From Forthbank Stadium, Stirling

Kick Off: 3.00pm

James Stewart Reporting

Stirling head in to today’s game 8 points behind Clyde after last week’s 1 v 1 draw against the Cumbernald side, the Bino’s welcome league leaders Hamilton Academical to Forthbank for today’s top versus bottom clash. The Bino’s line up since the Clyde performance jas only been slightly tweaked with Eric Paartalu stepping in for Andy Graham and Steven Bell makes his first start since he picked up an injury in January with John-Paul McBride dropping to the bench loan signing Alan Lithgow replaces Derek Lilley on the bench and is joined with a trialist to make up the squad.

The Bino’s kicked of today’s game shooting towards the monument end of Forthbank, but from the outset Hamilton looked the stronger side and immediately the Stirling defence was under pressure. Te start didn’t get any better for the side as Ryan McCay was left as a spectator as Hamilton’s Mark Gilhaney waltzed past and crossed in to the Stirling box for the ball to fall to James McCarthy who calmly slotted his volleyed shot past Myles Hogarth to take the lead for Hamilton on the 3 minute mark. It was certainly the goal that shouldn’t have been if only on-loan McCay was more aware of Gilhaney’s position and pace. Hamilton’s Alex Neil was the first player to grab referee John McKendrick’s attention when he brought down Nathan Taggert, but McNeil’s booking didn’t deter him from going on to make an impact on proceeding as he set up David Elbert with a excellent cross that picked Elbert out in the Stirling box but the resulting header went out past Hogarth’s left hand post.

As the half wore on Stirling were giving Hamilton more time to build up attacks on the defence but as Hamilton attacked the Bino’s managed to break back up field on the counter attack that ended with a Chris Aitken free kick picking out Colin Cramb who managed to offload to Steven Bell and allow Bell to let of a 10 yard shot that was deflected behind for the first corner of the game. The Bino’s couldn’t capitalise with the corner and Hamilton soon had play shifted back up to the Stirling goal with a Hamilton free kick only being cleared as far as Richard Offiong managed to curl his shot wide past Hogarth’s left hand post. The Bino’s were unlucky to still be a goal down after a Jay Rodriguez shot was blocked into the path of Colin Cramb who got under the ball and sent it over the bar. As the ref blew for half-time Allan Moore had no doubt in what he needed to do during the interval after having to sit in the stand watching the Bino’s squander decent chances to score all that was needed was the advice of take your time.

Half-time: Stirling Albion 0 v 1 Hamilton Academical

Hamilton boss Billy Reid decided to make his first change of the game during the break with Alexander Neil being replaced by Accies youth system graduate James Gibson. Stirling came out ready for the second half hoping things would be a bit easier but soon after the restart Laurie Ellis was booked for barging into the fast advancing Richard Offiong, things could have been worse for the Bino’s defender if Offiong didn’t miss hit his shot or even if Eric Paartalu wasn’t tracking back to cover the Stirling defender could have easily seen red for his challenge on the Hamilton hit man. Stirling did appear to be slightly better in the second half with a pass up to Cramb who managed to lay off to Craig Malloy who struck a well placed low shot at Hamilton’s Czech goalkeeper Tomas Cerny but Malloy’s shot just went the wrong side of Cerny’s right hand post. With Allan Moore up in the stand passing on instructions to Mark McNally he decided it was time for a change so off came Nathan Taggart and Colin Cramb to be replaced by David McKenna and a unknown trialist. The Bino’s next effort on goal came when Rodriguez had a long range shot at goal but his shot was well wide of the mark.

With no change in the standings for either side Billy Reid decided he would make his second change of the game when off came David Graham and entering the fray was James Grady. The change looked to have worked for team moral with Offiong tacking a shot from 20 yard’s out but Myles Hogarth had plenty of time to watch the ball and make the much needed save. Allan Moore decided things needed to be radically changed now and suprizingly for the home fans off went Chris Aitken and on came John Paul McBride. Steven Bell nearly levelled things up after a free kick was well delivered in to the Hamilton box and Bell had enough space to turn and take a shot but the ball zipped past Cerny’s left hand post. James McArthur was the next player to have his name taken by the referee for his tackle on Steven Bell.

With play moving on and the Bino’s making more use of their attacks. Billy Reid decided he would make his final change of the game with Stuart Taylor replacing Richard Offiong to tighten things up in the Accies defence. Stirling however nearly capitalised on this change when Craig Malloy broke from his marker and set up David McKenna who managed to send his shot directly at Cerny who easily saved the side footed effort. With Hamilton tacking off Offiong this left them without a strike threat upfront and the only shot that looked to threaten was from James Gibson but it didn’t trouble Hogarth. McNally’s next decision was a radical change with Paartalu joining McKenna upfront which gave the Bino’s much needed height up front. The final action of the game came when David McKenna crossed into Malloy who managed to head goal wards but  Carney tipped his shot behind for a corner that managed to pick out Rodriguez but his header floated over the bar and with that so did the match as the referee blew for full time.

With today’s result being a negative for the Bino’s things are starting to look bleak all though Clyde were defeated by Queen of The South it still leaves the Bino’s with the 8 point gap to fill so will the Bino’s be able to put a run of results together and squeeze Clyde out of the play off place or has, Stirling Albion flight SA01 entered Second Division Airspace and preparing for landing??