[Clayhole Blue]

Heading up to Ochilview for this one tomorrow and looking forward to it. Missed our last 2 home games against Alloa and Elgin but saw us taking 4 points out of 6 at Montrose and Berwick before that.

Not sure what to expect as we weren't great at Montrose or Berwick and then got thumped at home to Alloa. However encouraging signs of normality last week against Elgin, changes made to the line-up with the introduction of Moore and Shepherd and the return of Scott Taggart from Hibs.

[CasperJarrot]

East Stirlingshire seem to have improved of late but Stranraer have too much fire power for Shires frail defence and the away team will win this one relatively comfortably.

Mind you , I was wrong about the Shire last week when they got a noteworthy draw v Annan so who knows.


Shire 1 Stranraer 3

[NE63 exile]

Should be a routine away win but Shire have already taken points from Alloa and Annan this season.

Got a feeling the Blues have too much up front for them.

This post has been edited by NE63 exile: 04 February 2012 - 10:37

[ScottR96]

I think i'm going to go to this.

Shire are obviously much improved from earlier in the season. Clyde managed to stick 7 past them at Broadwood and needed a last minute goal to get a draw at Ochilview! This will be no easy game for Stranraer despite the drubbing you gave them earlier on.

1-1.

[Alloa_Shire]

All the credit for today's game has to go to the Shire.Another hard working, heart on the sleeve performance as the team went fighting and battling for each other in the hope of getting off the foot of the table.The team came so close to bagging the elusive 3 points and would have if itwasn't for a refereeing error.

Alot get said about the performances of refs in the stand and on this board, but this one really was a howler from the top drawer.The ball came into the Shire box and was clearly punched by Michael Moore, the whistle went to absolutely no complaints until Steve Conroy indicated apenalty, Chiz tried to tell him he got it wrong but as always the decision hadbeen made.

To be fair on Stranraer they were good for a point at least,they probably could have won it if they'd taken there chances, but we should take nothing away from ourselves and I can only imagine how gutted JC and thelads are to lose 2 points like that, it was sickening, especially when we had worked so hard for the 90 minutes and played some really good football in poor conditions.

Still, it's a point better off than what we were this morning, but it's sickening how we lost the 2 points, especially after a Maxwell goal straight from a corner (don't see much of that) and a fantastic chip by Horner put us in the driving seat.

This post has been edited by Alloa_Shire: 04 February 2012 - 18:17

[Jimmy MCcabe]

I think you had your Shire blinkers on for the penalty, def the defender who had his hand up and knocked it clear, he would be good in the Scotland team in the 6 nations. Shire fought hard and will feel they had the 3 points after fighting for every ball but Stranraer did create a lot of chances or half chances in the second half.

[Alloa_Shire]

Jimmy MCcabe, on 04 February 2012 - 18:44, said:

I think you had your Shire blinkers on for the penalty, def the defender who had his hand up and knocked it clear, he would be good in the Scotland team in the 6 nations.

Really? Well if this is the case then I apologize but certainly from the angle I was at it was Moore, if I'm wrong then I stand corrected. The blinkers aren't intentional put it that way haha

[ThankCrunchie]

Went along as a neutral, and was really impressed by the Shire. Played some very good football, with numbers 3, 8 and 11 being particular standouts, as well as the keeper who made some excellent saves.

I thought the Shire "goal" in the second half that was collected by the keeper was well over the line, but given that the ref and linesman were closer I'll assume they made the correct decision. Then again, the ref and linesmen made a few laughable calls, so that may have been one.

Despite that, I feel that they got the penalty decision right. It looked to me that the Shire defender clearly handled with his arm raised and outstretched.

I thought Shire played much better football and scored two cracking goals, whilst Stranraer created better quality chances. A point would be fair in the eyes of some, but I feel that the Shire ultimately deserved the three points due to the chalked off "goal".

[Blue1870]

Rubbish Performance. Missed several chances in 2nd half but we didn't deserve to win. Overall draw was about right. As for the penalty. Defo. just watched it again. Lands on the outstretched arm when ball comes over.

[EdinburghBlue]

One of the poorest Stranraer performances I've seen all season. We conceded a bizarre early goal, when Shire scored direct from a corner. Kane, defending the near post, ducked and the ball swept past a baffled Marshall. It seemed that someone must have shouted at him to leave the ball when he could easily have cleared. We then dominated possession, but fell prey to the usual problem of overplaying, and I didn't think we looked likely to score. However, Stirling, pulled us level after about half an hour, and we went in at the interval looking the better side.

