A second half assault on Dunfermline was not enough to salvage a point for an Albion team who failed to pick up and points but once again emerged with a huge amount of credit from defeat. The Binos may be slipping slowly back towards the Second Division but Moore’s side showed that they will not go down without a serious fight, Chris Aitken renewing hope for the Binos in this fixture with a skimming finish after first half goals from Burchill and Simmons had given the home side a seemingly comfortable advantage. The conclusion of the game was anything but relaxing for the Pars’ fans as goalkeeper Paul Gallacher was called into making several fine late saves.
Gallacher was one of a number of high profile names in the Dunfermline side that have so drastically under-achieved but, along with Mark Burchill, he was one of only a handful of players who looked like they could potentially play at a higher level. Burchill’s pace and movement troubled the home defence but the likes of Crawford, who appeared as a second half substitute, showed very little. Allan Moore’s side cannot boast the wage bill or reputation of their hosts and once again fielded a side with intents of counter-attacking. There was a boost as Laurie Ellis started at left-back, Ross Forsyth continuing to toil on the left wing. Paul Hay maintained his place on the right after a sound showing against St Johnstone and Derek Lilley made a surprise start in attack alongside the lively McKenna.
With an eleven lacking width and attacking intent it was vital that the Binos made a positive start however Moore could not have scripted a worse beginning as Hay dithered in the box, allowing a ball to bounce only three yards from goal and Burchill to nip in and simply head the home side ahead. It really was a dreadful error and one that Albion struggled to recover from.
Initially the Binos rode the storm well although the defence looked far from certain, gingerly defending several routine crosses. Going forward the Binos played with more confidence making several incisive passing movements to break from their own half and threaten Gallacher’s goal. Bell headed over while Hay steadied himself to drive a shot straight at Gallacher from distance but the best effort would arrive from Derek Lilley. The maligned forward won his share of flick ons in the first half and held the ball up relatively well however nothing quite seemed to come-off from him. His angled shot as he cut in from the left was spilled by the former Scotland goalkeeper but as McKenna closed in to tap home the assistant referee raised his flag.
Albion were certainly not dictating play despite flurries of chances but equally Dunfermline were rarely threatening Hogarth’s goal. Harris headed wide from a corner, Jim Hamilton volleyed well over while Morrison slashed a fine effort narrowly wide. Both sides were attempting to play some neat one-touch football however rarely did Dunfermline look like picking away through a packed Binos defence. A sweet passing movement on the stroke of half-time yielded a second goal. The Albion defence were tugged out of position too easily by Burchill, who dropped into the hole before flicking a pass out to the right. The cross was fired in low across the face of goal to the untracked Simmons who had a simple job of tapping home, although Hogarth made a valiant attempt to clear the ball.
Moore, who would have been furious with the manner and timing of the two goals conceded, sent his side out early in the second half. Whatever was said in the away dressing room certainly made an impression as Albion monopolised possession and territory for long periods of the second half.
By the time Chris Aitken side-footed a powerful effort into the side of the net from the edge of the box Albion had been threatening without looking particularly dangerous, although Derek Lilley had been denied by a sound save by Gallagher. The veteran striker will feel he should have done better in this situation although credit will certainly go to the goalkeeper. The prospect of losing a two goal advantage against a part-time side certainly seemed to rattle the home side as their distribution quickly became rushed and far less effective, consequently pushing them further onto the back boot.
In the centre of the field Aitken, who has been poor in recent weeks but showed glimmers of his best from today, and particularly Steven Bell, who was superb, took a stranglehold on the game. Bell might have brought the Albion level but Nugent, who was another star performer as he provided some much needed width on the right with several dangerous overlapping runs, saw his pass nipped off the midfielder’ toes. Stirling frequently nearly broke in behind the Fife side’s defence, Gallacher making a stunning point blank stop from David McKenna. The on-loan Norwich goalkeeper, who is reported to wish to stay at East End Park, was again alert to deny Bell as he closed in while Aitken’s touch let him down at a crucial moment while Hay fired off-target when Nugent was well positioned on the right.
As Albion pushed forward gaps were appearing at the back however Tam McManus, who had been brought on as a substitute by this stage, failed to threaten. McManus had an unhappy period on the field, presumably being told to play behind Albion’s back four given the number of times he was caught offside. The former Hibs striker was exceptionally lucky to remain on the park as he lashed out at Forsyth after a tussle on the near touchline. McManus’ presence certainly had the fans fired up but the game, which had a significant period of stoppage time added due to Dunfermline’s persistent procrastination, petered out with plenty of Binos pressure but little in the way of chances.
Although Albion left East End Park pointless once again it was the Forthbank side that emerged with a great deal of credit. Indeed, Albion really should have taken at least a point from this game however individual errors once again proved costly while a lack of composure in front of goal and a fine performance from Gallagher cost Moore’s side at least a point. The effort put in by each player in the second half cannot be faulted as the Albion players looked fitter and more determined than their hosts but the loss still leaves the Binos, who have rarely looked uncompetitive, well adrift at the bottom of the league. Wednesday’s match with Morton truly is a must win affair now; a bit more luck in 2008’s opener would certainly not go amiss.
Stirling
Albion FC
