Stirling Albion v Clyde

Written by RedWeb

Saturday, 24 April 2010

Stirling Albion 1 (Scott Robertson) Clyde 0 Stirling Albion Scott Christie Andy Graham Ross Forsyth Andy Gibson Jonathan Page Scott Robertson Nathan Taggart Chris Aitken Michael Mullen Iain Russell David O'Brien   Subs: Paul Murphy on for 8 David McKenna on for 8 Derek Colquhoun (Unused) Sean Roycroft (Unused) Myles Hogarth (GK) Clyde Callum Reidford Ally Park Neil McGowan Willie Kinniburgh Alan Lithgow Aleksandrs Gramovics Jordan White Connor Stevenson Willie Sawyers John Stewart Willie McLachlan    Subs: Connor Cassidy on for 3 Steven Howarth on for 10 Kevin Higgins on for 8 Dmitrijs Borisovs (Unused) Jordan Allan (GK) Scottish League Division Two Saturday 24th April, 2010   Forthbank Stadium Attendance: 796 The final Saturday in April saw the Beanos playing what was scheduled to be their last home game of the 2009/10 season. Let's hope that is indeed the case because if it isn't it means we will not have won the title and instead would be in play-off action. With his team almost out on their feet the last thing Albion gaffer Allan Moore needs is more games so one last push would be required from his lads to try and seal a come from behind title triumph. However, all talk of silverware could go up in smoke if results didn't go the Beanos way this afternoon. With Alloa up at Peterhead and Stirling hosting Clyde anything was still possible and all we could do was to concentrate on the challenge that was sure to be provided by Neil Watt's team. On Tuesday night the Albion were worthy winners against Clyde but with the pressure of scrapping to avoid relegation now behind them there was always the chance they would put in a more relaxed display. Team lines for the home side saw just the one change from midweek as Andy Gibson came in for the injured Brian Allison. This meant the team was as it was against Stennie at Ochilview last Saturday. On a sunny day at Forthbank Towers it was the Beanos who kicked off proceedings shooting towards the Monument End of the ground. An early David O'Brien corner picked out Scott Robertson who headed over Callum Reidford's crossbar. After this early chance the match became a bit scrappy as neither side was able to get a grip on the game. With Clyde perhaps lacking motivation and Stirling tired and tense it wasn't a recipe for too much fancy football to be played. Clyde left back Neil McGowan looked to have pulled a hamstring and so Neil Watt was forced into an early change with Connor Cassidy replacing the veteran defender. With just over 20 minutes gone there was a cheer in the home stand but it wasn't for something that had just happened at Forthbank. Up at Balmoor the home side had just taken the lead against Alloa and of course this was good news for Stirling's title chances. With the table toppers trailing the time was ripe for Stirling to consolidate their grip on the promotion race by scoring one of their own. Moments later this is what they did. A neat build up down the Albion right ended with Andy Graham flighting over an excellent cross which the rejuvenated SCOTT ROBERTSON headed past Callum Reidford for his seventh goal of the season. The former QOS midfield man was much maligned in his early Stirling days but to be fair to the lad he has come on leaps and bounds in recent weeks and is rapidly turning into a key part of our midfield. Stirling kept up the pressure and Andy Graham saw a well struck shot deflect behind for a corner kick. From the resulting set piece the ball broke to Scott Robertson who chipped in a cross which Michael Mullen headed wide of goal. It looked like a second was on it's way into the net when Iain Russell got on the end of a Nathan Taggart centre but the on-form strikers headed drifted just past Reidford's right hand post. With the half-time break looming the visiting fans hadn't been given much to shout about so far. A cross from Jordan White was headed back by John Stewart into the path of Willie Sawyers but the burly front man could only loop a tame header into the gloves of Scott Christie. The Bully Wee hadn't offered much so far and in truth were looking like a side winding down for the season. Surely they would offer more after the break. Therefore as the teams trooped off for the half-time Goan fish curry it was the Beanos who maintained their precious one goal advantage. Half-Time:  Stirling Albion 1 Clyde 0 Neither side made any changes at the break as the match recommenced with Stirling keen on finding a nerve settling second goal. The first incident of the half revolved around the referee who decided to book Chris Aitken for seemingly