Stirling keep up the friendly form
Third pre-season victory for Albion at Stranraer
Stranraer ........ 0 Stirling Albion 2 Stirling Albion notched up their third pre-season friendly win in the space of a week with victory over Stranraer at Stair Park on Saturday.
It followed 2-0 wins for Dave Mackay’s men against Lowland League sides Dalbeattie Star and East Kilbride, with the first of four friendlies having ended in a 1-1 draw with Airdrie towards the end of June.
It was Albion’s first visit to the far south-west of the country since a 1-0 defeat in January 2015 and those who came along, despite the competing attraction of England’s World Cup quarterfinal against Sweden on TV, were rewarded with an afternoon of sparkling sunshine.
Stirling had to do without injured duo Darren Barr and Darren Smith while striker Mark Stewart also sat this one out after picking a knock in the midweek win at East Kilbride.
Mackay is actively looking to add to his squad and Stirling are certainly light on numbers going into the Betfred Cup opener Stirling Albion completed a double signing on Monday night to take their tally of new arrivals this summer to seven.
Central defender Jason Marr arrives after a season with Albion Rovers and having impressed in the pre-season friendlies against Airdrie and East Kilbride.
The 29 year-old began his career with Celtic and had loan spells at Falkirk and Ross County before a short stint with Clyde. Marr then had five good years with Alloa before being released in May 2017.
Striker Neil McLaughlin is back for a second loan spell at Forthbank, having spent 2017/18 farmed out to the Binos from Partick Thistle. The 19 year-old left Firhill in May but was snapped up by against Dundee at Forthbank on Saturday. Last night’s (Tuesday) closed-door friendly with Raith Rovers potentially offered the chance to look at another couple of trialists.
The Binos were forced into two further changes before the break, with young striker Kevin Fell - a summer signing from Glasgow amateur side UB United - appearing to be unwell while Motherwell as part of Stephen Craigan’s reserve squad and was immediately loaned to Stirling for the forthcoming campaign, although the Steelmen have a recall clause in January.
McLaughlin was often used as substitute for Albion last term but enjoyed an extended run in the team towards the end of the season and weighed in with four goals while he was also a prolific marksman for the Thistle U20 side.
Marr and McLaughlin join fellow new boys Jordan Allan (Elgin City), Kevin Fell (UB United), Danny Jardine (St Johnstone), Mark Stewart (Dumbarton) and Calum Ferrie (Dundee, loan).
Binos boss Dave Mackay said:“I’m very pleased to get Jason signed up because I know Stenhousemuir were trialist defender Cameron Taylor was carried off with an injury.
For all that, the visitors were fairly comfortable against their League 1 opponents in the first half and took the lead in 24 minutes when left wing-back Jordan Allan diverted Danny Jardine’s low shot into the net from close range.
Much of the credit for the goal has to go to right wing-back also interested in him. It was particularly important to get a defender in as we will be without Darren Barr for a number of weeks.
“Jason did well for us defensively in the two games as a trialist and also showed he can be a threat at the other end of the pitch. He is a player I have tried to sign before so it’s good to get him on board. He was very highly thought of at Alloa - it maybe didn’t work out so well at Albion Rovers last season but these things happen.
“Neil is obviously someone we know well and he gives us another attacking option. He’s still only a young player – he did well last season and I’m sure there is more to come from him.” Ross McGeachie, who created the initial opening following a powerful run down the flank.
Stranraer, beaten by Ayr in midweek and who sent a squad to Newton Stewart on the Friday night, fielded new signing Isaac Layne but the former Albion forward, most recently with Brechin City, was generally well marshalled by the defence.
It was only in the closing stages of the half that Stevie Farrell’s side posed any threat and Cammy Binnie did well to keep out a back-post header from a corner.
Stirling doubled their advantage nine minutes into the second period when Peter MacDonald was impeded in the area. Referee David Dickinson waved away the home protests and pointed to the spot and the veteran striker sent his kick low and hard inside the left-hand post.
Stranraer came close when Albion failed to deal with a corner and Layne pounced but his shot was blocked on the line and their luck was out again when ex-Forthbank defender Adam Cummins - brought in recently from Queen’s Park sent a header against the bar with eight minutes left.
Albion used all seven substitutes, including keeper Callum Law who replaced Binnie for the last 20 minutes or so. He is also likely to be on the bench against Dundee this weekend as loan signing Callum Ferrie isn’t eligible to feature against his parent club. Stirling Albion: Binnie (Law 72), McGeachie, Allan, Hamilton (Watson 62), Banner, Taylor (Young 37), Moon (McDonald 81), Jardine (Evans 89), MacDonald, Fell (McLaren 21), Robertson (Langton 69).