From Forthbank Stadium, Stirling

Kick Off: 7.30pm

James Stewart Reporting

 

On a chilly spring night Stirling Albion welcome Dunfermline Athletic to Forthbank for their fourth and final clash of the season. On his return to the touch line Binos boss Allan Moore has made a couple of changes to Saturday’s starting lineup with Colin Cramb dropping to the bench and David McKenna stepping into the starting eleven and the bench sees a few changes as well with Derek Lilley replacing John Paul McBride as well as Alan Lithgow making way for the return of Stewart Devine after his recent injury. The last time Dunfermline visited Forthbank, the Binos recorded their first win of the season but that was in October. So with oblivion staring us in the face a win is essential to maintain our fight for survival in the first division.

Dunfermline got tonight’s proceedings underway shooting towards the Morrisons end of Forthbank and immediately had the Binos on the back foot as Scott Muirhead took his first shout of the game but it was well off target and didn’t threaten Myles Hogarth’s goal. Nathan Taggart managed to break up field and through the centre of the Dunfermline midfield before being tackled from behind by Darren Young who immediately was booked for the challenge by referee David Somers. Soon after the initial attack the Binos were ahead after a Chris Aitken free kick was played on to Eric Paartalu who set up David McKenna for a shot on goal but his shot fell directly into the arms of a Dunfermline defender, the referee had a look at the handball and decided it was deliberate and he awarded a penalty to the Binos. Up stepped ice cool Chris Aitken to take on Pars keeper Paul Gallacher from the spot. Aitken didn’t hesitate and slotted the ball into the back of the net and score his twentieth consecutive penalty for the Binos.

Dunfermline had a excellent chance to equalize soon after the restart as Kevin Harper crossed to Steven Crawford who only had Stirling keeper Myles Hogarth to beat but the Stirling number one managed to deflect Crawford’s shot on to the post for Paul Nugent to clear behind for a corner. The Pars continued with the pressure on the Stirling Defence and it nearly paid off when Scott Morrison managed to find some space to let off a shot at the Stirling goal but Morrisons shot went out past Hogarth’s right hand post. Dunfermline didn’t need to wait long until they were level again as Kevin Harper managed to fool Ryan McCay and cut inside before he hit his shot at the Stirling goal and a helpless Myles Hogarth. Allan Moore decided he had enough of McCay’s poor defending and immediately replaced him with Stewart Devine who has returned to the squad after being out injured.

The Pars were nearly ahead for the first time in the game when Stevie Simmons hit a shot directly at the feet of Hogarth. The Binos were nearly back on top when David McKenna linked up nicely with Jay Rodriguiez who could only manage to send his shot directly at Gallacher. It wasn’t long though before the Binos were in the lead again when Steven Bell gathered the ball and drove into the Dunfermline box and hit a nice low shot which went in off the right hand post. Steven Bell soon changed from scorer to provider as he set up McKenna who should have scored from his position but could only manage to scoop the ball up and over the bar. The Binos skipper Chris Aitken provided the last action of the half when he blasted a shot past Gallachers right hand post.

Half Time: Stirling Albion 2 v 1 Dunfermline Athletic.

As the second half got underway the Binos were looking to get a two goal lead to give them a little bit of a safety net but during a stop in play for a free kick Kevin Harper was booked for decent and shortly after Eric Paartalu slid in on Nicky Phinn and tempers started to boil over which seen Craig Molloy being booked for his part in the aftermath of the 50-50 challenge by Paartalu. The Binos had the first goal mouth action of the half when Stewart Devine popped a free kick into the box and was forced up and over the bar by the pars defense.

As the half progressed there was not much happening at either goal as both sides were going through a rough patch and with the Pars not having a chance at goal in the second half a few substitutions were made with Mark Burchill and Scot Muirhead being replaced by Alex Burke and pars player/manager Jim McIntyre decided he would enter the fray. The Pars were soon back on level terms when Kevin Harper managed to score after a throw-in was flicked onto him. The equalizer seemed to take the wind out of the Binos sails and things started to go wrong in the fragile defense. Stevie Simmons was the next Dunfermline player to worry Myles Hogarth as he hit a shot at the Stirling goal from 25 yards out luckily Hogarth had time to watch the shot and gather the shot. Things went from bad to worse when Kevin Harper found himself at the back post again to knock home the winner and his hat-trick. It was nearly a fourth for the Pars when Simmons chipped a shot at goal but luckily for the Binos it went over the bar and hit the roof of the net. The crossbar came to the rescue of the Binos as it prevented a Dunfermline attack. Allan Moore made his final two changes of the game when David McKenna and Nathan Taggart were replaced by Colin Cramb and trialist Gary Muir. Soon after the game entered injury time and the Pars managed to use their SPL knowledge to run down the clock and secure the win.

After tonight’s results it looks like our season is over since Clyde managed to take three points off St. Johnstone it leaves us with a ten point gap to bridge in the final six games. It is now time to fasten those seat belts for the bumpy landing into division two next season after our short holiday here in the first