Stirling Albion 3 Dumbarton 0

Last updated : 16 April 2005 By Footymad Previewer

Albion coasted to victory at a chilly Forthbank to pile the misery on relegation-haunted Dumbarton. The visitors turned in a dismal display, and their eighth defeat in the last 10 away league games leaves them just two points ahead of second-bottom Arbroath, who they host in a crucial clash on April 30.

Stirling have now beaten Dumbarton four times out of five this season – the other meeting was drawn – and they barely had to break sweat to secure all three points.

Winger Dougie Wilson opened the scoring with a neat side-footed finish after a fine move after 19 minutes, and Kevin MacDonald slammed home the second on the stroke of half-time after the ball broke to him in the area. MacDonald had earlier rattled the top of the crossbar from 25 yards, but this was his first senior goal and settled the game as a contest.

Given what was at stake for the visitors, they showed a real lack of urgency and a spate of second-half bookings hardly helped their cause. It was only in the final few minutes that their impotent attack at last bothered Myles Hogarth.

But when another goal came it was again scored by Stirling. David O'Brien swung over an injury-time corner, and defender Paul Nugent directed a header past his pal and work colleague Stephen Grindlay to complete Dumbarton's day of misery.