Second Division: Moore tells his Stirling players to forget hype

Published on Sunday 1 November 2009 22:39

IT LOOKS like the Stirling Albion team bus had an extremely quiet journey from Balmoor to Forthbank after the league leaders lost for the first time in seven games when they went down 3-2 at Peterhead on Saturday.

Forthbank manager Allan Moore said: "The players have had a rollicking after that. Good starts in the league mean nothing and perhaps the players were beginning to believe all the hype." The cause of Moore's frustration started when home defender Callum MacDonald headed the opener in 16 minutes with John Stewart doubling the lead on the half hour. Martin Grehan reduced the deficit with a header seven minutes later only for on-loan Aberdeen youngster Nicky Clark, son of their former coach Sandy, to fire home a cut-back to make it 3-1 before the interval. Stirling piled on pressure throughout the second-half and Stewart Devine shot home midway through. However Moore's side could not force an equaliser.

Albion defender Ross Forsyth was sent off four minutes from time for picking up a second booking and the game ended with the home side victorious to leave their manager Neale Cooper in far happier mood."That was a big result for us and whilst we rode our luck at times we had some chances too," he said.

Cowdenbeath have risen to second place, three points behind the leaders, on a run of only one defeat in 11 games after defeating neighbours East Fife 2-1 with all the scoring happening in the opening 14 minutes.

Former New Bayview player Brian Fairbain and current New Bayview player/coach Steve Crawford exchanged goals before 12 minutes had been played with Jon Robertson lashing home the winner just two minutes later. Crawford's team had the better of the second-half, but they could not force a winner, coming closest when Bobby Linn struck a post.

Central Park manager Danny Lennon said: "We scored two excellent goals and kept our concentration levels high and discipline tight as East Fife looked to get back into the game."

Alloa won for the first time in six games with a goal from Brian Carrigan in the first-half being added to by Stuart Noble in the second to beat Clyde 2-0.

Dumbarton and Brechin City cancelled each other out in a goalless draw while

Arbroath slipped to bottom spot after their 3-0 home defeat by Stenhousemuir.