Stirling team:- Hogarth, Roycroft, Devine, Gibb, Lawrie, O'Neill, Taggart, Molloy, Grehan, Murphy, Corr.
Subs:- Hamilton, McKenna, Docherty, Waddle, Christie

Arbroath team:- Hill, Bishop, Forsyth, Raeside, Rattray, Campbell, Doris, Lunan, Scott, Sellars, McGowan.
Subs:- McMullan, Gates, Tosh, Black, Morrison.

Stirling Albion return to Forthbank today to take on bottom of the league Arbroath. The last time the two clubs met back in August at the Binos Beach Party in Arbroath it was a 10 man Stirling Albion side that came away with all three points. This weeks game is a must win match for both teams but even more so for Allan Moore as the Stirling supporters are starting to get restless with the poor performances of late. Especially last week’s defeat to local rivals Alloa.

During the week Allan Moore has been trying to patch the team up after Andy Graham, Ross Forsyth, David Lowing, Kevin Ross and Ian Harty all were forced to sit out due to injury. On Thursday Allan Moore managed to secure the services of Northern Ireland under 20 Internationalist Scott Gibb who has been signed on loan for at least a month from Falkirk. Gibb isn’t the only Bairns defender Moore has signed in recent months as last season we managed to secure Brian Allison on a loan deal from the SPL side but unfortunately Allison is still unavailable to play as he is still recovering from an injury he picked up last season while playing for the Binos. Finally the starting line up sees the return of defender Sean Roycroft who has missed nearly 18 months of first team football through various injuries he has picked up including a broken nose he received in training from fellow defender Andy Graham.

At a windy Forthbank it was Arbroath who got the game going but the Red Lichties were soon put on the back foot by the Binos as John O’Neil crossed to Stewart Devine who managed to set up Paul Murphy for a shot that was blocked by the defence. O’Neil then had a great chance to put the Binos in the lead as a long ball into the box managed to find the assistant manager but his headed effort didn’t trouble Darren Hill.

Arbroath didn’t look likely to get a chance at goal but after some defensive errors from new loanee signing Scott Gibb seen David McGowan steal the ball from Gibb before passing to Barry Sellars to take his chance at the Stirling goal but his effort was blocked by the Stirling defence. Allan Moore’s new loan signing, Scott Gibb was soon attracting the attention from referee John McKendrick after his challenge on Arbroath’s Bryan Scott the challenge looked harmless but Bryan Scott’s theatrics was enough to convince the referee that Gibb needed to be shown a yellow card.

As the first half of un-entertaining football drew to a close the Binos had a couple of chances to take the lead the first coming when John O’Neil gathered a blocked Liam Corr effort before knocking his effort over the bar then O’Neil had another good chance from a free kick to test the Arbroath ‘keeper but O’Neils effort was too easily gathered by Darren Hill. Arbroath nearly took the lead just before the break as Barry Sellars tried to make his shot dip under the bar but his effort just went over the bar. The referee soon had his yellow card out again and showed it in the direction of Martin Grehan for some unknown reason. After that the first half came to a quiet end.

With both teams going back to the dressing room to listen to the words of inspiration from their managers. The fans were hoping that the second half would be more entertaining as during the first period neither side looked good as chances were missed and as passes went astray.

Half Time: Stirling Albion 0 v 0 Arbroath.

As the second half got under way it was Arbroath who had the better start after the Binos were slow out of the blocks for a second week running. The Red Lichties nearly took the lead as Bryan Scott managed to leave Andy Lawrie trailing behind before he managed to pull a good save from Myles Hogarth. Arbroath had another chance to take the lead from a corned as Craig Forsyth met the ball at the right hand post only to divert the ball wide of the goal. The Stirling defence was beginning to feel the pressure as Barry Sellars gathered a cross before hitting his effort towards goal only for it to be deflected over the bar. As the Stirling defence started to panic a ball that was knocked up the Forthbank pitch towards Arbroath’s Bryan Scott managed to beat the Stirling defence before firing his shot low into the right hand corner of the goal to take the lead for Arbroath.

The Binos were a goal done but nearly had the game back on level terms as Stewart Devine managed to get some space to hit a shot at goal, Devines effort was deflected by Liam Corr and still looked likely to beat Arbroath ‘keeper Darren Hill but somehow Hill managed to get a touch to force the ball onto the post and out for a corner. After going a goal down Allan Moore decided to make a double substitution as Nathan Taggart and Liam Corr made way for David McKenna and Chris Hamilton, a change that some fans thought was late in coming after going a goal down although soon after the changed the Binos were further behind as Arbroath doubled their lead when a free kick into the box was left to fall nicely for Barry Sellars who was handed the perfect chance to head the ball past a helpless Myles Hogarth.

Soon after the goal Stirling made their final change of the game as John O’Neil headed to join the management team for the remainder of the game and Mark Docherty took his place in the battle. The Binos had a chance to get excited as Paul Murphy had a chance to get a goal back but his shot went high over the bar and out of the ground. Arbroath were soon making their first change of the game as Steven Dorris made way for Kevin McMullan.

As the match progressed it was clear that the Binos lacked a cutting edge to their game play and Arbroath were having a relatively easy game as another chance for Arbroath was taken by Barry Sellars who headed a long pass just past the post. Arbroath soon made their final two changes of the games within a few moments of each other as Barry Sellars was replaced by Roddy Black and Bryan Scott made way for Paul Tosh. There was no reason for John McGlashan to change things around much as it was a certainty that the Binos were not going to mount a late comeback like they done last week at the Recs. As the referee sounded his whistle for the final time of the game the Stirling support made it clear that they were unhappy with the team’s performance and some of the managerial decisions.

Well another game where we have taken on a lower placed team in the league and dropped all three points. It was clear today that there were some big holes in the team. Fair enough the back bone of the defence was ripped out this week through injuries but it is clear that the Binos are wiping their feet on the door mat of the last chance salon hopefully though Allan Moore gets his Sherrif’s badge out as well as his Colt 45 to shoot down the bad omens that seem to be haunting his team just now before he goes and picks up his Whisky.

Full Time: Stirling Albion 0 v 2 Arbroath.

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