Happy 100th as Binos seal last-gasp win
Milestone victory brings relief for fans
STIRLING ALBION ............... 1 MONTROSE .......................... 0 STUART MCFARLANE
It was the perfect ending for Stirling manager Darren Young in his 100th match managing the Binos as Kieran Offord’s injurytime winner secured a vital win.
In a match that lacked quality for most of the afternoon, on-loan St Mirren kid Offord tapped home two
Stirling Albion – Currie, Mcgeachie, Clark, Mclean, Mcgregor, Carrick (Spence 76’), Leitch (Milne 83’), Banner, Mcpake (Cummins 90’), Hilson (Offord 76’), Crane.
Subs not used – Weir, Moore, Cooper.
Montrose – Gill, Steeves, Quinn (Williamson 67’), Webster, Hester (Brown 63’) Gardyne, Lyons (Batchelor 77’), Dillon, Shrive (Hermiston 77’), Graham, Machado (Craig 63’). Subs not used – Matthews, Emslie, Bradford.
Referee – Stewart Luke. Attendance – 803. minutes after the 90 to keep Stirling seventh and four points clear of the relegation play-off spot.
The result is one which was arguably deserved for the hosts on the balance of play, with what little was created in front of goal in a stuffy encounter carved out by the Binos.
The action was even in the early stages, with both sides struggling to carve out much in front of goal, Dale Hilson’s scuffed finish from a good position the best the home side could muster.
Stirling had a good opportunity on 25 minutes when Hilson broke free down the right and drove into the area, but his near post finish was pushed around the post by Cammy Gill.
Matches between the two this season have been fairly tight affairs and this one was no different, with Hilson possibly the most threatening on the Binos’ side.
Cammy Clark was next to try his luck, firing wide with a low effort from 25 yards as the hosts pressed.
After another slow start to the second half, Graham Webster – who scored twice on the teams’ last meeting – fired over from the edge of the box for the visitors.
Kyle Banner nearly marked his return to the side with the opener, just failing to find the target with his shot after making space in the box.
The action was starting to heat up and the Binos had a close shave when Blair Lyons cut free on the right and flashed a dangerous ball over the face of the box, but it found no takers.
The home side were inches away from taking the lead on 70 minutes when Paul Mclean got on the end of Josh Mcpake’s corner, but it was scooped off the line by a magnificent clearance from sub Harry Craig.
Mcpake was threatening as well down the Stirling left and he cut inside and planted a shot inches wide of Gill’s left-hand post.
Stirling were in keen mood for an important winner with results going against them elsewhere and Greig Spence threatened when his header popped on to the roof of the net.
But the Gable Endies showed their threat as they streaked up the other end and sub Craig Batchelor fired a snapshot which required a good save from Blair Currie.
However, just as Stirling were reflecting on another missed opportunity, substitutes Offord and Spence combined for the moment of the Binos’ season to date.
Spence was laid in down the left side by a Clark long pass and produced an intelligent cutback to Offord at the edge of the Montrose box and the young forward weaved past a couple of defenders before finishing coolly.
The rapturous scenes as Offord and the Stirling players celebrated with a relieved Forthbank faithful showed the importance of a goal which very much keeps third-tier survival on track.