Stirling Albion:- Hogarth, Hay, Forsyth, McNally, Graham, Aitken, Fraser, Tomana(Malseed 56), Cramb(Wilson 78), Shields and O’Brien(Taggart 63)
Nugent and Christie unused subs.

Ayr United:- McGeown, Miller(Hyslop 85), Lowing, Forrest, Campbell, Robertson(Friels 78), Reid(Caddis 66), Stevenson, Vareille, Weaver and Dunn.
Pettigrew and Johnson unused subs.

The Binos gained revenge for their only defeat of the league campaign to date when they finally found the goalscoring touch which seemed to have deserted them in the last 2 games and overcame Ayr United 4-2. Unfortunately, the victory was not enough to give the manager an early Christmas and birthday present as Morton’s narrow victory against Raith Rovers ensured that there would be no change at the top of the division.
The Binos’ starting line up showed 2 changes with Bell, a flu victim, and Cashmore dropping out of the squad completely, whilst Taggart had to be content with a place on the bench. Their places were taken by Fraser, O’Brien and Shields who was making his last appearance in Albion colours at Forthbank as his loan period finishes at the end of the month. However, his performance ensured that he went out with a bang.
Ayr went into today’s game on the back of four successive defeats whilst the Binos were going for their 10th consecutive victory.
Allan Moore doesn’t normally check up on his opponents prior to a game but he had reliable information that Ayr adopt a 4-5-1 formation therefore he decided to start the match with a 3-5-2 formation. This decision paid immediate dividends when the Binos took the lead before some fans had even taken their seats. Shields was fouled just outside the 18 yard box. Cramb rolled the ball into the path of Aitken who sent a right foot shot round what was left of the defensive wall and past McGeown to make it 1-0.
The Binos doubled their lead in the 10th minute when O’Brien managed to deflect an Aitken shot, which was going wide, into the back of the net.
Ayr responded and Weaver was bit unfortunate to see his effort from 20 yards hit Hogarth’s right hand post. Shields then set up Tomana but the Slovak’s right foot curler went inches past. At the other end, Stevenson had an effort which was also inches wide.
The Binos almost scored a bizarre 3rd goal when a Shields’ cross spun off Reid’s head and almost ended up in the back of the net but Campbell managed to clear the ball from under the bar. Just on half time, Aitken had a free kick bundled away by McGeown and the teams went into the break with the Binos in command.
Shortly after the re-start, Ayr pulled one back when Weaver’s angled shot from 25 yards beat Hogarth to make it 2-1. This signalled a period of pressure from the visitors but the Binos managed to restore their 2 goal advantage when Shields finished off a fine move when he was on the end of a Cramb cross. The way he collected the cross and turned before sending the ball past McGeown shows that he will be sorely missed when he returns to Gretna at the end of the month.
Ayr still threatened on occasions and Weaver’s first time effort rippled the outside of the net. However, the Binos put the result beyond doubt in the 72nd minute when Malseed, who had replaced Tomana, played a perfect ball to Shields who controlled the ball on his chest before stroking it past McGeown.
Ayr scored what was really a consolation goal with only a few minutes remaining when Caddis raced onto a long ball to send a low shot past Hogarth.
Although the Binos responded with an Aitken long range effort being tipped over the bar by McGeown, there was no further scoring and the match ended 4-2 to the Binos.
There were 4 bookings. Aitken for a foul on Caddis, Lowing for clattering Hay early in the match, Reid for a foul on Cramb and Weaver for a foul on Tomana who was the victim of several heavy tackles.
The Binos finish the year with the long trip to Stranraer who suffered a heavy defeat at bottom club Forfar. Ayr entertain league leaders Morton. Hopefully, if Ayr can bounce back from today’s defeat and manage to take something from the match and the Binos beat Stranraer, the Binos would go into 2007 at the top of the league. However, games against Stranraer have always been difficult affairs and next week will be no exception. All going well, I hope to see a good turn out of fans in the red and white colours at Stair Park.
A Merry Christmas to everyone connected with club.