Binos miss out on Christmas victory
There was no pre-Christmas cheer for Stirling at Forthbank on Saturday as their poor run continued with a narrow defeat to the Ladbrokes League 2 leaders.
Gary Fraser scored the only goal shortly before the hour mark as Stewart Petrie’s side earned a deserved win after a strong secondhalf performance.
It was their fifth clean sheet in a row and Ayr United’s defeat at Airdrie means they boast the longest current unbeaten run in the SPFL – it’s now 10 league games without loss for the Gable Endies since they slipped up at Elgin in September.
That’s where Stirling head for their last appointment of 2017 on Saturday and it’s been a desperately disappointing December so far for Dave Mackay’s men.
They were top of the table after their final November fixture – a 1-1 draw at Clyde which also meant they had scored in every league game.
December, in contrast, has brought three 1-0 defeats and a 1-1 draw at Annan, who are now behind them only on goal difference as the Binos have slipped to fourth place in the table.
They actually played well enough in the first half and created some good openings but failed to recover from the mistake by keeper Cammy Binnie that led to the winning goal and it was only in the dying minutes that Stirling had the visiting defence under any sort of pressure.
Albion went into the match without injured on-loan St Johnstone full-back Cammy Thomson while midfielder Andy Black was still suspended. Callumn Morrison returned and Steven Noble was fit enough for a place on the bench.
Liam Caddis and top scorer Darren Smith dropped out of the side with Neil McLaughlin and Ross Smith restored to the starting line-up.
This was Stirling’s first home Saturday fixture since the 2-1 defeat to Stenhousemuir on October 28 with a midweek defeat to title favourites Peterhead their sole Forthbank outing since then.
You have to go back to the 3-2 victory against Annan in September for Albion’s most recent success here and they badly need to end that run when Berwick Rangers journey north on January 6.
Mackay’s men played some decent stuff in the first half and midfielders Sean Dickson and skipper Willie Robertson both came close from distance.
McLaughlin made a great run into the box but was eventually crowded out and Morrison cut in from the right flank but opted to pull the ball back when he would probably have been better going it alone.
Dickson forced a smart save from Allan Fleming with an inswinging freekick while at the other end Binnie did well to keep out a header from Chris Templeman but was grateful to see a defender block a shot from Fraser after he failed to gather a cross which hung in the wind.
It was a contest that looked very much in the balance at the interval but Montrose were in control after they scored and retain a six-point advantage over second-placed Peterhead going into a massive match between the teams at Links Park this weekend.
Fraser pounced in 58 minutes when Cammy Ballantyne’s ball into the box slithered from the grasp of Binnie.
It was a horrible moment for the No 1 but Albion’s response to the setback was disappointing and Ballantyne missed a good chance to add to their lead before Terry Masson nodded against the upright with a back-post header.
Stirling were toiling to create anything against League 2’s meanest defence – Petrie has enjoyed an outstanding year as Montrose manager and his team are strong and organised.
They will not be easily dislodged at the top of the table as they seek a first promotion in more than two decades.
A late flurry offered some hope to the home supporters who had abandoned Christmas shopping in the hope of seeing their team revive their title hopes on an unseasonably mild afternoon. Darren Smith created an opening and Fleming made a vital save from Ross Smith but it was too little, too late.
The only good news of the day was that a serious-looking injury to Lee Hamilton, who was stretchered off towards the end, was not as bad as first feared and the defender should make a swift return to action. Stirling Albion: Binnie, McGeachie, Hamilton (D Smith 73), McNeil, R Smith, Banner, Morrison, MacDonald, McLaughlin (Kavanagh 66), Robertson (Caddis 79), Dickson. Subs not used: Foden (GK), Davidson, Noble, McMullan. Montrose: Fleming, Ballantyne, Steeves, Allan, Dillon, I Campbell, Masson (Webster 79), Fotheringham (Watson 74), Fraser (Johnston 66) Templeman, Redman. Subs not used: Millar (GK), Hay, McLaren, R Campbell.