Smith fizzer not enough
Stirling lose despite bright first half
Montrose .............. 2 Stirling Albion ...... 1 Two goals in the closing stages condemned Stirling to a fourth defeat in five matches despite an impressive first-half performance at a bright and breezy Links Park.
A stunning goal from Darren Smith – his 21st of the season and 50th overall – had Albion deservedly in front at the break, but Montrose were the better side in the second half.
After Stirling were denied what looked a clear penalty, substitute Craig Johnston equalised with 15 minutes left and Matty Allan grabbed an 82nd-minute winner as Stewart Petrie’s side increased their lead at the top of Ladbrokes League 2 to four points over Peterhead.
Dave Mackay’s men, meanwhile, have slipped to sixth in the table – their lowest position of the season – but have the chance to move into the play-off places when they host bottom club Cowdenbeath in a rearranged fixture at Forthbank tonight (Wednesday).
It’s just one win in nine matches for Stirling now but the first half was the best they have played for a long time and it was harsh that they ended up with nothing – the defeat also ended an eight-match unbeaten sequence at this venue since a 3-2 reverse in December 2012.
Mackay made one change to the team beaten 4-3 at Peterhead in their previous outing a fortnight ago, with new signing Kevin Moon making his debut in place of the injured Ross Smith. Steven Noble, Sean Dickson and Andy Little again missed out.
Moon, the former St Johnstone midfielder whose last competitive game was for ECU Joondalup in Australia at the end of August, was an assured presence in the middle of the park and the visitors were still ahead when he was replaced midway through the second half.
Stirling’s goal came after 14 minutes and was a thing of beauty. Darren Smith is enjoying the season of his life and carried the ball from the halfway line, skipping past a couple of defenders as he moved closer to the Montrose goal.
The best option looked to be a pass to Ross Kavanagh on his left but that wasn’t required – instead the former Motherwell man smashed a wonderful shot in off the bar from outside the area. It was a special strike and the perfect way to celebrate a half century of goals over two spells at Forthbank.
The celebration wasn’t bad either as he jumped on to the wall behind the goal to enjoy the moment with the travelling fans, who almost saw their favourites increase their lead before half-time.
Montrose were unusually flat and Albion should have taken advantage. Smith was causing havoc at times and wriggled clear to set up Peter MacDonald, whose close-range effort was fumbled by keeper Allan Fleming and was close to going over the line before he grabbed the ball.
It initially looked as if the assistant on the far side began to run back towards the halfway line to signal a goal but the referee waved play on. Fleming then denied Smith with a good save and MacDonald, slightly stretching for the rebound, could only send his follow-up effort over the bar.
The hosts, beaten by Clyde a week earlier, made two changes at the interval and looked a different team in the second half. Without creating too many chances they began to exert pressure and got a few too many crosses into the penalty box.
For all that, skipper Robertson came close with an audacious drive from fully 40 yards before he, and most others, thought he had won a penalty in 72 minutes. He was caught by defender Sean Dillon and it looked a stick-on spot-kick but instead the outcome was a yellow card for diving.
Much of the second-half momentum was with Montrose, though, and it paid off when Johnston – one of the two half-time replacements – fired home from close range after Cammy Binnie had made an impressive double save.
A strong and powerful team, the Gable Endies claimed all three points when centre-half Allan, previously with Dundee, met a corner from the left and sent a header into the net as Stirling’s poor run of results continued. Stirling Albion: Binnie, McGeachie, Hamilton, McNeil, Banner (Stanger 90), Black (McLaughlin 83), Moon (Caddis 67) MacDonald, D Smith, Kavanagh, Robertson. Subs not used: Fallens (GK), McMullan, Cameron, Vezza. Referee: Grant Irvine