The Binos have found it easier and easier against us in each passing game this season. On the basis of this afternoon's outing, they'd have been wishing they could have played us another four times this term; with nothing at stake except professional pride, it would have encouraged the four dozen fans who'd made the trip from Stirling that at least their team thinks it's worthwhile puttin' in a shift for the supporters. For the lads in black and gold it was, sadly, just a case of going through the motions and getting the game out of the way as soon as they could. The fact that they finished up on the wrong end of a three goal doin' simply brought home once again how fuckin' pish the last three months have been.

But then it's been a long hard season for all of us so ah guess ah shouldnae be too harsh on the players. Since last August they've turned oot week after week and done their best for the shirt. And they're just men after all - is it any wonder that their confidence has been a bit shot in recent weeks? And as they ran out this afternoon just before three, it wasn't just the players who were a bit lacking in belief. We'd all turned up again with hopes high but it was evident that there was a paucity of any real faith. But, the new gaffer's already shown that he's willing to gamble so it great to see young Sheerin get a start. He's looked the biz in the last two games so earned the right to start today.

And fair play to the youngster - right from the start he appeared fully committed and completely focused. And some clever management from the Craw ensured that the young centre forward didnae tire himself out too much when he subbied him with fifteen minutes remaining. Even so, that was more than enough time to, once again, grab the man of the match credits. The team's not been firing on all cylinders recently but it's no' been a bad start tae Sheerin's senior career - it already looks like being very promising for him.

For all the youngster's efforts, mind, it was our visitors who made the most encouraging start. With barely a minute gone they should have taken the lead when Chris Hamilton snuck in behind the Fozzmeister, picked up the ball in space and... somehow contrived tae screw his shot so far wide that it ended up going out for a throw-in. The forty seven Binos' fans at the far end of the stand didnae know whether tae laugh or greet - ah'm sure ah did hear a few sniggers, mind.

Undeterred, however, their team continued to do their best on the park. Five hundred odd supporters on a pleasant afternoon watching two hard working teams 'do their best'. Sadly, neither team could muster up quite enough gusto tae make it look like anything other than what this was - a meaningless, end of season encounter between two sides that had expected so much more at the start of the season. But, like I said, at least the weather was nice...

Things settled down but we did create a few half chances. Can't say that watchin' long balls being hoofed up the park is ever anything but dismal but, for a change, there seemed to be someone on the end of them. Sheerin is tall enough and strong enough to get up for a few of those long balls and what particularly encouraged me was the fact that he tried consistently to not only win the ball but to twist his neck and direct it towards a team mate. The big lad was unlucky in the box when he rose well to meet a cross only to see his headed effort slide just past.

We battled on and slowly looked to dominate the Binos. Midway through the half Paul Nugent made a rare foray forward and had a pop from just outside the box. The shot was on target but the Stirling keeper was there to make the save. The veteran keeper (granted, fifty five's no' auld fur a goalie) then made another decent save from a Sheerin drive that deserved better. We were to quickly rue the spurned chances that we'd created.

Twenty minutes from the interval the Binos stole up field in search of a breakthrough. The move appeared to have died out when Fotheringham picked up the ball and prepared to clear. For some bizarre reason, however, he tried to slide the ball back to keeper Brown but failed to put any weight behind the pass and the ball was left in no-man's-land. David McKenna grabbed the opportunity, broke into the box and then proceeded tae rip the pish oot the goalie and big Jay before slipping it away into an empty net. Out of nowhere the Reds (well, the Blues the day) had pinched the lead. Their fans cheered but reserved just another few sniggers - always funny seeing a team commit suicide at the back!

And, if we're being honest, that was pretty much that. The heads went down, the Binos cheered up and the game bumbled along towards the half time break. There was only one further effort, a Binos' free kick from just outside the Fife box that got the away fans 'oo-ah-ing' but was always going over. Shortly after we'd gotten the ball back fae the sea end car park, the cheat blew for the break and it was pies, Bovrils and out traditional half-time recriminations all round. We enjoyed those recriminations so much that they had enough pies left that just after the re-start, Cazza FM announced they were floggin' them off half price (at the home end only...). Tragically, that appeared to be the most interesting thing that happened all afternoon for the home fans. Ah hope that there wurnae too many folk away at the pie stall when young Sheerin stole in and... nearly (and it was fuckin' close) equalised.

