Cowdenbeath 2 Stirling Albion 0

Unbeaten in two following decent results against Airdrie and Brechin the Beanos were forced into a temporary spell of inactivity to allow the Scotland international team to dazzle us all again in Euro 2012 qualifying action. Now that another less than glorious failure has been duly achieved by the Craig’s boys it was back to the only football that really matters as Stirling headed to Cowdenbeath on League 2 duty. The Fifers were of course a pain in Albion bums last term as four consecutive defeats, including “that” game, all but consigned us to the wooden spoon. The Beef also fell through the trap door after play-off defeat but having kept most of their squad together they look a good bet to go straight back up. A good mix of youngsters and experienced lads has the Central Park side as many people’s tips for the top and so far they are living up to that billing. Team lines saw only one Stirling change from the Brechin win as Alan Cook replaced the injured Darren Smith.

On a dry and not altogether unpleasant afternoon for football the match kicked off at Central Park with Stirling attacking the car park end of the ground. Umm, err, after about 20 minutes I looked at my notes and all I saw staring back at me was the team lines. Yes, it wasn’t exactly an action packed opening period to this afternoon’s encounter. To this scribe it looked like the home side were almost sitting back and seeing what the visitors had to offer. At this stage the answer wasn’t very much. The first thing remotely deserving of mention happened when a long punt almost had Alan Cook clean in on goal but a bad touch saw the ball squirt to safety. Eventually the Beef seemed to sense it was time to push up the park and pressure the Beanos. Any early caution shown by the home side was now well and truly out of the window. The Beanos had failed to take charge so Cowdenbeath would do it instead. With the Stirling defence now on the back foot on-loan Hearts kid Jordan Morton did well to make space in the box before drilling a weak shot past Sam Filler’s right hand post.

Colin Cameron’s side had taken a grip of the midfield and with their defence able to push up to half-way at will the match was becoming compressed into the Stirling end of the pitch. The Beanos were second, and on occasion third, to every loose ball and the central defensive pairing of Joe Mbu and John Armstrong wasn’t accepting trespassers. A neat ball by former Albion youth teamer Greg Stewart played in Colin Cameron and the veteran midfielder was unlucky to see his deft lob beat Filler only to clatter off the face of the crossbar. The warning signs were there but not for the first time the Beanos seemed oblivious of them. They were made to pay moments later. Albion appeals for offside were ignored as Jordan Morton sprinted down the Cowdenbeath left. It looked a 50/50 race between Morton and Sam Filler for the ball but it was the home man who got their first only to be chopped by the Stirling keeper. Clear foul. Only questions were where did it happen and what would the colour of card be. The answers were inside the box and yellow. The word from some home fans on the far side of the pitch was that the clash was clearly outside the box but the referee said otherwise. Having given the penalty the Albion were probably relieved that the whistler settled on yellow and not red for the Beanos keeper. From the spot JORDAN MORTON buried the ball inside Sam Filler’s left hand post.

Stirling were briefly stung into action following the Beef goal and a run from Josh Flood was ended a yard outside the home penalty area. The free kick was curled over by Alan Cook but Thomas Flynn grabbed the ball comfortably. Remember this incident. It’s significance will become clear as the report moves on. Greg Stewart drilled in a low shot from distance which Sam Filler saved with ease. A generally poor first half was soon at a close. Not a lot to note. Not a lot happened. The match was there for Stirling to attempt to take control of in the early going but it never happened. Once the home side took a grip we fell further and further back and by the break could have no complaints about being behind. More worrying than anything was it was beginning to look like that we simply didn’t fancy it today. If nothing else fans expect their team to go down fighting. It was getting far too easy for the home side. We needed to see better after the break. Therefore as the teams trooped off for the half-time bacon chops it was Cowdenbeath who held a lead they hadn’t had to work too hard to earn.

Half-TimeCowdenbeath 1 Stirling Albion 0

Just the one change at the lemons as home gaffer Colin Cameron replaced himself with Craig Winter. This was actually Winter’s 400th appearance for the Blue Brazil over two spells and the home fans were quick to show their appreciation. The Beanos fans in the rickety old wooden stand would have been hoping for a fast start to the half from their favourites. Surely the manager would have had a word, done some tinkering, installed belief. Clearly not as within a few minutes of the second 45 starting Stirling were two down. Josh Flood lost possession and as quick as a flash, two passes later the ball was at the feet of MARK McKENZIE who strode clear of the trailing Albion defence to slot past Sam Filler. Great counter attack by the home side but Josh should have done better. Yes, his cross was blocked, that happens. What can’t happen is that the player then gives up, turns his back on the game and makes no attempt to stop the opposition going on the attack. Sadly this is precisely what Josh did and it didn’t endear him to the Stirling support in attendance. No excuses really, not even for a youngster.

