Binos’ bright start earns point at Kelty
KELTY HEARTS .......................................... 1 STIRLING ALBION .................................... 1
Stirling earned a draw at New Central Park for the second time this season against the cinch League 2 champions, who remain unbeaten at home.
Kieran Moore fired the Binos in front after just 60 seconds but Botti Biabi quickly equalised for Kevin Thomson’s side, who wrapped up the title a fortnight ago.
Kelty were without SPFL top scorer Nathan Austin - who has bagged 17 league goals this term - but they have lost only three of their 33 matches this season.
This was a good performance from Stirling and made it three games without defeat but results elsewhere ended any slim hopes of a late push for the playoffs. They remain seventh in the table, 10 points behind fourth-placed Edinburgh City with only nine still available.
Top scorer Dylan Mackin was again suspended but Ray Grant, Jordan Mcgregor, Akeel Francis and Nathan Flanagan were all back in the squad after missing the 0-0 draw at Cowdenbeath.
It was back to Fife for Darren Young’s men on Saturday, with just three miles between Central Park and New Central Park and this time it was against the top club rather than the bottom side.
The Binos, wearing their blue away kit, couldn’t have hoped for a better start. There were just 60 seconds on the clock when Aaron Dunsmore did well on the right and picked out Moore, who swept the ball home from inside the six-yard box for his third goal of the season.
Only Dundee United, in the Premier Sports Cup in July, have beaten Kelty on their own pitch this season but Stirling would have been well on course for victory had they not missed a great chance to double their advantage in the fifth minute.
Dunsmore, on loan from East Fife and playing on the right of midfield, again provided the assist with a good ball in from the flank but Kyle Banner couldn’t apply the finish and his shot bobbled wide.
Soon after it was 1-1. Former Rangers midfielder Jamie Barjonas is one of the biggest talents in League 2 but was allowed to run half the length of the park before playing in Biabi. The former Stenhousemuir forward squeezed a shot past Blair Currie for the equaliser.
The match settled down after that frantic start and in general there were not many chances at either end, with defences on top.
Moore’s early goal was only Albion’s second in five matches while Kelty have only netted three times in the same period.
On-loan Aberdeen left-back Mason Hancock performed his defensive duties well and had a shot well saved by Darren Jamieson after Dale Carrick’s effort was blocked while in the second half Adam Cummins was denied by the Kelty keeper after Dunsmore provided the cross.
The hosts enjoyed a lot of the ball for spells in the second period but didn’t manage to create very much. Biabi missed the target when he might have done better but the Binos were well worthy of the point and were solid throughout.
Kelty Hearts: Jamieson, Hill, Forster, Finlayson (Philp 42), Ngwenya, Black (Kucheriavyi 46), Barjonas, Tidser, Cardle (Agyeman 73), Higginbothan, Biabi. Subs not used: Donaldson (GK), Reilly, Mcnab, Peggie.
Stirling Albion: Currie, Mcgeachie, Hancock, Cummins, Mcniff, Banner, Dunsmore (Flanagan 79), Laird (Roberts 79), Carrick (Francis 87), Leitch, Moore (Paterson 87). Subs not used: Law (GK), R Grant, J Grant, Mcgregor.