Moore not amused as Binos struggle against juniors

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STIRLING Albion manager Allan Moore believes his side is fortunate not to be facing a hazardous replay in Ayrshire after scraping into the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.

Instead, the Binos will enjoy a free Saturday, as Second Division opponents Dumbarton now have a cup replay with Morton to fulfil.

Scottish Junior Cup holders Auchinleck gave the Binos a scare at a foggy Forthbank but Stirling did just enough to progress – thanks to goals from Liam Corr and Ross Forsyth, which came either side of Sean McIlroy’s equalising penalty.

Asked who he would fancy in the next round, Moore joked: “I think there will be a few teams hoping they draw us after watching that performance. Ideally we would get a big payday but if not then hopefully we can get a game against one of the so-called smaller clubs.

“I’m just relieved to be through, to be honest. For anyone at the game it would have been hard to tell which team were joint top of Division 2 and who the junior team were.”

Albion ended a run of nine games in a row of going behind when Corr headed home a David O’Brien cross in just 10 minutes. But Talbot, who had already beaten Fort William 7-0 and Huntly, 4-3 in a replay to reach this stage, were always in the game.

They should have scored in eight minutes but McIlroy fired over from close range.

Their equaliser was controversial. Forsyth could do little when Bryan Slavin blasted a cross against his arm but referee Brian Winter pointed to the spot and McIlroy smashed the penalty past Christie to the delight of the big travelling support.

Stirling hit the front in 63 minutes when Forsyth nodded in O’Brien’s corner and that was enough to win it.