Attendance : 685

Scorers ~ Stirling Albion : McLean (20), McKinnon (74). Albion Rovers : Yardley (18).

Yet again, Rovers created enough chances to win more than one match and yet again they somehow contrived to lose the couple of soft goals which, just all too often, have contributed greatly to the season’s meagre points total. That, in a nutshell, sums up the problem which is concentrating the minds at Cliftonhill these unhappy days.

The forwards are trying hard and will undoubtedly come spectacularly good one of these days, the midfield is toiling for longish periods and the defence is well, not too put too fine a point on it, rubbish. Wearing the colours - particularly at the back - are certain players who should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves for their lack of commitment to the cause. To lose the ball to an opponent is no great crime and happens countless times in any match. However, to do so and immediately give up the cause by not even making a token attempt to retrieve the situation is unforgivable and these players must be brought to book for taking wages under false pretences.

The returning Jordan Smith was having a good afternoon when put in the invidious position of having to put in a tackle on the edge of the box. His natural instinct won, he did intervene and referee Scott MacDonald - yet another up and coming example of sheer ineptitude - wasted no time in flashing the red card. At that important juncture of the match, with the scores level, it was a decision which was to have severe repercussions for the Cliftonhill lads, for just four minutes later The Binos scored their winning goal.

Rovers Go Ahead

Rovers began brightly and Mark Yardley’s first-minute cross into the box was missed before a poor clearance reached Paul McManus whose instinctive lob cleared the home crossbar by only a foot or so. The game then settled down well and was pottering along quite nicely until the 18th minute, when Rovers shocked the Forthbank faithful - and scored! Graeme McCaul and Jim Mercer (maybe in an offside position) worked well down the right and forced the ball into the area, close to goal where Yardley and ex-Airdrieonians ‘keeper Myles Hogarth both went for it. Although the action was a bit muddled to see clearly, the view of the ball trundling over the line was a sight for sore eyes and Rovers were in the lead. The home players protested vigorously to the referee and his assistant who at one point had raised his flag, but all the sob stories fell upon deaf ears and the goal stood.

However, obviously stung into instant retaliation, Stirling went in search of retribution, and got it within two minutes. Scott McLean collected the ball not too far outside Rovers’ area and although there were plenty of defenders between him and the target, they were so mesmerised by his deft skills that they simply stood and watched open-mouthed as he calmly steered an almost casual shot past Chris Fahey into the corner of the net. Defenders? Bah!

It was not until the 34th minute that there was anything further of note, and it really should have been another Rovers’ goal to record. A delightful forward chip by McCaul found McManus unmarked in front of goal, but his attempt at a volley saw him miss the ball altogether and it was a happy Hogarth who gathered. Four minutes later, Hogarth was again in action, this time acrobatically leaping to turn a scoring header from Jim Mercer away from the goal. It was a super save.

Within two minutes of the second half starting, Rovers marched goalwards but with Yardley and McManus indulging in an "after you" routine, a good opportunity evaporated. Fahey then had to leave his goal to perform one of his now famous blocking saves before a short pass-back by Andy Paterson gave the ‘keeper more palpitations.

Smith Red-Carded

The dangerous Andy Gibson then bored his way into Rovers’ box before Fahey again saved the day, and at the other end McCaul replicated the feat - and the result. After Smith was forced to head over his own crossbar to avert danger, the defender then received his marching orders, leaving a significant gap at the back. That gap was fully exploited within a few minutes when danger man Gibson - a bag of tricks throughout this match - bamboozled three defenders with his skills. He managed to get the ball through to Colin McKinnon who toed it into the net for what was to prove to be the decisive strike of the afternoon.

Ten-man Rovers buckled down to their task as best they could, but with Stirling tails as high as the Wallace Monument, it was a battle all the way and there was to be miracle on the cards.

The match had four yellow cards. Stirling’s Smith, Anderson and Davidson saw that colour as did Peter Cormack of Rovers.

Man of the Match ; Not too many contenders this time around, with only Chris Fahey, Graeme McCaul and Paul McManus making claims. Although the other two were excellent in their positions, the nomination goes to McCaul for his continued impressive start to his senior career.

Stirling Albion : Hogarth, Nugent, Anderson, McNally, Rowe, Smith, Gibson, McKinnon, McLean, Davidson (Elliot 77), Devine (O’Brien 60). Unused Subs : Hay, Ferguson, Henny.

Albion Rovers : Fahey, Paterson, Stirling, Farrell (McAllister 77), McCaig, Cormack, McCaul, Smith, Yardley (Diack 77), McManus, Mercer. Unused Subs : McBride, Skinner, Thompson.

Referee : Scott MacDonald.

Man of the Match : Graeme McCaul