Fightback keeps Binos in title race as leaders slip up
Stirling secure draw after first half nightmare
Cinch League Two
ANNAN ATHLETIC .............. 2 STIRLING ALBION ............... 2
It was the most improbable of away results for Stirling Albion as they fought back from two goals and a man down to claim a superb battling point at Galabank to keep their League Two title bid alive and kicking.
For most of the afternoon, it looked like Stirling were going down to a comfortable away defeat, but Darren Young’s side were well up for the fight and snatched a hard-fought draw thanks to a pair of goal-of-theseason candidates in a crazy two-minute spell.
The final whistle was greeted with delight by a rapturous travelling support, especially following the news of tabletopping Dumbarton’s 2-0 defeat away to East Fife.
The Binos enjoyed a golden opportunity to open the scoring on eight minutes when Dale Carrick played Robert Thomson in on goal, but the forward was unable to provide the finish after rounding Greg Fleming. It was a moment they were made to regret as the rest of the half was controlled by the home team.
The key moment of the match arrived on 14 minutes when Binos goalkeeper Blair Currie was judged to have blocked ex-bino Dominic Docherty’s shot with his hands outside of the area. After a delay, referee Alastair Grieve produced a red card for the Stirling shot-stopper – with the decision attracting fury from the visitors.
Sub keeper Mark Weir made a smart save to deny Reece Lyon’s resulting free kick.
But the reprieve wasn’t to last longer than the following corner.
Stirling failed to clear the initial delivery and the ball fell to Lyon on the left side of the box, whose low cross was slid beyond Weir on 19 minutes.
The hosts continued to pile on the pressure, with the Binos defence having to stand firm.
But they weren’t able to make it to half-time as Annan doubled their lead on 42 minutes. A long ball forward wasn’t dealt with and with the home support howling for a foul on Tommy Goss, Tony Wallace leapt on to the loose ball to finish calmly beyond Weir.
The pressure continued in the second half, with Goss clipping the bar from the edge of the box with his shot after a Lyon cut-back.
However, the match was to turn on its head as the Binos hauled themselves back into it in a quick shift of balance.
Kieran Moore reduced the arrears for the visitors on 63 minutes, taking control of a loose ball before planting a superb dipping strike beyond a helpless Fleming.
However, the supporters behind the goal barely had time to catch their breath from celebrating that strike before Albion stalwart Mcgeachie brought them level with an even better goal.
The right-back picked up Ross Davidson’s pass and then smashed a stunning 30-yard drive past the Annan keeper, sending the Stirling bench and visiting support into delirium.
Annan were stung into action, with Docherty forcing a pair of good saves from Weir, the second a particularly fine stop after a scramble in the Stirling box.
The tension wasn’t over yet, with Willie Gibson’s 30-yard piledriver rattling back off Weir’s right-hand post on 79 minutes as the visitors clung on for a point.
But it seemed like it was Stirling’s day, with Tommy Muir’s last-gasp header bouncing twice off the Binos’ bar and away to safety, securing a precious point in the most unlikely of circumstances.
Annan Athletic – Fleming, Gibson, Kilsby, Lyon, Hooper, Muir, Wallace (Luissint 62’), Docherty (Mccartney 77’), Smith, Goss, Johnston.
Subs not used – Mitchell, Steele, Barnes, Hunter, Williamson, Galloway, Swinglehurst.
Stirling Albion – Currie, Mcgeachie, Mclean, Mcgregor (Cummins 45’), Dunsmore (Weir 17’), Davidson, Carrick (Spence 77’) , Denholm (Moore 45’), Banner, Duffy, Thomson (Hamilton 36’).
Subs not used – Cooper. Referee – Alastair Grieve