Stirling Albion 5-0 Kelty Hearts

KELTY HEARTS fell to their heaviest defeat of the season at Stirling Albion this afternoon after a 90 minutes Michael Tidser said he was "embarrassed" by.

The New Central Park outfit were thumped by Darren Young's five-star Binos, who hit four in the second half, on a miserable day for the visitors, who ended the game with 10 men following a red card for Lewis O'Donnell.

Tidser's side fell behind just before half-time when Jordan McGregor headed home beyond Kyle Gourlay, after Adam Cummins headed Jack Leitch's corner back across goal.

It went from bad to worse after the break for the visitors.

Dale Carrick fired home a second within nine minutes of the restart, before Josh Cooper, who came off the bench in the 68th minute, fired home a 22-minute hat-trick to complete a chastening day for Kelty, which was made worse when Lewis O'Donnell was red carded for a challenge on Paul McLean in stoppage time.

"I'm embarrassed to be honest with you. I'm embarrassed for myself, I'm embarrassed for my players, I'm embarrassed for the club in general. It's not acceptable," Tidser said.

"I feel like a few boys took the easy option, moreso probably Lewis at the end taking the easy option. I don't think that's acceptable to go and sent off, but that's the beside the point. It's the last kick of the ball.

"In terms of the overall game, really really poor. I thought we lacked a real cutting edge, I thought we lacked real leadership, responsibility, communication - all the basics you need from when you're five, six, seven, eight years of age, right up until adults playing professional football.

"It's not acceptable, but it's the first time I can turn round and say that about the lads. It's down to them to show a reaction next week."

The visitors, who received a boost yesterday (Friday) with Lewis Moore agreeing a new contract extension, made one change to their starting side following last Saturday's Scottish Cup exit at Ayr United.

Billy Owens came in for Stefan McCluskey, who dropped to the bench, where player / manager Tidser returned, having not been involved in last week's squad.

Ahead of kick off, there was a minute's applause in memory of a young Binos season ticket holder, Murray Dowey, who passed away recently, which was then repeated 15 minutes in, with a banner held up in tribute.

As for the action, whilst there were some feisty challenges early on, chances were at a premium - particularly for the visitors.

Tidser's team, as they usually are, were neat and tidy on the ball, but when they got to the final third, they struggled in the first half to find a way of penetrating the home backline.

Leitch had a half chance for Stirling early on, prodding an effort that lacked power from Carrick's flick on, who soon tried an audacious attempt with the ball behind him, but sent it wide.

Kieran Moore sent a decent strike over as the Binos continued to probe, with O'Donnell having Kelty's first real attempt shortly after with a shot that was blocked.

Carrick, with a decent effort on the turn, forced Gourlay into further action at the other end, before a fine clipped ball by Reuben McAllister caught out Stirling's backline.

Alfie Bavidge, despite home appeals for offside, got on the end of it inside the 18-yard box but, at an awkward height to his side, had to take the ball on with the outside of his boot, which made it an easy take for Blair Currie in goal.

Brody Paterson then sent a half-volley over from Brad McKay's knock down but, in first half stoppage time, they conceded when McGregor headed home after Cummins had sent Leitch's corner to the far post back across goal.

Tidser reacted at the interval by sending McCluskey on for Adam Corbett, but it was Leitch, and then Lewis Milne, who had the second half's first efforts at goal for the hosts.

And, less than 10 minutes after the break, Stirling doubled their advantage when Carrick, played in by Dale Hilson, sent a fine, low shot across Kyle Gourlay and into the net from the left-edge of the six-yard box.

Kelty tried to respond, with Reece Lyon having a header saved at a corner, before Craig Johnston shot just wide when played in by McAllister, but he was flagged offside in any case.

Bavidge took the ball in well, turned and sent a drive goalwards, which Currie was equal to, moments before the Binos made it 3-0.

Cooper, who had only been on the field four minutes, took Milne's low ball across the box in his stride, sending a fine, first-time, side-foot finish beyond the helpless Gourlay in Kelty's goal.

The sight of skipper Lyon kicking the post in frustration after he got his head to a cross, which Currie caught comfortably, summed up the frustrating nature of Kelty's day - which got worse moments later.

The Binos pulled them apart all too easily as substitute, Ewan Wilson, found space and time to centre for Cooper, who had the simple job of side footing home his second of the afternoon, and the hosts' fourth.

Another man off the Binos bench, Aaron Dunsmore, slashed wide as the hosts sought a fifth, which they found in stoppage time when Cooper side-footed home, assisted by Dunsmore, for his hat-trick to claim the match ball.

If that wasn't bad enough, Kelty's misery was compounded when O'Donnell was shown a straight red card, seconds before the final whistle, for a challenge on Paul McLean to end a desparately disappointing afternoon.

Stirling Albion: Currie, Clark, McLean, McGregor (McGeachie 78), Cummins, Carrick (Offord 78), Leitch (Cooper 68), Moore (Dunsmore 82), Banner, Milne, Hilson (Wilson 78).

Subs not used: Miller, Spence, Weir.

Goals: McGregor (44), Carrick (54), Cooper (72, 81, 90).

Booked: Cummins (90).

Kelty Hearts: Gourlay, Corbett (McCluskey 45), Thomson, McKay, Paterson, Lyon, O'Donnell, B. Owens, McAllister, Johnston (Biabi 75), Bavidge.

Subs not used: Cunningham, Tidser, L. Owens, Moore, Sylla, Campbell.

Red card: O'Donnell (90).

Booked: Thomson (52), Biabi (90).

Referee: Daniel Graves.