Binos team effort earns valuable win
FORFAR ATHLETIC .................................. 0 STIRLING ALBION ................................... 1
Stirling Abion made it two wins in the space of five days with a deserved victory at Station Park on Saturday.
Darren Young’s team headed to Angus on the back of a much-needed midweek success against bottom club Cowdenbeath at Forthbank and followed it up with another three points.
It was Albion’s first league win on this ground since March 2007 – en route to promotion to Division One via the playoffs – although they did pick up a League Cup group stage victory in July 2017.
Former Falkirk striker Akeel Francis scored the goal of the game after 32 minutes and Stirling defended stoutly in the second half to retain their advantage.
It was an impressive result and performance, particularly with Adam Cummins, Ray Grant, Paul McLean, Jordan McGregor, Kyle Banner and Mason Hancock all ruled out. There was a place on the bench for new signing James Grant while U20 trio Darrell Love, Isaac McLean and Calum Simpson were also among the subs – along with manager Darren Young at the age of 43!
Kieran Moore and Nathan Flanagan were deployed as wing-backs and Dale Carrick was used in a more withdrawn role behind strikers Dylan Mackin and Francis.
It was a real team effort – Martin McNiff, Ross McGeachie and Aaron Dunsmore were solid in a back three and Kurtis Roberts put in some shift in the middle of the park. Carrick also never stopped running as Albion got the better of their third-placed opponents.
It was bright and blustery at Station Park but Stirling got the ball down and played some nice football in the first half. It looked as if Tuesday’s win over Cowdenbeath had lifted a weight off the players and they were on top for long spells of that first 45 minutes.
The goal came just after the half-hour mark when Jack Leitch played a lovely ball through for Francis and the former Falkirk striker – signed in January after a spell in English non-league football – beat Marc McCallum with a cool finish low into the net.
Mackin then had an effort cleared off the line by centre-half Andy Munro and the top scorer sent another effort wide narrowly when he might have done better. Stirling got into lots of good positions but couldn’t add a second goal, although they were less of a threat after half-time.
Blair Currie made a smart stop from Grant Anderson and recovered well to deny Scott Shepherd after a long ball caused a problem but the Loons generally looked flat and have now won just three of their last 11 games. Gary Irvine’s men enjoyed more of the ball in the second half but Albion’s shape was excellent and they gave up very few opportunities.
Substitute Matty Aitken should have equalised with 10 minutes left but fired straight at Currie from six yards and the Binos held on for a well-merited win to keep them in seventh place and well clear of any danger with three successive home games coming up.
Forfar Athletic: McCallum, Meechan, Hussain, Munro, Brindley, Thomson (Crossan 63), Slater, Anderson (Moore 40), Hutton (Harkins 76), McCluskey, Shepherd (Aitken 63). Subs not used: Sanderson (GK), Thomas.
Stirling Albion: Currie, Dunsmore, Flanagan, McGeachie, McNiff, Moore, Roberts, Carrick, Leitch (Laird 76), Francis, Mackin (Paterson 85). Subs not used: Law (GK), J Grant, McLean,