Stirling Albion:- Hogarth, Nugent, Devine, McNally, Graham, Fraser, Aitken, Bell, Connolly, Forsyth and O’Brien
Subs:- C.Hay, Wilson, Boyack, Roycroft and Christie

Ayr United:- McGeown, McKinstry, McAnespie, McLaughlin, Campbell, Logan, Conway, Casey, Vareille, Wardlaw and Robertson.
Subs:- Strain, Lowing, Cashmore, Reid and Phillips

Stirling Albion returned to winning ways and, in the process, moved to within one point of fourth placed Peterhead with a narrow 1-0 victory over Ayr United at mist shrouded Forthbank Stadium.
The Binos starting line up showed one change from the team which surrendered their long unbeaten run at Dumbarton with skipper John Fraser returning to the midfield with Dougie Wilson being relegated to the bench.
Ayr United were first to threaten when Wardlaw forced his way to the bye line before going down under pressure from Graham. The Ayr striker was not happy with referee Freeland’s decision and this seemed to set the tone for his afternoon which finally resulted in him being booked in the second half for dissent.
As the mist started to come in even thicker, O’Brien threaded the ball to Forsyth but the far side linesman had raised his flag for offside. O’Brien again threatened when he cut in from the left and sent in a right foot shot which seemed to come off the head of an Ayr defender but a goal kick was awarded. Devine then had a pot shot at goal when Aitken played a corner to the full back but the long range effort was not one of his best. However, it did gain a corner from which Graham had a close range effort which was deflected over the bar.
Considering that the two previous league meetings between these sides had yielded 13 goals, the crowd fully expected the deadlock to be broken soon. These hopes were further raised as the Binos produced a spell of slick passing which, if it wasn’t for the weather, would have made you think you were in Brazil.
With only one winger in the home team, O’Brien was enjoying a lot of the play and the next piece of action came when he was fouled by McKinstry about 25 yards from goal. Free kick expert Chris Aitken stepped up but his right foot curler went inches past McGeown’s right hand post.
Last week, defensive errors cost the Binos 3 goals and a mistake by Bell almost cost another but Veraille’s weak effort was easily held by Hogarth. At the other end Graham was first to get to a Forsyth cross but his header went inches over the bar. Ainutes later, another home attack broke down when O’Brien’s cross fell behind Bell who had started the move.
After 32 minutes, Ayr were forced to make a change when McKinstry, who had picked up a knock early on, left the field to be replaced by new signing Lowing.
The remainder of the first half was fairly even with an O’Brien effort going over the bar. However, neither team could break the deadlock as the half time break came with the score level at 0-0.
Neither team made any changes at half time but the second half was only 5 minutes old when the Binos took the lead. O’Brien went down in the penalty box under pressure from Campbell. The decision may have seemed a bit harsh on the defender but the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Aitken stepped up and sent a low shot to McGeown’s right to make it 1-0 to the Binos.
However, instead of giving the Binos a boost, they seemed to be content to settle back and defend well into their own half allowing Ayr to exert a spell of pressure. During this spell, Logan was prominent bringing out a save by Hogarth which the keeper held at the second attempt. Two minutes later, Hogarth had to leap across his goal to turn another effort from Logan round the post after Fraser had failed to properly clear a cross. Logan then had another go at goal which resulted in another corner for the visitors.
On the hour mark, Ayr took off Wardlaw and brought on Strain.
Aitken has always been a danger with his long range shooting and he almost bagged a second goal after Connolly had played a Nugent free kick to the midfielder. However, his effort swerved wide of the post.
The Binos made their first change when Wilson came on for Aitken. Possibly Wilson did not start the match as he wasn’t 100% fit but it is safe to say that Aitken was not having one of his best games in the wide right position.
Wilson was in the thick of the action almost immediately when he crossed to Bell who went down in the penalty area. Quite rightly, referee Freeland was having nothing to do with the appeals for a penalty.
O’Brien, who was the target of the Ayr fans for the penalty, broke down the left wing. Despite being harried and jostled, he managed to make his way into the penalty area. However, the move came to an end when he was penalised for a push.
At the other end, Conway beat O’Brien and cut in from the right but his shot went over the bar. Ayr then brought on Reid for Robertson whilst the Binos made their second change with Chris Hay replacing the hard working Connolly.
With time running out, Forsyth was booked for a foul on Conway. In the final minute of regulation time Wilson beat McLaughlin but his right foot shot swerved wide of McGeown’s right hand post.
After three minutes of added time, the referee brought proceedings to an end and, hopefully, signalled the start of another long unbeaten run.
Whilst not a classic, the Binos did play some neat football and, on the balance of play, did deserve their victory. However, the formation they adopt is more suited to playing away from home where they can rely on breakaways.
Next week sees a trip to Forfar where they will hope to avenge the 3-0 beating dished out in October. The journey also allows the writer to savour the local delicacy which always makes the trip worthwhile.
See you all at Station Park where the home team will be allowing children in for
£2-00.