Dunfermline Athletic v Stirling Albion

Written by RedWeb

Sunday, 27 July 2008

Dunfermline 3 (Alex Burke, Nicky Phinn, Iain Williamson ) Stirling Albion 0 Stirling Albion Scott Christie Andy Graham David Lowing Andy Lawrie Ross Forsyth John O'Neill Liam Corr Paul Murphy Ian Harty Steven Waddell Stewart Devine   Subs: Martin Grehan on for 9 David McKenna on for 10 Nathan Taggart on for 8 Sean Roycroft (Unused) Myles Hogarth (GK) Dunfermline Athletic Paul Gallacher Greg Shields Scott Wilson Calum Woods Scott Thomson Austin McCann Kevin Harper Scott Glass Graham Bayne Alex Burke Nicky Phinn    Subs: Iain Williamson on for 4 Paul Willis on for 7 Stuart Dearden (Unused) Scott McBride (Unused) Callum Reidford (GK) Scottish League Challenge - R1 Saturday 26th July, 2008 East End Park Attendance: 1,340 With the pain of relegation from division one now a distant memory the Beanos got season 2008/09 up and running with a League Challenge tie at East End Park. If truth be told the much maligned League Challenge is one of the biggest non-events in Scottish football and it's clear some teams look upon it as almost another friendly. Perhaps this is just as well for Allan Moore as his side looked nowhere near ready for the new campaign and one more match to work on things before the league season starts was much needed. Stirling performed well on their two visits to East End Park last season and the Albion fans in attendance would have been looking for a similarly spirited effort. Team lines for Stirling showed that Allan Moore appears to be in a state of confusion over his defensive line-up. Right back Andy Lawrie was in the middle of defence with centre back Andy Graham at right back and left back Ross Forysth in the middle. Elsewhere Ian Harty and Steven Waddell got the nod to lead the attack. With only 16 registered players Sean Roycroft was forced onto the bench despite his recent nose break. On a hot and muggy day in the Kingdom of Fife the game kicked off on a lush looking surface and Stirling were quickly on the attack. A neat reverse pass from Ian Harty picked out Liam Corr whose driven cross was scrambled behind for a corner. From the set piece that followed Stewart Devine's centre was met by the head of Andy Graham, and it took a good block by Paul Gallacher to keep the ball out. A bright start for the Beanos but it all turned sour as the home side took the lead in their first attack. A quick break saw Calum Woods cross for ALEX BURKE to rattle the ball past the helpless Scott Christie. Not sure what happened here but on the face of it the left side of the Beanos defence seemed to disappear. Stirling were nearly back on terms in a hurry, but after Paul Gallacher could only palm out a Stewart Devine free kick, Steven Waddell was unable to force the ball past the Pars keeper. The match was fairly end to end in the opening stages and following some neat play Greg Shields drove in a low shot which was comfortably held by Scott Christie. A quick Albion counter then saw Steven Waddell pick out Liam Corr who drove in on goal before firing a 20 yard shot straight at Paul Gallacher. Up the other end a cross to the back post was met by the lively Nicky Phinn who floated a header just past Christie's left hand upright. Phinn was in the thick of it again moments later as he stole in down the wide open Albion left before teeing up Kevin Harper for an effort which deflected wide. The Beanos were far from out of things and Stewart Devine wasn't too far away with an angled drive which skimmed across the face of goal. Calum Woods then had a shot deflected for a corner from which former ICT striker Graham Bayne headed over the bar. A free kick gave Stewart Devine the chance to curl a ball into the Pars box and Andy Lawrie's glancing header only just cleared the bar before landing on the roof of the net. Another goal was looking likely as the Stirling defence in particular seemed far from secure. After a corner wasn't properly cleared the ball was lobbed back into the Albion box and Scott Christie had to be alert to tip over Graham Bayne's close range header. Christie was involved again soon afterwards as he chose to punch away a dipping effort when perhaps he could have caught the ball. The closing moments of the half saw Stirling coming closest to getting the next counter. A Paul Murphy cross was met by the head of Ian Harty who nodded the ball into the arms of Gallacher. A John O'Neill centre also found Ian Harty in the box but the former Clyde and Stranraer strikers hook shot was held by Gallacher. Stirling's first yellow card of the new season arrived when David Lowing was cautioned for a clumsy tackle on Bayne. This proved to be the last incident of the opening period and so as the teams trooped off for the half-time stovies the home side remained a goal up. Half-Time:  Dunfermline Athletic 1 Stirling Albion 0 Neither side made any changes at the break and it wasn't long before the home side blew a great chance to kill the game. A Nicky Phinn shot was spilled by Scott Christie but with the goal gaping Kevin Harper ballooned the rebound over the bar. Harper then turned provider as he crossed only for Graham Bayne to head straight at Christie. Allan Moore wasn't impressed with the start to the second half and made a quick change as Ian Harty was replaced by Martin Grehan. The home side also made a switch as Iain Williamson came on for Calum Woods. The changes made by both sides seemed to favour the Pars as they soon doubled their advantage as NICKY PHINN bulleted a header past Scott Christie from almost point blank range. In the aftermath of this goal the Albion manager completed the change of his front pair as David McKenna came on for Steven Waddell. The match was running away from an Albion side who were looking increasingly disorganised and rudderless. A Liam Corr corner was met by the head of Paul Murphy who could only spoon the ball well over the bar. The visitors last substitution saw Paul Murphy replaced by the more attacking threat of Nathan Taggart. Unfortunately any hopes of an Albion recovery were then well and truly ended with a Christie clanger. A header from IAIN WILLIAMSON looked to pose no danger but somehow Scott Christie fumbled the ball into the net. RedWeb has always been a defender of Inchy but for whatever reason he is simply making too many bad mistakes and most Albion fans would expect Myles to back in the team next weekend. With the game done and dusted the home side made a second change as Paul Willis took over from Kevin Harper. The last period of the game was a tame affair as both sides knew the match was over. Stirling should have pulled a goal back when a John O'Neill shot deflected into the path of David McKenna whose drought continued with a feeble effort from only 6 yards out. Not much to report on the second half really and there were no more incidents of note to describe. Therefore as the ref blew for time it was the first division side who easily claimed a place in round two of the league challenge. Not many Albion fans will shed a tear over exiting a pointless tournament but they will be upset by the manner of our defeat. This was a worryingly shambolic display all round by the Albion who look a million miles from being ready for the new league season. Only Liam Corr and Andy Graham emerged with any real credit from a game most fans will quickly forget about. For Stirling the opening couple of league matches will show us where we stand and a big improvement will be expected from the Albion fans who head up to Brechin next Saturday.

 

< Prev