We lost an even quicker goal at the start of the second half. We failed to clear our lines, and Marshall got caught off his line with a lobbed shot. This gave the Shire confidence, and we could have paid the penalty several times for trying to play the ball prettily out of defence when all that was needed was an upfield clearance. And up front we started to look increasingly ragged and desperate. Most Stranraer fans had reconciled themselves to losing, when we were awarded a late penalty when Devlin punched away a cross. (And he really should have been red carded.) A coolly taken penalty by Aitken got us an unexpected point. And it might have been three had McColm not jumped over a Winter shot, which might well have gone in had he got any touch on it.

The only pass marks I would give would be to Stirling, easily our best player, and looking a class above the Third Division, and to Michael Moore, who worked hard all day. Our central defenders were poor, and Marshall looked very shaky. (I wouldn't be surprised if Mitchell was back in goal next week.) Kane was clearly at fault for their second goal. Shepherd and Malcolm did a lot of running, but not to much effect. Too many players were off form, and there were some wretched displays. Grehan in particular didn't look interested.

While we were clearly a better team than East Stirling, and had more opportunities to score than them, they must feel very cheesed off to have conceded a very late goal when they looked to be heading for three points.

We will have to play much better next week if we're going to get a result at Peterhead. With Alloa now nine points ahead, clearly they are going to win the league unless they blow up. The only silver lining today was that both Annan and Queens Park dropped points, so we still look in a strong position for finishing in a play-off position.

[Blue Moon]

Alloa_Shire, on 04 February 2012 - 18:15, said:

Alot get said about the performances of refs in the stand and on this board, but this one really was a howler from the top drawer.The ball came into the Shire box and was clearly punched by Michael Moore, the whistle went to absolutely no complaints until Steve Conroy indicated apenalty, Chiz tried to tell him he got it wrong but as always the decision hadbeen made.

There was no doubt the ball came off the Shire defender and the Shire camp conceded after the game that it was Chisholm who handled. No debate at all. It was as clear as day in my opinion - a stonewaller.
The protest from Shire was that Moore may have fouled the defender causing him to do what he did. Given the no-one has yet commented that they have seen this, can we assume that the referee would not have seen a push either given that he was a lot closer.

The disallowed goal quite clearly was nowhere near over the line. Fair enough claim for it on the off chance you might get a dodgy decision, you gotta try, but seriously the claims were surely in hope rather than expectation.

We huffed and puffed and created the bulk of the chances but two horrendous pieces of defending to give a way two soft goals is always going to make life difficult. Would be easy to say I felt we should have won the game but that would be unfair on Shire who are an improving outfit and for their workrate alone deserved something from the game.

This post has been edited by Blue Moon: 05 February 2012 - 09:39

[NE63 exile]

Definately a penalty, no arguments. Chisholm was under pressure from Michael Moore and there was a shout about a foul in the build up.
Felt sorry for Shire. They battled so hard and defensively you can see how the difference John Coughlin has made. I honestly cannot understand how sections of the Shire support give him a hard time.
Two bad goals for Stranraer to give away. Not a good day at the office for John Kane too. First goal he ducked at the near post and the ball trickled in at the near post then he lost possession for Horner to make it 2-1.
Despite all the pressure looked as though the Blues were running out of ideas until the late penalty. Shire will feel its two points dropped in the long run. Stranraer will feel its two points dropped but it could have easily been none.

[Alloa_Shire]

Ok, more than happy to say that the penalty decision was the correct one, as I say from where I was standing it looked to be Moore, however you guys were closer to the action than I was so i'm more than happy to say i got the decision wrong and well done to Conroy who got the decision correct. Can't honestly say I seen any shove in the challenge.

Totally agree about Stephen Stirling, honestly think he could play at a higher level than the 3rd Division, althouhg why his run wasn't picked up for the goal is beyond me.

[Clayhole Blue]

Our defence was murder yesterday - conceded giveaway goals early in both halves meaning that we then spent pretty much of the 90 minutes searching for equalisers. Don't know what Kane was thinking for the first goal and Marshall also questionable for the second.

We created bags of chances - truth be told we created both of Shires' - but we're just not direct enough. Good football is fine and we're fantastic to watch at times but continual passing back and sideways isn't the best option when you're desperately looking for an equaliser.

Yes we created the bulk of the openings but Shire must feel as if they have been mugged!

No pass marks in defence - as has been said Stirling was better than the rest.

This post has been edited by Clayhole Blue: 05 February 2012 - 08:49