Two goals down and the signs weren’t really promising that a comeback was in the offing. The Beanos were struggling to get into the attacking third, never mind create an actual chance. Remember that Cook free kick ? Well keep remembering as it’s importance will soon be revealed. Not long to wait now. It was nearly a third for the home side when a deep cross from the Albion left was met at the back post by Greg Stewart and Sam Filler did very well to tip the ball away for a corner kick. Some theatrics from Jordan Morton saw the Hearts youngster earn the wrath of the referee followed by a yellow card. Morton had come off worst in a fair battle for the ball with Devon Jacobs only to proceed to act as if he had a broken leg. When he saw the ref wasn’t buying it he jumped up and took a pop at the official. His miracle recovery was rewarded with a booking. Another cross from the Albion right was this time met by that man Morton who headed wide. Stirling were really struggling to defend the back post area where it looked like Cowdenbeath had decided they could take advantage of Devon Jacob’s lack of height.

Having earned a caution Jordan Morton was soon hooked in favour of big Lewis Coult. Talking of cautions, the Beanos were next to get one as Gary Thom was carded for a cruncher on the busy ex-Shire winger Marc McKenzie. The Albion simply had to do something, anything. They did when Lewis Bonar trudged off to be replaced by Steven Nicholas. Nae disrespect to Stevie but not many backing the Beanos today would have been too optimistic of him getting much out of the blue wall of Armstrong and Mbu. He didn’t. The woodwork prevented another home goal as good play between Kenny Adamson and Marc McKenzie ended with the full back poking an 18 yard strike off the bar. Scott Linton fired just over from the edge of the box as Stirling were now just hanging on playing for time. We had nothing, and I mean nothing to offer and in all honestly the home side could have played without a keeper and they would still have had a decent chance of a clean sheet. Josh Flood had been enduring a trying afternoon and he could have had no complaints about the yellow he gained for late clip on Kenny Adamson. Flood looks like a boy lost. An overhyped player who at the moment appears worryingly out of his depth. The lad needs time on the bench but Jocky seems to have decided he’ll play him come hell or high water. For me the lad’s confidence has gone and he has to be dropped for his own sake.

With time winding down Gavin Macpherson came on for Josh Flood. Nope. That’s what most assumed was happening. Instead it was Cooky who was hooked. Josh’s agony wasn’t over yet. More good wide play from McKenzie saw him send over a decent delivery which Lewis Coult headed on target only for Filler to palm the ball away for a corner. From the resulting set piece Jon Robertson’s point blank header was somehow saved by Sam Filler before the ball was booted clear. Great save from the increasingly maligned Albion keeper. Another back post cross and another unchallenged header as this time Greg Stewart was denied by Filler. Stirling were simply incapable of stopping back post headers. I know Jacobs is small but we have other players who could have helped out. Strange. Another example perhaps of Jocky fiddling while Rome burns. Greg Stewart saw yellow for sticking his hand in the way of a Filler clearance. With two minutes to go a tough afternoon was finally at an end for Josh Flood as Craig McLeish came on in his place. Never understand these sort of changes. Two down, 120 seconds to go and totally outplayed. Why wait so long? Why have players on the bench if you aren’t going to use them?

Just blow ref. No, really. It was getting embarrassing to watch an Albion team getting so comprehensively outmatched in a division two encounter. This shouldn’t ever happen. Marc McKenzie fired a shot at Filler but the Stirling keeper wasn’t tested on this occasion. This was McKenzie’s last involvement as seconds later he was switched in favour of Kyle Miller. There was just time for one last bizarre moment on a forgettable afternoon for Stirling. Sam Filler raced from his line to gather a punt up the park. Sounds good. However, he was clearly a yard outside his box when he touched the ball. Not even close. Very similar to an incident involving Myles Hogarth at Starks Park a few seasons ago. The referee must have been unsighted because he waved play on. Thanks ref because if he had seen it then surely Sam would have been heading for the showers. As it was it mattered little as a minute or so later the game was over. The Stirling fans who remained weren’t slow to vent their fury at the manager and his players for what was a farce of performance. Absolutely shocking.

Oh aye, remember that Alan Cook free kick a few paragraphs up the page? Well, as you’ve probably guessed by now it was our only attempt on goal in 90 minutes of action at Central Park. No attempts from open play and none at all in the second half. I for one can’t remember a league match when we have created basically nothing. We’ve lost matches by more goals, made more mistakes but usually in amongst it there are some chances and the odd goal. Today there was nothing. We barely won a corner. Did we win any? Maybe one, who knows. The match is already fading rapidly from my memory banks. Can’t believe I’ve managed to write so much about what was without any shadow of a doubt one of the most spineless, clueless and utterly hopeless non-efforts in recent and possibly ancient times. It was men against boys in every respect. After a two week rest Stirling fans were entitled to expect better. Must do better Jocky. A lot better.