SLOPPY BINOS ARE HIT FOR 6
Boss Rutkiewicz says his players taught harsh lesson
Fraser Scott is the Bino meat in an Arbroath sandwich of David Gold and Mark Whatley
Stirling Albion manager Kevin Rutkiewicz admits his team were dealt a harsh lesson as Arbroath ran out 6-1 winners in Wednesday’s Betfred Cup Group C tie at Forthbank.
The Binos held Hibernian to a 1-1 draw last weekend and played well in spells against the Red Lichties but conceded after less than a minute and were sunk under a deluge of late goals after missing some good chances to get back in the game.
Dylan Mackin scored for Stirling but doubles from David Gold and Greig Spence and goals from Michael McKenna and Colin Hamilton saw the visitors rack up a big win.
Rutkiewicz said: “We never gave ourselves a chance by conceding a goal after 42 seconds although for the next half hour we were the better team.
“We then concede another sloppy goal and we did the same when we switched off at a free-kick after getting back in the game.
“It’s a harsh lesson against a team who have a lot of experience – they were very clinical whereas we had three gilt-edged chances at 3-1 and we didn’t take them.
“We’ve taken all the plaudits for a very good performance against Hibs and we need to take our medicine after a poor night.
“The facts are that Arbroath have scored six goals and they were by far the better team – they showed a ruthlessness at both ends of the park.
“There were periods of the game I was happy with but we were naïve at times. We had a fairly young team and maybe that blend wasn’t right, which I take responsibility for.
“It’s not a great night for me or anyone involved at Stirling Albion but we will regroup for Elgin.
“James Creaney and Kevin Nicoll will probably miss that one but they are not too far away. There will be changes.”
Elgin kicked off their Betfred Cup Group C campaign with a 2-1 defeat away to Arbroath then earned an impressive 3-3 draw at Alloa on Tuesday before winning the shoot-out.
Stirling complete their Group C fixtures against Alloa Athletic at the Indodrill Stadium on Tuesday, July 23, kick-off 7.45pm. The Wasps recently appointed a new manager in former Celtic and Scotland midfielder Peter Grant after the departure of Jim Goodwin to St Mirren and have won the last eight local derbies.
Albion haven’t beaten Alloa since a 3-2 success in the Second Division in March 2009 and lost 3-1 on their last visit to the Indodrill Stadium for a Challenge Cup tie 11 months ago.