taking a free kick too quickly. Looked petty in the extreme but sadly typical of the robots in black who implement the rule book to the letter without using any common sense. Clyde manager Neil Watt decided on an early second half change as Connor Stevenson was replaced by Kevin Higgins. The visitors had offered next to nothing before the lemons but were looking a bit more frisky in the second period. With Stirling struggling to clear their lines a cross into the box broke nicely for Jordan White who sliced a shot into side netting. Seconds later it was the turn of substitute Kevin Higgins to sting the palms of Scott Christie after a well executed turn and shot on the edge of the box. Whether it was tiredness or a dose of the jitters it all added up to scrappy stuff from the Beanos. A second goal would have eased tensions in the home stand but Clyde were standing firm. That said it could have been a goal for Stirling when a Chris Aitken free kick dropped into the danger area but both Jonathan Page and Andy Graham saw close range shots blocked. However, this was a rare threatening moment from Allan Moore's men as Clyde continued to look the more dangerous. A sliced cross from Willie Sawyers forced a back peddling Scott Christie to tip the ball over the bar for a corner. From the corner that followed Jordan White should have levelled affairs but his point blank header was steered wide of Scott Christie's left hand post. Big let off for the Beanos and perhaps the visitors wouldn't get a better chance all day. The Bully Wee then made their third and last change as John Stewart limped off to be replaced by Steven Howarth. Clyde were now pushing bodies up the park which was in turn leaving spaces for Stirling to attack. A neat ball set Michael Mullen free, but with players in support the hard working striker went for glory and duffed an angled effort miles over the bar. This proved to be Mullen's last involvement as moments later he was hooked in favour of David McKenna. The change didn't have any immediate impact as Clyde remained the more dangerous looking of the two sides. A corner from the Clyde left was met by the head of Willie Kinniburgh and it required a goal line clearance from Scott Robertson to keep the ball out. Willie Sawyers had scored twice against Stirling this season but a wild slice from the edge of the box was never an issue for Scott Christie. It then took a great save from the much criticised Albion keeper to preserve home title hopes. A cross into the box was misjudged by the Albion defence and Steven Howarth seemed certain to score but a fantastic reaction save from Scott Christie saw the Stirling keeper palm the ball to safety. It's fair to say tension was rising amongst the Stirling faithful and that long waited for second goal would have been appreciated. An Albion switch saw the knackered figure of Chris Aitken trudge off to be replaced by Paul Murphy for the closing stages. Stirling then blew a great chance to kill the game as Iain Russell broke clear only to dink the ball over Callum Reidford and the crossbar when he seemed set to make it six straight games with a goal. After being under pressure for lengthy spells in the second 45 it was now the home side who were carving out the chances. Nathan Taggart and Iain Russell combined to set up Taggart for a close range effort which Nathan somehow stabbed into the side net. Seconds later another quick break up the park had David McKenna and Iain Russell running free but McKenna dithered and Willie McLachlan was able to poke the ball for a corner. Having had three great chances to seal with points home fans must have worried about paying for these misses. Thankfully there wasn't any time left for Clyde to punish our poor finishing and there was much relief all round as the referee brought play to a close. With it quickly announced that Alloa had slumped to defeat at Peterhead the Stirling fans could begin to let that "top of the table" feeling sink in. Another tremendous battling display from the Beanos today. One or two players are definitely feeling the effects of so many games but the adrenaline is keeping most legs pumping. Special mention today for Scott Robertson who has come back from a rough start to his Albion career and is now proving the doubters (including me) wrong. Well done Scott. With two games left Stirling now have two chances to win the title. Two draws may well do the job but one win certainly will. First chance to clinch the prize comes on Tuesday night when we travel to a  Cowdenbeath side who also still have title aspirations of their own.

 

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