Stirling team:- Hogarth, Graham, Lowing, Lawrie, Devine, O'Neill, Hamilton, Molloy, Harty, Corr, Docherty.
Subs:- Taggart, McKenna, Grehan, Murphy, Christie.

Stranraer team:-Blacj, McKinstry, Noble, Dobbins, Kane, Nicol, Gibson, Mitchell, Mullen, Tade, Frizzell.
Subs:- McColm, White, Jones, Budinaukas.

After last weeks 1 v 1 draw against Ayr United the Binos return to Forthbank to face Stranraer in a game where the Binos need to take all three points to help maintain our mid table position and avoid a possible relegation battle. We have been struggling in recent weeks to find any form and today was no exception for Allan Moore’s men who have seen a few changes to the team this week as skipper Ross Forsyth has been forced out of the team with an injury to his knee. Forsyth’s injury problems have paved the way for Stirling Albion stalwart Stewart Devine to make a return to the starting line-up today after recovering from a recent groin injury. Allan Moore has also changed things around in the team as Nathan Taggart and David McKenna drop to the bench to make way for Chris Hamilton and Ian Harty respectively. In the first meeting of the two sides this season it was Stranraer who came away with all three points at Stair Park after Gregory Tade secured the win for his team.

Stranraer got the match underway in front of a mediocre crowd it was the visitors who nearly drew first blood as Gregory Tade make a good run towards the Stirling goal before out manoeuvring David Lowing and hitting his effort across the front of Myles Hogarth’s goal. Stranraer had another good chance to take the lead from a throw in that found Michael Mullen who hit a good shot at goal that could have easily been turned into the net by Craig Frizzell but somehow he couldn’t manage to make contact. The Blues soon had another good chance to take the lead as former Bino Andy Gibson stepped up to take a free kick but his effort was easily gathered by Hogarth. Things weren’t looking good for the Binos and we just didn’t look like finding first gear let alone second as passes went wayward. On a rare occasion in the first half the Binos had a chance when a free kick fell nicely for Mark Docherty but his shot was weak to say the least as Scott Black easily plucked the ball from the air.

The Binos were only managing to get brief periods of play as Stranraer started to maintain possession but even with them holding onto the ball there attacks didn’t look promising either. The Binos had another chance to sneak the lead as a Stewart Devine free kick found Liam Corr who managed to get the ball to Chris Hamilton but Hamiltons effort went past the post for a goal kick. Stranraer were soon back looking for the opening goal and Craig Frizzell thought he would try his luck from long range but the dependable Myles Hogarth gathered the strike with ease. By now Stranraer were looking like they were going to get lucky as a cross from Andy Gibson found Michael Mullen who forced Myles Hogarth in to knocking the ball to safety. Stranraer were soon celebrating as Gregory Tade gathered a long cross before sending the ball in to the back of the net for the lead. Myles Hogarth couldn’t do much about the strike but the defence should have been looking out for the danger. Tade’s goal was the last notable action of the half and with the Binos playing poorly in the first half the home support were soon booing at Allan Moore and the team for what has to be said one of the poorest half’s of football in recent years, Stranraer were lucky to get the goal but they did deserve it as they were playing slightly better.

Half Time: Stirling Albion 0 v 1 Stranraer.

Allan Moore’s players were soon back out for the second half but there were a few changes as Chris Hamilton and Mark Docherty were replaced by Nathan Taggart and Martin Grehan. The halftime substitutions soon paid off for the Binos as Nathan Taggart managed to make some ground down the right before making some room to get a cross into the box where Martin Grehan was waiting to divert the ball goal wards and equalising for the Binos. A great bit of play from Taggart and a great header from Grehan to get us back on terms. Celebrations were almost short lived as the defense let Stranraer’s Michael Mullen capitalised on a mistake from both Andy Lawrie and David Lowing let Mullen have a shot at goal but his effort wasn’t great. The Binos were starting to become frustrated as Nathan Taggart and Liam Corr were booked for two poor tackles.

The Binos were soon behind again as Myles Hogarth failed to make a good clearance of a free kick and the ball landed nicely for Stranraer’s Ian Dobbins who was given all the time in the world by the Albion defence to take his shot and retake the lead for the visitors. Stranraer’s Kevin Nicol soon found his name being taken by the referee after he went clattering in to Ian Harty just before the visitors went looking for a third goal when James McKinstry forced Myles Hogarth into making a good save to keep the Binos in with a chance to get back in the game. In all honesty I thought we were beaten and that chance was gone but somehow after some poor defending by Stranraer Craig Molloy managed to tap a shot into the back of Scott Black’s net to level the scoreline for the Binos. The Binos celebrations were nearly short lived again as the defence let Gregory Tade through before he set up Daniel Mitchell who should have scored but his shot hit the post and went out for a goal kick.

As the match rolled in to the last 15 minutes the Binos were soon looking for a goal to take the lead and were given that chance as Andy Graham knocked on a cross to Craig Molloy who took his time and chipped the ball up and over a helpless Scott Black who was left to watch as the ball came down and settled into the back of the net to give the Binos the lead. The Binos didn’t look like they were finished there as a Stewart Devine free kick found the head of Andy Graham but unfortunately for the big defender his effort went the wrong side of the left hand post. Stranraer nearly had a chance to equalise as Kevin Nicol was given some space to take a shot but his effort wen over the bar. The final action of the game came as two late substitutions were made the first was for Stranraer, Steven Noble was replaced by Stuart McColm and for Stirling, Liam Corr was replaced by Paul Murphy. Both substitutes were a formality and didn’t have any influence on the final result as the referee drew the game to a close.

It may have been a win for the Binos today but it was a lucky win as neither side played well enough to deserve it. Today’s game looked more like it was a preseason friendly and I am sure Allan Moore knows that today’s performance needs to be improved on as if we continue to play as poorly as today we may well be staring relegation in the face as lucky wins don’t come along all that often.

Well lucky win or not we still have next week to look forward to as we visit Recreation Park to take on Alloa Athletic for the first time since they installed their new plastic pitch wil the Binos mange to adapt to the unique playing conditions of the plastic or will it be another half hearted attempt.

Full Time: Stirling Albion 3 v 2 Stranraer.

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