Binos run out easy Winners against Experienced Junior Side

Date – Tuesday July 20^th 2004
Venue – Creamery Road
Competition – Pre-Season Challenge Match
Result – Bathgate Thistle 1-4 Stirling Albion
Attendance – 200

Stirling Line-Up – Trialist, Paul Nugent, George Rowe, Paul Hay, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist, Darren Cummings, Scott McLean

Subs Used – Steven Hutchison, Mark McNally, Douglas Wilson, Trialist

   Stirling started the match with a mixture of first team regulars and trialists, with Paul Nugent making his first start in just about 6 months. Stewart Devine, Chris Scotland and David O’Brien, arguably out three best pre-season performers were all given the night off. Bathgate lined up with a very experienced side with former Binos like Paul Jack and Barry Elliot playing.
   The first 30 minutes were an even affair, with the junior side probably just edging it, and it was no surprise when they took the lead after 25 minutes. The Binos had been playing a dangerous off-side tactic at the back, and were made to pay when Barry Elliot took full advantage off a misunderstanding between defenders to slot past the young trialist keeper.
   The Albion sprung into action almost immediately, and some nice wing play by Scott McLean led to the equaliser, courtesy of some very poor goalkeeping by the Bathgate Number One. Andy Scott(trialist) was the man to get on the end of the cross which should have been easily dealt with by the keeper. Number two for the Binos also came from a defensive slip up. Former Binos player Paul Jack played a slag pass across the middle which fell which fell to Scott McLean who calmly laid the ball of to Darren Cummings. The youngster then placed a delightful chip over the body of the on coming Bathgate keeper to give Stirling the lead only a couple of minutes before half time.
   The second half was almost all one way traffic, with Stirling well on top. Both sides made numerous substitutions, but if anything it made for a better football match. The Binos created chance after chance and it was no surprise that they scored twice more before the final whistle. Overall it was a good work for the Forthbank boys. Andy Scott looked impressive when he moved up front, and new signing James Allan very skilful out wide. The side is beginning to take shape, however the midfield still looks very weak and hopefully Moore will pull another midfield signing or two before the start of the season, which is only in 11 days time, against Dumbarton in the Bell’s Challenge Cup.