Stirling Albion maintained their position at the top of the division when they earned a point in a hard fought match with Stranraer. However, the real winner was the strong wind which spoiled the match as a spectacle. Whilst both teams tried to play football at times, when they resorted to the use of the high ball, the wind took over.

The Albion showed a couple of changes in personnel from last week. Craig Ferguson had recovered from his bout of flu to take his customary place in midfield whilst Mark McNally was missing due to the toe injury which he had picked up. This meant Chris Scotland was moved to his favoured position at the centre of the defence whilst Stewart Devine slotted into the left back position.

Ferguson looked commanding in the midfield but faded in the second half. However, the Albion suffered a major blow when Scott McLean had to leave the field with less than half an hour gone. The story is that he was suffering from a hamstring injury so it was perhaps a bit of a gamble to play him. Darren Cummings came on in his place.

The match was a bit of a midfield battle with one time Albion target, John Fraser, playing in the Stranraer midfield. He did not have a great influence on the match so, perhaps, the Albion did not miss too much in not securing his signature. Attempts at goal were few and far between although Stranraer did come close to scoring in the 26th minute when a Jenkin’s shot hit the post after Graham had set him up following a Finlayson cross.

The Bino's catch the Stranraer forwards offside

The Albion’s best efforts were a Nugent shot which was deflected for a corner following good play by McLean when he beat Henderson on the bye line and a Glancy shot on the turn which had McCondichie stretching to hold it.

Paul Nugent leads the attcak as some of the Binos fans watch on.

The second half was similar to the first and, while Stranraer had the advantage of the wind, the Albion defence easily coped with the Stranraer attacks.

Both teams had attempts to break the deadlock with O’Brien having a left foot shot go inches past after Glancy had picked up a poor clearance, Hay heading straight at the goalkeeper and Gethins scooping the ball over the bar after good work by Devine on the left.

Stranraer’s best effort was a shot from Jenkins which went over the bar. However, the Albion’s defence has conceded the fewest number of goals in the division and the feeling was that this match was going to end goalless.

Hogarth commanded his area all afternoon whilst Chris Scotland stuck manfully to his task of marking the lively David Graham. In midfield, Ferguson controlled the match but, perhaps, wasn’t fully match fit and faded in the second half. The Albion’s Aussie signing, Mitchell Prentice, came on with 4 minutes remaining so didn’t have an opportunity to show us what he is capable of. However, he was on long enough for the Albion fans to christen him “Skippy”, taking over that nickname from Stuart McLaren. Up front Glancy worked tirelessly, more so after McLean went off, but wasn’t rewarded for his efforts.

Results elsewhere went the Albion’s way and with Stranraer playing Forfar next week and the Albion having a visit to Dumbarton, where they have already won this season, there is nothing to suggest that the Albion won’t be at the top next Saturday evening.

MANY THANKS TO THE OFFICIAL STRANRAER WEBSITE FOR THE PHOTO'S.