Martyn leaves after Loons loss
Caretaker steps down after latest Albion defeat
Stirling Albion ...... 0 Forfar Athletic ...... 3 Martyn Corrigan stepped down as caretaker manager in the wake of Saturday’s defeat to leaders Forfar.
Albion went through October undefeated with Stuart McLaren’s former assistant at the helm but were well beaten by Gary Bollan’s side at Forthbank.
Stirling are seventh in the table, just three points ahead of bottom club Edinburgh City, as they prepare to face second-placed Elgin City at Borough Briggs this weekend.
After a solid showing in a 1-1 draw against Clyde, hopes were high that the Binos could push on against a Forfar side who had taken just one point from the last three matches and been knocked out of the Scottish Cup by Edinburgh City, but it didn’t happen.
Stirling have now failed to win any of their last 11 games against the Loons – eight defeats and three draws – since a 2-0 victory at Station Park in March 2007, which frankly feels like a lifetime ago.
Ross Forsyth, Ross Smith, Ross McGeachie and Darren Smith were again ruled out through injury and it was an unchanged Stirling team that took to the field for the first time this season.
There was a frantic start to the match, with Chris Smith saving from Gavin Swankie within the first minute then Isaac Layne should have done better at the other end.
Sean Dickson headed over from Stirling Albion: C Smith, McCue (Verlaque 40), Petrie (Olanrewaju 58), McMillan, Scott Davidson, Beith, Hodge, McKenzie, Dickson, Ferns, Layne (Kavanagh 68). Subs not used: Henderson, Morrison, Docherty, Binnie (GK). Forfar Athletic: Adam, McIntosh, Bain, Munro (Malcolm 22), O’Brien, Fotheringham, Cox, Milne, Scott, Swankie, Denholm (Smith 84). Subs not used: Lister, Peters, McCawl, Kennedy, McGovern (GK).
a Marc McKenzie cross and Smith again thwarted Swankie before Forfar scored in the seventh minute.
Lewis Milne swung over a corner from the right and defender Andy Munro sent a header into the top corner from fully 15 yards.
Eddie Ferns had a good chance to equalise before the break after a fine move put him in the clear but his shot lacked conviction and Grant Adam saved comfortably, then it took an intervention from Smith to tip over an effort from Marc Scott as Forfar sought a second goal.
Stirling started the second half with a bit of a flurry but it didn’t last and the game was soon beyond them. In 54 minutes, Scott got past Darren Petrie too easily on the right flank and his cross was met by Swankie, who did well to steer a near-post header into the net.
Former Peterhead winger David Cox claimed the third goal midway through the second half with a low drive from around 22 yards and the visitors – who extended their advantage at the top of the table to four points – should have added to their lead.
Swankie, as talented a player as any in League 2, got in behind the defence but lifted his shot over the bar, then was again too high with the finish at the end of a nice passage of play from a Forfar side who didn’t look like they had gone five matches without a victory.
Stirling offered little in the second half and the managerial situation needs to be swiftly resolved with tough November matches against Elgin City and Arbroath, and a Scottish Cup clash against Wick Academy, who beat Rothes 9-0 on Saturday, on the horizon.