“I’d walk a million miles for one of your goals” is a favourite song of football fans of a certain generation. Unfortunately, not even walking 6 miles by an intrepid band of 13 Albion fans was enough to illicit a single goal against local rivals as the Binos succumbed 3-0 to an Alloa team fighting against relegation. Perhaps the knowledge that the Binos had secured fourth place and, therefore, survival meant that they did not show the passion which you would have expected from a local derby.

The day started early for some fans, including yours truly, as we gathered at Causewayhead Park to walk to Alloa to raise funds for the Supporters Trust. Anyone who has not already pledged money can still do so by contacting the website. A shout of “Alloa” from a passing car raised a smile just as the photographer from the Stirling Observer was about to take a photograph. Perfect timing. The walk took just under 2 hours and we arrived in Alloa in plenty of time to get a bite to eat, a small refreshment and take in a certain Premiership match which one of the group had more than a passing interest in. Incidentally, the lighting in the toilets in the Leisure Bowl reminded me of a disco in the late 70’s.

An unchanged Binos kicked off in front of a sun drenched crowd, a stark contrast to last week’s freezing temperatures and it was fitting that the subsequent half time entertainment was provided by a samba band from the local secondary school as the weather was more akin to Rio than Rothesay.

The Binos dominated the opening period although they carried very little goalscoring threats. After 1 2minutes Aitken threaded the ball through to Di Giacomo but McGlynn managed to clear the ball from his own goal line. Alloa responded and a Hamilton shot was comfortably held by Hogarth. A Stevenson free kick from the left found its way through to Hogarth.

Alloa did have the ball in the net after 20 minutes but Brown was Adjudged to be offside after Hogarth had parried a Quitongo shot into his path. Five minutes later, a Devine free kick went inches past. On the half hour mark, a Ferguson shot was tipped round the post by Hogarth. From the resultant corner, Aitken failed to clear the ball and 3 Alloa players all had a chance to shoot but none took the opportunity. Wilson then did well to get back and clear a shot off his own goal line as Alloa started to be the dominant team.

Wilson then had to go off after appearing to suffer a knock to his face. Canning was his replacement with MacDonald moving over to right midfield. Hamilton was fouled on the edge of the 18 yard box. The free kick was played sideways to Ovenstone but his fierce shot went straight into Hogarth’s hands. Five minutes before the interval, a left foot shot from Stevenson went inches past. Devine then put in a perfectly timed tackle to prevent Quitongo from getting in a shot.

Disaster struck for the Binos just on half time. The ball was played through to Hamilton who sent a right foot shot past Hogarth. This made the half time score 1-0 to Alloa.

Neither side made any changes at half time. After 56 minutes, a Dunn shot was blocked but MacDonald was unable to get the rebound on target. Five minutes later, Quitongo made it 2-0 from close range. Shortly after that, it almost became three as a Nugent pass was blocked and the ball broke to Ferguson. He ran through but his right foot shot went past the post.

Craig Ferguson then came on for O’Brien leaving the Binos with four central midfield players. However, this was not enough to prevent Alloa from scoring a third when Bolochoweckyi scored following a corner kick to Alloa. 3-0 and the game was over.

Devine was then booked for a foul on Quitongo. Moore then took off Aitken and brought on Hutchison whilst Alloa’s Walker was replaced by Nicolson. In the dying minutes Canning was booked, presumably for a foul on Quitongo, who was beginning to show dazzling footwork.

Full time came with no further scoring and the whistle came as a relief to the travelling supporters as there was a real of danger of another drubbing if the match had carried on much longer. To go down 3-0 is bad at the best of times, but when it happens to your local rivals and the team doesn’t show a lot of spirit, it is doubly infuriating especially considering the good performances in the last 2 weeks.

Next week sees the final league match of the season at Forthbank and, although there is nothing at stake, it is hoped there will be good turn out, especially from the Young Reds who are being given free entry. Fourth place in the league is no small achievement and, with Raith Rovers and Partick Thistle coming down and Gretna and Peterhead being promoted, the Second Division promises to be very exciting next season. The prospect of a possible play off scenario being introduced will also add an extra touch of spice. This should ensure that the players will be going out to impress the manager in order to ensure a new contract and this should mean that the final 2 matches will not be drab end of season affairs.

I hope to see you down early at Forthbank next week when the Young Reds Players of the Year will be presented with his trophy around 2-30p.m.