain John Fraser in the starting line up for today’s game.

As Arbroath got the game underway it wasn’t long before the visitors had a few good chances from a couple of corners but the Binos didn’t challenge Darren Hill with any meaningful attempts. Arbroath soon had a chance to take the lead early on when Barry Sellars stepped u[p to take a free kick just outside the box, Sellars shot was the first real danger of the game for the Binos but Myles Hogarth wasn’t fazed by the effort as it went into the side netting.

Stirling were soon back on the offensive when John O’Neil set up Ian Harty to curl a shot at Darren Hill and force the smokies ‘keeper to tip the effort over the bar for a corner. Nathan Taggart picked out David McKenna from the corner and the Albion hit man fired off a shot from 12 yards directly at Darren Hill. Arbroath continued to threaten the Stirling goal when Andy Lawrie challenged Arbroath’s Paul Tosh unluckily for Lawrie the ball broke to Barry Sellars who didn’t hesitate to fire an attempt at the Stirling goal but he couldn’t keep it down as his effort went high over the bar. Paul Tosh soon gathered the ball after a mistake from the Stirling defence bit Tosh’s effort wasn’t dangerous for the Albion but the home crowd behind the goal had to take cover as the shot went into the stand.

Stirling were looking more likely to take the lead when Martian Grehan took a shot at goal bit his effort deflected off David McKenna and out for a goal kick. As the game wore on it was starting to look like it was going to be the Binos who took the lead but since this season hasn’t gone to plan so far it was soon apparent that this game would take a dramatic change when Arbroath’s Scott Gates get on the end of a long searching pass and he outpaced Stirling’s David Lowing and broke into the box and chip his effort over Myles Hogarth for Arbroath to take the lead.

The Binos weren’t behind for long after this shock goal by Arbroath as Ian Harty passed to David McKenna who directed a shot goal wards only for Assistant Manager John O’Neil to tap in for the equaliser. David McKenna had excellent chance to double the Binos lead moments later when he headed a free kick just wide of the post.

John O’Neil was was the next Bino to take a shot at goal but his long rage effort didn’t worry Darren Hill but at least the effort has shown the former Queen of the South ace is settling in to his new roll as Allan Moore’s Assistant. The referee was soon stamping his authority in the game as former Bino John Fraser was booked for his challenge on Nathan Taggart. Ian Harty soon produced another strike towards goal after getting on the end of a long pass but the Albion hit man’s effort was high over the bar but if Harty had looked around him he would have seen the support he had from his fellow team mates and maybe the Binos would have been in the lead. Arbroath were forced to make their first substitution of the game as Paul Tosh went off injured after heading a Scott Gates corner over the bar. Tosh was replaced by Steven Weir.

Just as the half drew to a close Ian Harty was cautioned for a high footed challenge, the Binos soon had the last say in the half when Harty set up Nathan Taggart who could only manage a to poke the ball directly at Darren Hill.

Halftime: Arbroath 1 v 1 Stirling Albion

As the second half got underway the referee was soon halting proceedings as he booked Arbroath’s Paul Lunan after he tackled Nathan Taggart from behind. The Stirling Beach Party soon had something to celebrate when Ian Harty picked up on a long ball and played it into David McKenna who managed to lob Darren Hill and score his first goal since the Binos deflated Stranraer in the Scottish Cup on 24 November 2007. Hopefully this was the boost his confidence was needing to get him back into his scoring ways.

McKenna’s goal settled the team down and it inspired them to go looking for a third as Ian Harty and Andy Graham linked up and soon big Andy was in the opposition’s box and sending a low shot at Darren Hill’s goal but Hill easily saved Andys attempt. Arbroath’s Barry Sellars soon found his name being taken down by the refereeas he was cautioned for a poorly timed challenge on a Bino, the bookings didn’t stop there as the linesman soon had many of the Strling supporters questioning his decision as the result of the linesman and referees conversation Mark Docherty was shown a red card for use of the elbow but most of the travelling support were unsure if Docherty used the elbow.

Stirling soon changed things around in the aftermath of Docherty’s dismissal, goal scorer David McKenna was replaced by Paul Murphy to help bolster the midfield. Only a few moments later Arbroath should have been down to ten men as well as Steven Weir went in heavily with a two footed challenge on John O’Neil but the referee only booked Weir.

Stirling may have been in the lead after a wonderful bit of work by David McKenna and Ian Harty but that lead was now threatened as the team was down to ten men and Arbroath started to hunt for weaknesses in the Stirling defence and nearly capitalised on one when Scott Gates got on the end of a long ball but mini winger could only manage a poor lob over both Myles Hogarth and the goal. Arbroath soon made their second substitution of the game as John Fraser was replaced by Terry Masson.

Stirling soon looked like they were going to add another goal to their tally as Nathan Taggart set up Martin Grehan who managed to slip into the inside past the defender before forcing Darren Hill to tip his effort over the bar for a corner. Arbroath soon broke up the pitch and had a chance to level things when Terry Masson seen his shot going just wide of the goal. Arbroath manager John McGlashan soon made his final change of the game as Sean Simpson replaced Kevin McMullen.

Stirling soon gifted Arbroath the chance to level the score as the referee awarded the smokies a penalty after an Arbroath player got a little nudge in the back when Roddy Black crossed in to the box. Barry Sellars stepped up to take the spot kick for Arbroath but his effort was easily tipped around the post by Myles Hogarth who saved the day or the Binos. David Lowing was soon attracting the attention of the referee as he was booked for what looked like a perfectly decent tackle.

Allan Moore soon made his second change of the game as Ian Harty was replaced by Steven Waddle. Stirling maintained the pressure on Arbroath and it nearly paid of a few times during the closing stages of the game as Nathan Taggart managed to drift down into the danger area before his pass was cut out by the Arbroath defence. The final action of the game came from a corner when John O’ Neil got on the end of a poor clearance by Arbroath and O’Neil hit his shot just over the bar of Darren Hill’s goal.

Full time: Arbroath 1 v 2 Stirling Albion

Other Reports
RedWeb