Stirling Albion left "frustrated" in home opener bore draw as Annan claim point

Daily Record

9 hours ago

The Binos had the better of the chances but were unable to break down the visitors' defence.
It was a damp squib for Stirling Albion's home league opener at a stormy Forthbank — but boss Alan Maybury insists Annan's approach highlights his side's progress.
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The Binos shared a goalless draw with their visitors from Dumfries and Galloway in a game with few real chances, with those clear openings of goal that did occur falling almost exclusively for the home side.
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A pair of saves from visiting keeper Zach Balfour from Aidan Cannon in the first half and from a close range shot by Robbie McNab in the second was the closest either time got to getting either set of supporters off their feet.
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In the end, it leaves both sides as among the early leaders in League Two with a win and Saturday's draw leaving them locked on four points.
Maybury believes his side didn't hit their heights of performance — especially in a sticky first 45 — but said his side were the only one likely to get the three points.
The Binos manager said: 'We're a little frustrated with things, especially in the first half where I don't think we got to the levels we want.
'They spoiled things a little and we didn't do the things we needed to but that was better in the second half, we switched play more and got in behind them and on another day, we could've won the game.
'Our keeper has had very little to do and we've had good chances ourselves, so I thought if there was any team trying to win it then that was us.
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'There was some frustration from me that they're clearly trying to kill the game there at the end and the officials don't really deal with it, but we probably didn't do enough overall to get the result.
'Every goal kick, every throw-in or boot off the park was working towards getting that point today and that's their prerogative.
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'If we go back 12 months — and there's not many of us left from then — we probably lose a game like that so it's pleasing to get a clean sheet and be in control of things to get our point.'
Stirling were back in action last evening for their opening match in the new 'league phase' of the KDM Evolution Trophy — well known as the Challenge Cup.
They hosted Dundee United B at Forthbank in the first of six games set to take place in the revamped competition, with Albion just needing to finish in the top 22 to secure a place to the next round.
After the clash with the young Terrors, League Two business continues apace with a match against another side who have made a strong start as the Binos make the trip north to Station Park for an away clash with Forfar.