James Stewart Reporting

STIRLING ALBION TEAM-

Hogarth, Graham, Lawrie, Forsyth, Lowing, Taggart, Grehan, O'Neill, Corr (Murphy), Harty (Waddell), McKenna Unused Sub- Roycroft, Hamilton, Christie

Goals- Graham (12), Harty (21), Corr (39)

Crowd- 907

 

The first derby game of the season is this week’s feature at Forthbank after the international break. The Binos will be without midfielder Mark Docherty after his sending off during the Binos 2 v 1 win over Arbroath at Gayfield Park. Stirling boss Allan Moore will also not be able to include Stewart Devine or Kevin Ross as both are out due to injury. The Binos are out looking to maintain their unbeaten home record this season and record their second win of the season today against local rivals Alloa Athletic. The Wasps are also looking to build on their first win of the season the recorded at home when they defeated Stranraer 5 v 1 before the international break. The Wasps manager Allan Maitland has a full strength squad this week but he has to rule out Jamie Hay due to suspension. Former Bino Dougie Wilson makes his return to Forthbank today as part of Allan Maitland’s starting line up.

Alloa got the game under way shooting towards the Morrison’s end of the ground and as the teams got use to the damp conditions it was Stirling who managed to get the first chance on goal as Ian Harty managed to control a cross from the right before taking his chance but the effort was easily gathered by Raymond Jellema. Stirling were soon under pressure and as John O’Neil tried to pass the ball he neatly set up former Stirling Winger Dougie Wilson who managed to score the opening goal from 25 yards out to be fair to Jinky it was a great strike but it is definitely not one he should have had the chance to take. The Binos didn’t let the early goal affect them and David Mckenna soon forced Raymond Jellema to save his effort. This just was a warning though as Stirling were soon level as Liam Corr set up defender ANDY GRAHAM who hit his shot at goal and as the ball was heading goalwards it took a deflection that Raymond Jellema couldn’t do much about. Alloa were soon having a few problems as thee good start was diminishing and as it did tempers started to flare and Alloa’s Dougie Hill was booked. Dougie Wilson soon won a foul for the Wasps by conning the referee with his theatrical dive that wouldn’t have looked out of place at the Olympics, there was no reason for the theatrics as if he waited a second he would have won the foul legally.

The Binos soon stole the lead as Martin Grehan used his skill down the wing before cutting the ball back into the box where IAN HARTY was waiting to strike the shot home, for a moment it looked like the ball was going wide but the back of the net was soon rising along with the fans in the home stand. The game was now opening up into a proper end to end affair and Alloa looked like they were going to stage a comeback of their own but Jamie Stevenson’s shot didn’t trouble Myles Hogarth. Stirling soon had play switched back up the other end as some good play from Nathan Taggart ended with a poor effort that was easily gathered by Alloa ‘keeper Jellema. Alloa nearly capitalized on some more poor defensive play by the Binos that ended with Andrew Ferguson setting up Dougie Wilson for a shot but it was deflected behind for a corner. John Grant soon had the Binos worried as he took an attempt from long range but his effort was just wide of the mark. Alloa’s David McLune was the next player to grab the attention of referee Stevie O’Reilly when he was booked for nearly ripping the shirt off the back of David McKenna. From the resulting free kick Ian Harty managed to gather the ball and nearly doubled his lead but his effort was blocked by the Alloa defence.

Stirling still maintained the pressure on Alloa as LIAM CORR received a long range pass before quickly turning to beat his marker and the Stirling youngster was clear to score his first league goal for the Binos. What a great moment for the former youth player in his first full season as a member of the senior squad a superb strike in at the right hand post that had Raymond Jellema well beaten and had the Binos cruising against the Wasps. Alloa soon looked like they were out of ideas and out of steam but just before half time Andy Ferguson soon shoveled some coal into the Alloa’s boiler as he clawed a goal back when he got on the end of a corner.

Halftime: Stirling Albion 3 v 2 Alloa Athletic.

As both teams emerged for the second half both managers decided to leave things as they were. Stirling nearly regained their two goal lead as David McKenna set up Liam Corr who managed to beat his man again and create some space for him to get a shot at goal, the youngster came within millimeters of scoring his second league goal as his effort hit the crossbar. Allan Maitland was soon signaling to the referee that he wanted to change things around as he substituted Graeme Brown in favour of Kyle MacAulay. Stirling were looking to protect their slender lead as when Alloa gained possession everyone got back to defend and this let Alloa’s Jamie Stevenson take a shot and force Myles Hogarth to tip the effort over the bar for a corner. Stirling soon had another good chance to increase the lead when Liam Corr managed to set up Martin Grehan who could only send in a shot that went screaming across the face of goal. Allan Moore was soon forced to make his first change of the game when goal scorer Liam Corr picked up a knock the youngster did try some treatment but it was clear that he needed to be replaced and Paul Murphy soon took Corr’s place on the pitch. Assistant Manager John O’Neil was soon trying to win over the confidence of the Stirling support as he had two good chances to help increase the lead the first came by way of a shot that went just over the Alloa goal, O’Neil’s second chance came from a free kick where he managed to set up Andy Graham who could only manage to head his effort on to the top of the net. The game was still managing to flow from end to end despite the referees attempt to prevent the game from being free flowing as play was being stopped for trivial little incidents Alloa nearly equalised when Chris Townsley headed past the left hand post and then John Grant hit a low shot directly at Myles Hogarth who easily stopped the shot. As the half wore on it was becoming a more slow affair as Stirling defended and Alloa tried to attack but the Wasps didn’t look like they were going to be much of a problem. The hard worker Ian Harty was soon being replaced by Steven Waddle as Allan Moore was trying to get the Binos back attacking. Alloa were having more of the play as the half went on but they didn’t make much use of it the only chance they had in the closing stages was when a Jamie Stevenson free kick went over the bar. In the dyeing moments of normal time Iain Campbell was booked for his heavy challenge on Nathan Taggart. After over 5 minutes of stoppage time the referee finally brought proceedings to a close on the first derby day o the season.

Well who would have thought at half time we wouldn’t be seeing more goals after the five goal first half. There were chances for both sides but neither looked like they wanted to take them. But in all from start to finish it was a entertaining match if not a slightly nervy one. All capped off with Liam Corr Getting his first league goal of his career against our local rivals, a well placed strike by the youngster hopefully this is going to signal that the youngster will be a player to look out for in years to come. Anyway lets look forward to next week as we are off Kirckaldy to play Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s side Raith Rovers.