Stirling Albion 1, Cowdenbeath 0.

Ladbrokes League 2

Attendance-395

ANOTHER single goal defeat at Forthbank last night and it did nothing to help Cowdenbeath's worsening position at the foot of the table.

Yet this was a much better performance than against Berwick with the Blues having several good chances to hit the net.

The team had both Robbie Buchanan and Kyle Miller restored to action and they played their part in a performance which saw Cowden defending solidly and threatening the Albion defence.

There was a change at the rear end of the side with Jamie Pyper going back alongside Scott Rumsby, in the centre of defence, and the pairing kept tabs on a Stirling attack that earlier in the season was scoring plenty of goals.

Dave McGurn played his part in a solid defensive show but like in so many games this season Cowden could not get a goal.

The Blue Brazil opened well and Miller's shot from close in was well saved by 'keeper Ross Binnie.

As the Fifers went forward as often as they could David Cox fired a left foot shot just wide and really the Albion had only worried McGurn once.

However, in 35 minutes the home team struck. Like has happened so often this season a corner kick was the Cowdenbeath undoing. The set piece flew across the face of the visiting six yard box and there was Neil McGLAUGHLIN lying handy to turn the ball into the net.

This perked up the Albion challenge and McLaughlin saw a shot saved by McGurn but seconds from the interval Blair Malcolm's 19 yarder was saved by the diving Binnie.

The even structure of the game continued after the break and Willie Robertson went close for Stirling before Brad Smith's shot brought out a fine save from Binne with a right foot 12 yarder.

Ross Smith missed a good chance for Albion with a header from the centre of the box which flew just over but at the other end Buchanan's effort grazed the Albion bar.

Miller saw another drive blocked by the packed Stirling defence before at the other end McLaughlin's 20 yarder was held by McGurn.

With ten minutes left Miller saw another shot blocked and then Cox's header slipped inches wide as the Fifers kept seeking that elusive goal.

Stirling Albion: Binnie (7); McGeachie (6), Hamilton (6); McNeil (7), R Smith (7), Moon (6) (Black 80 (2)); McLaughlin (7) (Banner 90 (2)), Robertson (7), MacDonald (6) (Stanger 71 (3)), D Smith Jardine (7). Subs not used, Kavanagh, Caddis, Fallens and McMullan.

Cowdenbeath: Dave McGurn (7); Matt McInally (6), Harvey Swann (7); Jamie Pyper (7), Scott Rumsby (7), Kyle Miller (8); Fraser Mullen (6), Blair Malcolm (7), David Cox (6), Brad Smith (6) (Ben Reilly 73 (3)), Robbie Buchanan (7). Subs not used, Jordan Hornby, Brandon Luke, Jack Whittaker, Aiden Malone, David Syme and Blair Penman.

Referee-Gavin Ross (6).