Saints 0-4 Stirling Albion

The Binos took the lead on 11 minutes as Greig Spence headed home an Adam Cummins cross.

A low strike from Lewis Spence doubled the League One side’s lead with 9 minutes of the first half remaining.

Stirling captain Paul McLean scored twice in the first 9 minutes of the second half to further extend the visitors lead. Firstly, The Binos defender headed home a Jack Leitch corner on 48 minutes. McLean then got his second of the game on 54 minutes as he got on the end of a Leitch free kick to score Stirling’s fourth of the afternoon and end the game as a contest.

Saints will now turn their attention to their cinch Premiership campaign which gets underway next Saturday as they welcome Hearts to McDiarmid Park, kick off 3pm.

MATCH REPORT

Saints welcomed Stirling Albion to McDiarmid Park this afternoon for their final Viaplay Cup Group A match. Saints were eliminated from the Viaplay Cup on Tuesday evening after they lost 2-1 to Ayr United and Steven MacLean made five changes for Saints final game of the group stage of the Viaplay Cup this afternoon. Ross Sinclair, James Brown, Alex Ferguson, Liam Parker and Dan Phillips came in to replace Dimitar Mitov, Andy Considine and Ryan McGowan who all dropped to the bench whilst Drey Wright and Graham Carey missed out completely. Stirling Albion defeated Stenhousemuir 2-1 last Saturday and manager Darren Young made four changes to his starting eleven this afternoon as Mark Weir, Jack Leitch, Kieran Moore and Greig Spence came in to replace Blair Currie, Aaron Dunsmore, Dale Carrick and Robert Thomson who all dropped to the bench.

Stevie May got the match underway for Saints and Steven MacLean’s men created the first chance of the match after 2 minutes as Alex Ferguson played in Luke Jephcott however, the Welshman dragged his effort wide.

Great pressing by Cammy Ballantyne and Stevie May on 7 minutes saw Saints win possession from Ross Davidson. May then tried to pick out Jephcott with his delivery into the box however, the forward couldn’t make a clean connection with the cross.

Saints continued the early pressure a minute later as Max Kucheriavyi played in Ferguson however the effort from the midfielder went wide of the target.

PHOTO: Mark Weir saves from Alex Ferguson

On 11 minutes Saints would find themselves a goal down as The Binos took the lead. Adam Cummins sent over a prefect cross for Greig Spence and the forward got in between Liam Gordon and Liam Parker to direct his header into the far corner of the net to put Stirling a goal up.

Saints tried to get an instant response to going behind as on 13 minutes Tony Gallacher’s cross from the left was fumbled by Mark Weir in the visitors goal. The ball then broke to Jephcott however, his strike was blocked by a combination of Cameron Clark and Mark Weir. Then shortly after a long throw-in from Parker hit the crossbar as Saints continued to put pressure on the Stirling goal.

Saints were awarded a free kick in a promising position on 17 minutes after Dan Phillips was fouled by Dale Hilson. The free kick was taken but Jephcott however, he was unable to test Weir as he curled his effort wide.

Weir though was called into action on 21 minutes as he had to tip a long-range effort from James Brown behind for a corner. Brown was involved in the thick of the action 5 minutes later as his cross from the right was perfect for May however, the Saints forward saw his curling effort go narrowly wide.

PHOTO: Alex Ferguson is closed down by Cameron Clark

Stirling doubled their lead on 36 minutes as Hilson played a great through ball to Lewis Milne and the former Montrose midfielder broke into the box before calmly slotted a low strike beyond Sinclair.   

Saints made a double change before the second half got underway as Ryan McGowan and Andy Considine came on to replace James Brown and Liam Parker.

The visitors extended their lead on 48 minutes as Jack Leitch’s in-swinging corner from the right was met by Paul McLean and The Binos captain sent his header into the far corner of the net.

PHOTO: Saints manager Steven MacLean makes changes at the start of the second half

9 minutes into the second half Saints would find themselves four goals down. The League One side were awarded a free kick 30 yards out following a foul on Spence by Phillips. Leitch took the free kick and his deep delivery into the box was met by McLean who knocked the ball home from close range for his second and Stirling’s fourth of the game.

On 56 minutes May played in Kucheriavyi who broke into the box before seeing his shot saved by Weir. The loose ball broke to May who had a go from the edge of the box however, his strike was deflected behind for a corner by Cummins.

Saints brought on fresh legs a minute later as Dan Phillips made way for Ben McCrystal. That was followed by another change on 74 minutes as Jackson Mylchreest came on to replace Stevie May.

PHOTO: Paul McLean scores Stirling’s third goal

Scott Bright made an appearance from the bench with 6 minutes remaining as the youngster came on to replace Alex Ferguson.

The closing stages were largely uneventful but Saints had a couple of chances to pull a goal back. On 87 minutes McGowan’s cross from the right was cut out by McLean. Kucheriavyi took the resultant corner and his deep delivery into the box broke to Mylchreest but he couldn’t direct his header on target. Then in added on time Jephcott broke into the box but Weir was alert to the danger as he came out to block the forward’s shot. The loose ball was gathered by Gallacher and his cross from the left was met by Kucheriavyi at the back post however, his header went narrowly wide as referee Euan Anderson blew for full time in what has been a disappointing Viaplay Cup campaign for Saints.

Saints: Sinclair, Brown (McGowan 45’), Gallacher, Gordon, May (Mylchreest 74’), Kucheriavyi, Jephcott, Ballantyne, Ferguson (Bright 84’), Parker (Considine 45’), Phillips (McCrystal 57’)

Unused Substitutes: Mitov (GK), Ellison, Klimionek, McMillan

Booked: None

Stirling Albion: Weir, Clark, McLean, McGregor (Dunsmore 45’), Cummins, Davidson, Leitch, Moore (Banner 77’), Spence (Thomson 72’), Milne, Hilson (Carrick 44’)

Unused Substitute: Currie (GK), Wyles, Simpson, Kangni-Soupke, Meechan

Booked: None

Scorers: Spence (11’), Milne (36’), McLean (48’, 54’)

Referee: Euan Anderson

Attendance: 2,052

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Liam Gordon tackles Dale Hilson