Stirling Albion 3 Stenhousemuir 1

Without a completed game since the 3rd of December, interim manager Greig McDonald and his charges would have been champing at the bit for the chance to show us the fruits of their labours. After the frustration of Typhoon Gayfield there were no major problems with the weather as local rivals Stennie made the short trip to the Doubletree Dunblane stadium. The Warriors occupied third place in the table pre-match, a full 16 points clear of their hosts. Last time the sides met the comprehensive and at times embarrassing 4-0 loss for Stirling almost certainly set the wheels in motion for Jocky Scott’s departure. Our other encounter at the DDS ended with four goals being shared and the Beanos nearly pinched all three points in the last few seconds. David Iron’s side has some experienced players in it and with the likes of Andy Rodgers and Stewart Kean up front it was sure to be a tough challenge for the home defence. Team lines for the Beanos saw Craig McLeish getting a rare start as Greig McDonald began to mark his stamp on the side.

On a chilly and damp early January day at the DDS the match kicked off with the Albion shooting towards the Springkerse end of the ground. Looking at the flags there seemed to be a breeze blowing towards the Monument end and so it was Stennie who had the backing of the elements in the opening period. An early free kick gave Stennie fans hope but Stevie Murray’s strike was easily gathered by Callum Reidford. Stirling were soon on the attack themselves though and after a good run and cross from Darren Smith a 20 yard effort from Daly McSorley was well over the bar. A tough looking challenge from Shaun Fagan on Stevie Murray saw the Albion man probably lucky to avoid a yellow from referee Craig Charleston. Pint sized winger Murray wasn’t so lucky as he had to be hobble off with what appeared to be an ankle injury. In Murray’s place came Willie Lyle as the visitors were forced into an early change.

As the match progressed the rain began to get a bit heaver but it failed to dampen the spirits of the Albion players. They even managed to take a couple of decent corner kicks ! Set pieces were a bug bear of many during the Jocky era but already there seems to be an improvement. From an Alan Cook corner the ball broke to Darren Smith who drilled a shot over Ally Brown’s crossbar. Up the other end Andy Rodgers made space only to curl the ball well wide of Callum Reidford’s right hand post from the edge of the box. Stirling then had their best attacking moment of the game so far. Some neat play ended with Scott Davidson gathering on the Albion right before cutting in and drilling in a low shot which was well held by the Stennie keeper.

Plenty of effort from both teams in the opening 45 but chances were actually few and far between. The last of the first period fell the way of the visitors. After good work by Andy Rodgers the ball ricocheted into the path of Stewart Kean and Callum Reidford did well to turn his fiercely struck shot for a corner kick. The set piece came to nothing and soon the interval was upon us. Therefore as the teams trooped off for the half-time honey glazed pomegranates  it remained a blank scoresheet.

Half-TimeStirling Albion 0 Stenhousemuir 0

Neither side made any changes at the interval. Unlike in the opening half it was Stirling who were first to threaten and they did so with real purpose as they hit the front. Out on the Albion right Scott Davidson was able to find space before drilling a low ball into the Stennie box. The Warriors had the chance to clear but Ross McMillan got into a fankle and the ball fell to ALAN COOK who sent a screamer flying past Ally Brown. Fantastic strike from a player whose dip in confidence summed up the Jocky Scott era. Started the season looking electric but slowly all belief drained out of the kid. Hopefully, this goal will begin the process of bringing back the Cooky we saw in July and August. This goal provoked a response from the Warriors and Callum Reidford had to look smart to smother a stinging shot from Wille Lyle low at his left hand post. Another example of good handling by the Stirling keeper in what was becoming increasingly testing conditions.

Greig McDonald has been in interim charge of Stirling since the 4th of December but he has had to wait nearly a month to make his first substitution. When it came the tiring figure of goalscorer Alan Cook was replaced by Josh Flood. The former Albion youth team winger has long been lauded as a bright hope for the future. Sadly he too struggled under the Jocky Scott regime and like Cooky will have been eager to show what he could really do. A one goal lead soon became a two goal advantage as promotion chasing Stennie continued to struggle in the DDS drizzle. Darren Smith curled over a corner from the right wing and former Stennie man GARY THOM rose highest to bundle home a point blank header. Great moment for Gary who had come up through the youth ranks at Ochilview before being released at the end of last season. In the aftermath of the Stirling goal the Warriors keeper Ally Brown was carded for arguing the toss with the referee. Not sure what his beef was but it cost him a yellow for his troubles.

Two goals down and seemingly on their way to a surprise defeat triggered a change from David Iron’s as recent loan signing Jamie Campbell was hooked in favour of striker Paul Quinn. Stennie now threw bodies forward in a desperate attempt to get back into the match. With Stirling struggling to clear their lines the ball broke to Stewart Kean who curled an effort well over. Stevie Nicholas then replaced Lewis Bonar as the Beanos made their second change of the day. A needless yellow card then followed for the Beanos as Shaun Fagan was booked for taking his time over a throw-in. When Fagan eventually got round to taking the shy the ball was shuttled out to Josh Flood who sliced a shot past Ally Brown’s left hand post.  More good play from Flood moments later as he skinned former Albion defender Martyn Corrigan before firing in a shot which Ally Brown hand to palm away for a corner kick.

With the game entering the last 15 minutes or so the Beanos still held their two goal lead as a vital three points beckoned. Stennie though weren’t for giving up as they sent more and more bodies up the park. A cross fell to full back Sean Dickson but the defender’s effort was spooned over Callum Reidford’s crossbar. Craig McLeish then drilled a shot at Ally Brown but the visitors were beginning to look the more likely to get the next goal, and so it proved. With the Albion defence stuck on the back foot Andy Rodgers was given too much time to thread a ball into IAIN THOMSON who calmly slotted past Reidford. Stirling just don’t do comfy endings to matches so the home fans should probably have expected a Warriors goal to keep tensions high. Scorer Iain Thomson then turned provider but his centre was headed well wide by Andy Rodgers.

The closing moments saw the visitors throwing everything at the Albion but any sniff of a chance saw Stirling players getting their bodies in the way and blocking any threats to their goal. As the match moved into injury time home nerves were finally settled as the game was put to bed in style. JOSH FLOOD picked up the ball midway inside the Stennie half before driving towards the box and firing an unstoppable shot high past a helpless Ally Brown from 18 yards. Cracking strike from Josh and like Alan Cook a goal which will hopefully signal better times ahead for the kid. With the game over there only remained some paperwork for the officials. Firstly Stirling made their last change as John Crawley came on for Daly McSorley. This was followed by bookings for Scott Davidson and Paul Quinn for a spot of handbags in the dying embers of the match. The referees next and last task of the day was to blow for full-time.

Early days for Greig but after such a such a lengthy period of struggle it was heartening to see the effort and determination on show from the players. Above all it was great to see a togetherness in the squad which simply never existed under the previous management. The interim manager has clearly had an affect on the players and for this he must be applauded. Well done to all involved for today’s result. Even if we go down I’ll be happy if we give what we gave today. No we don’t have the most talented group of players but this afternoon showed that effort, organisation and endeavour can bring as many rewards as a team crammed with big names.