Stirling Albion recorded their fifteenth league game without defeat courtesy of a 3-2 victory over Peterhead on Saturday. The excellent unbeaten run looked to be coming to an end with Peterhead racing into a two goal lead before the break thanks to strikes from Bobby Linn and Dougie Cameron but the Binos fought bravely back after the break. Steven Bell reduced Stirling’s deficit with a header from close ranger before Ian Cashmore levelled things up. Sandwiched between the goals was a red card for Peterhead’s Jamie Buchan but this did not stop the game swinging from end to end in a pulsating climax to the match. Dougie Wilson, who had been on the pitch for only a matter of minutes, won the match for the Binos with a sweet curling strike as full time drew imminent.

Allan Moore made only one change to the starting eleven that cruised past East Stirling the previous week, Ian Cashmore replacing the suspended Dene Shields in attack. Sean Roycroft recovered from a knock sustained a knock at Firs Park that threatened to see him miss the game at Balmoor but Paul Nugent and David O’Brien were not deemed fit enough to make the bench. Captain John Fraser made a welcome return to the bench but did not manage any game time. Peterhead, under new manager Steve Paterson, have shuffled things about in recent weeks, moving Bryan Gilfillan back to a central defensive role while bringing Martin Wood and Martin Bavidge into the team. Dougie Cameron looked lively in his new role on the left wing while Bobby Linn posed a threat to the Albion defence whenever he was afforded time on the ball.

The opening period of the game was quiet and belied the dramatic climax that was to come. Both sides struggled to get to grips with the wind that was constantly blowing towards that Albion were shooting towards. In usual circumstances this would be considered an advantage but such was the strength of the gale it appeared to be more a hindrance. Stirling dominated much of the early possession but had little to show for their territorial dominance whereas the Blue Toon had nearly opened the scoring when Bavidge broke free down the right hand side of the pitch only for his cross to be missed by Bobby Linn, who did not have enough confidence in his left foot to have a swing at it and did not adjust his feet quickly enough to get at the ball with his right. This proved a warning shot for Albion as they were soon behind as Bobby Linn broke clear and flashed a shot past Myles Hogarth into the bottom right hand corner of the Binos’ net. Linn was clearly offside when played through but the goal stood.

The goal appeared to spark Stirling into a more creative mood. Some neat passing resulted in Steven Bell being released down the inside right channel but Greg Kelly was quickly off his line to stifle the ex-Dundee United man’s effort. Cashmore was next to have a shot on goal but his turn and hit from the edge of the box trundled harmlessly beyond Kelly’s right hand post. Albion continued to push for an equaliser and were exceptionally unlucky when Colin Cramb showed tremendous technique to volley Nathan Taggart’s left the woodwork reverberating. Aikten had a drive flicked wide by a Peterhead defender as Stirling continued to press for an equaliser but, somewhat inevitably, Peterhead doubled their lead on a rare foray forward. Linn had headed just over from a cross on their only other attack of note in the half but Dougie Cameron made no mistake when presented with a similar opportunity from a Martin Wood cross. Cameron’s header was downward and hard, leaving Myles Hogarth clawing at thin air.

The second half started as the first had, although Peterhead probably edged the share of possession for the first time in the match. Like Albion before them in the first half they made little use of the strong wind and it was the Binos who nearly made the first breakthrough when Taggart’s curling effort was convincingly pushed away by Kelly. Allan Moore’s decision to introduce Stewart Devine for Paul Hay proved to be a turning point as the 3-5-2 Stirling switched to changed the whole dynamic of the game. Ross Forsyth constantly pushed forward from his position at left centre-half leaving Peterhead wondering who should deal with him. Frequently this allowed Devine and Marek Tomana space to drive forward and create chances. This is exactly how the Binos’ first goal came about; Tomana drove at the heart of the Peterhead defence before releasing Cashmore on the right. Cashy’s cross curled perfectly onto the head of the onrushing Steven Bell, who proceeded with the simplest of tasks of putting the ball in the net to bring the Reds back into the game.

Stirling certainly had the initiative by this stage and had penalty claims turned down for a second time as Marek Tomana’s stinging shot from twenty-five yards looked as though it had hit a Peterhead defender’s hand before being cleared. Despite this pressure the home side nearly regained their two goal cushion when Bavidge’s cross was caught by the wind and drifted onto the crossbar. With Hogarth left sprawling on the ground and the whole goal to aim at bar the presence of a defender the ball broke to Bobby Linn but he smashed his effort against the bar when a placed strike may well have proven more profitable. Albion took advantage of this let off and were soon in the ascendancy again when Jamie Buchan was sent off for tapping Colin Cramb’s heels when the striker was through on goal. The sending off was as clear as you are ever likely to see and presented Chris Aitken with a real chance to level things. Aitken has been known for his spectacular goals during his tenure at Forthbank but into the wind Kelly got across his goal to save comfortably.

The Binos levelled things when Ian Cashmore glanced in an Aitken corner after Stewart Devine had seen a powerful effort deflected wide. The goal sent the Albion players and fans into raptures but full concentration was needed as the Blue Toon battled back immediately. Cameron brought the best out of Hogarth with a powerful twenty-five yard effort and then with a curling free-kick that the Albion custodian held comfortably. The match was a pulsating encounter by this stage and Chris Aitken nearly won it for the Binos as a loose ball in the box broke out to him on the edge of the box but his laser-like effort flashed marginally past Kelly’s right hand post with the keeper static. Dougie Wilson did manage to win it for Albion as the referee’s watched ticked towards the ninety minute mark. Wilson stepped inside the right back and curled a well placed shot beyond Kelly, who got a hand to the ball, and into the net. The Peterhead goalkeeper should probably have saved the effort but the Binos were too jubilant to care.

The three points may well prove vital for morale if nothing else. Albion should be riding the crest of a wave at the moment and feeling invincible. Forfar are the next test and despite the Loons lying bottom of the league they must be given the team’s full attention because they are capable of causing an upset, as Morton found out