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Stirling
team:-
Hogarth, Graham, Lowing, Lawrie, Forsyth, O'Neill, Taggart,
Molloy, Harty, Docherty, Grehan.
Subs:-
Hamilton, Murphy, McKenna, Corr, Chrsitie
Brechin City team:-
Nelson, Walker, Dyer, White, Seeley, Jancyzk, Byers, Nimmo,
Twigg, Paton, King
Subs:-
D. Smith, C. Smith, Nelson, Murie, Scott
After a three week absence from Forthbank due to the International
break, the Binos return to take on league leaders Brechin City.
After the first quarter of games it looks like it is going to
be a challenging season for the Binos. On our first meeting
of the season it was Brechin who got the points on the opening
day of the season after they won 2 v 1 at Glebe Park back in
August, since then the visitors have went on a unbeaten run
with five wins and four draws out of their opening nine games
as we have been slightly less fortunate and recorded two wins,
five draws and two narrow defeats (Brechin and Stranraer).
Allan Moore has a full complement of players to chose from as
Stewart Devine, Sean Roycroft and Kevin Ross all return from
injury as where Brechin City manager Michael O’Neil is
without John Ward for todays match.
On what was the first truely autumnal day at Forthbank it was
the Binos who kicked off shooting towards the monument end of
Forthbank and the Binos immediately had the visitors on the
back foot as Brechin had to defend a corner. Brechin soon had
the ball up the pitch and had the first shot at goal of the
game as a Neil Janczyk free kick was blasted into the wall.
The league leaders were soon starting to dominate as a Kevin
Byers cross was almost met by Gary Twigg. The Stirling defence
wasn’t looking that great early on as each ofthe back
four managed to lose the ball at some point but the most dangerous
mistake from the defence was commited by Andy Lawrie as he let
Garry Twigg steal the ball from under his nose after letting
it bounce, Twigg soon capitalized on Lawrie’s error by
setting up Michael Paton who was looking sure to score the first
goal of the match but his effort was deflected around the post
for a corner. Paton thought he had scored but it was an embarrassing
miss for the striker.
It looked like it was going to be a tough afternoon for the
Binos as at times it looked as if the midfield weren’t
there to get the ball forward but somehow they managed to feed
the ball to Ian Harty who soon flicked on to Assistant Manager
John O’Neil but unlikely for O’Neil he couldn’t
get a touch on the ball to control it and it went out for a
goal kick. That didn’t stop the strike pair linking up
again as O’Neil set up Harty but his effort went across
the face of goal. This little bit of attacking action soon returned
into defending action as Brechin started to put the pressure
on again. During a couple of these attacks Garry Twigg was caught
offside but the former Airdrie striker didn’t like the
linesman’s decision and gave he some carefully chosen
words and the second time Twigg was caught, he snapped at the
linesman again and the referee had no choice but to show him
a Yellow Card for decent.
The Binos soon had themselves to blame as a Brechin capitalized
when Nathan Taggart gave the ball away and in the process of
trying to prevent the inevitable happening Ross Forsyth attempted
a tackle but somehow the skipper didn’t prevent the move
from developing and Garry Twigg was set up and he soon had the
visitors in front as his strike went under Myles Hogarth. A
goal that was totally preventable wasn’t prevented. Hogarth
could have probably done better to get to the ball as it wet
under his arm, Forsyth could have made a better attempt at the
tackle and of course the whole thing would have been avoided
if Taggart didn’t lose possession. In the las action of
the half Mark Docherty had an attempt at goal but his effort
was poor to say the least about it and didn’t ease the
pressures before the break.
Halftime: Stirling Albion 0 v 1 Brechin City.
As the second half got underway Allan Moore didn’t make
any changes at the break despite the shockingly poor performance
in the first half. As the first half got underway it was again
the Binos who started the better side as Nathan Taggart delivered
a cross to Martin Greehan who set up John O’Neil for a
over head kick that nearly crept bellow the bar but Brechin
‘keeper Craig Nelson managed to get a touch to tip the
ball over for a corner. Any chance of getting back on terms
early in the second half they were soon shattered as Grehan
missed the chance to clear a long ball and let Kevin Byers hit
a well placed shot to double Brechins lead. Allan Moore decided
that he needed to change things now as Nathan Taggart was replaced
by Chris Hamilton. The Binos soon had something to celebrate
as Craig Molloy set up Martin Grehan who fired a shot into the
back of Craig Nelsons net. A great strike from 15 yards out
by “The Greek” had the Binos back in the match.
Brechin were soon back on the offensive as Kevin Bryers managed
to cut inside the Stirling defence before taking his chance
but his effort went over the bar. Brechin made their first substitution
of the game as former Bino Charlie King was replaced by Darren
Smith. The Binos were beginning to gather some momentum and
started to pressure the Brechin defence as John O’Neil
managed create some space to get a shot but his effort was rather
tame and easily gathered by Craig Nelson. Craig Molloy was the
next Bino to try and get the equaliser but his shot didn’t
test the ‘keeper.
The recent Stirling pressure was nearly in vein as Molloy tried
to pass to a fellow Bino but could only find the referee maybe
the referees red outfit confused Molloy but it was nearly a
costly intervention by the man in red as Garry Twigg gathered
the loose ball and hit a poor shot directly at Myles Hogarth
who easily gathered. Allan Moore soon made his second change
of the game as Mark Docherty was replaced by Liam Corr in waht
was a rather welcome change for some the home fans as Docherty
has failed to impress in recent weeks.
The Binos soon had Brechin under pressure from a corner as Ross
Forsyth got on the end of a well placed Chris Hamilton corner
by the Stirling skipper’s effort floated over the bar.
The score line should have been levelled moments later when
Chris Hamilto managed to set up Ian Harty who could have had
a go at a shot but he inturn flicked on to Martin Grehan but
somehow the Greeks 4 yard effort was blocked by Craig Nelson.
After a quiet spell for Brechin they soon had some action as
Ian Nimmo hit his effort well wide of the mark. Brechin City
manager Michael O’Neil decided that he needed to change
things around and Neil Janczyk was replaced by Adam Nelson.
As the second half moved on it was the home side who looked
more likely to score as John O’Neil managed to step around
a Brechin defender before hitting a shot past Craig Nelsons
right hand post. Another good cross into the Brechin box saw
Craig Nelson panic and leave Martin Greeha with an excellent
chance to equalise but the Greek could only head the ball over
the bar. Allan Moore soon made his final change of the game
as off came David Lowing to be replaced by David McKenna as
Allan Moore decided to push for the equaliser.
Andy Lawrie was soon having his name entered into the referees
wee book. Brechin had another good chance to score as Darren
Smith directed his shot at Myles Hogarth who gathered the effort.
Myles Hogarth nearly had egg on his face as he came out of his
box with the ball before being tackled by Garry Twigg who has
a open goal to take advantage of and he does but his second
goal was chalked off by the far side linesman for offside, the
linesman’s decision saved Hogarth from what would have
been a rather embarrassing moment. Brechin made their final
change of the match as Garry Twigg was replaced by Callum Smith.
The final action of the half came Stirling’s was as the
referee awarded a late free kick and as Liam Corr managed to
gather the ball he hit his effort at Craig Nelson’s goal
but unluckily for the youngster his effort was not that strong
and the Brechin ‘keeper had no problems with stopping
it the referee soon called time to a rather disappointing display
of football by both teams.
Fulltime: Stirling Albion 1 v 2 Brechin City.
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