We'd come out all guns blazin'; with the Binos players still reminiscing about the quality of the half time Jaffa Cakes (McVittie’s, mind, nane of yer Tesco’s ain brand. While ah’m on the subject, anyone ever wondered why ‘Jaffa Cakes’ has never been copyrighted or patented? Like, every fucker from Sainsburys tae the local corner shop can stick twelve biscuits in a box and call them Jaffa Cakes. What’s that all about?), we stole a march on them and created a gilt-edged chance straight from the off. Shaun Fagan popped a lovely flighted ball forward that Jordyn Sheerin ran to meet, stretching to lift the ball over the oncoming keeper.

The ball floated towards the goal, the net fluttered and the stand erupted in joy... and was silenced half a second later; Jordyn at the edge of the box with his head in his hands. His gallant attempt had drifted just wide.

The miss deflated the Fife team even further – everything that the Craw had said to them at the break was forgotten and the heads went down in resignation. The Binos, happy to accept their good fortune, upped their game and were soon pressing at the other end. Ten minutes in Hamilton made enough space to have a pop at goal but Brown was well placed and collected the ball easily.

But just moments later the keeper was posted absent and he had young Div Muir tae thank when the ball was scrambled off the line. The clearance was punted forward and caught the Albion defence off balance and that gave Shagger just enough room to run at goal and skelp a fierce shot from the edge of the box. It was as good as it got for McManus all afternoon but still posed no threat to Hogarth in the Binos goal, the ball once again ending up in the car park.

At the other end, the strikers weren’t quite so profligate with their chances. Just shy of the seventy minute mark the Binos doubled their lead, easily robbing Muir of the ball and dribbling their way through the Fife defence before crossing the ball into the box. It was child’s-play for Michael Murphy to slide the ball home from just six or seven yards out. Could this afternoon get any worse?

The answer, of course, was yes. It took until the final seconds of the match for our humiliation to be complete but in the meantime, Stirling were content to simply knock the ball around and let us run around like weans. Shortly after the goal Templeman and young Cargill made their appearances and for a few minutes looked to up the pace and create a little more space.

The Albion defence remained well organised, however, and coped with almost everything that we had. As it was, the nearest we came was when Div Muir, of all people, powered his way forward and into the Binos’ box before being crudely upended by their left back. The fans screamed for a penalty; from where ah was standing it looked a badly timed tackle at the very least, but the ref was having none of it and waved play on.

The cheat and his assistants were to play their part in the final action of the afternoon too. With the seconds ticking away Stirling headed forward again, easily dissecting the black and gold midfield before bearing down on goal. The far side linescheat had his flag in the air for some reason (certainly couldn’t have been offside and we wurnae close enough tae any of their players for it tae be a foul... fuck knows???), everyone in black and gold stopped and... Stirling played to the whistle.

Michael Mullen had only to decide how he wanted to score; either blast it past the keeper or dribble it round him. As it was, he slid it under the oncoming Brown with some aplomb and the gubbin’ was complete. Seconds later the whistle sounded and another three points had, literally, headed west.

And that put the tin lid on our home season. There's still one last fixture next weekend with the appetising prospect of a three day round trip tae the Arsehole of Scotland. However, Stranraer (or, following their takeover by a Dumfries charity, as they'll be known next year, 'Queen of the South B') have won sweet fuck all this season. Except, of course, when they came tae Methil and beat us two - one. Hmmm, let's no' dwell on that. One more game tae go - let's just hope that we can get doon there and win the game - feels like we've had forty one points for fuckin' ever!!!

Ah'll sadly no' be there (part-time bastard...) so will ask you, as always to keep me posted by text. Hey, we've spent a fortune on that fuckin' Phenomenal Football competition - surely you can spare a few message back tae the Bald One in Fife. See you all next season, guys... already fancy us for promotion. C'mon the Fife!!