Can Ayr Record Forthbank win

Looking For Gold - Table topping Ayr visit Relegated Stirling

History shows that its been difficult to win in Stirling however. Despite Stirling Albion only coming into the league at the start of season 1947/48 Ayr United wasted no time in securing a trip to Annfield, home of Albion.

The Scottish League Cup match played on 16th August 1947 provided United with an emphatic 5-1 victory for a first win on their first visit although only a few weeks later at Stirling in the 'B' division match Albion turned it around, winning 4-1. Ayr did win the return League Cup match at Ayr by 3-2 on 6th September 1947 and the league match at Ayr by 2-0 on 27th December 1947.

Ayr had some indifferent results in the following seasons losing 2-1 on 6th November 1948 at home but none worse than a 7-1 defeat on 6th May 1950, albeit in a Stirlingshire Charity Cup match.

United's next success at Annfield was a Scottish Cup 1st Round match on 27th January 1951, winning by 2-1. and they recorded a 2-0 home league win on 17th February 1951. Draws and defeats were all that Ayr could muster home or away such as the 2-2 home draw in the Scottish League Cup match of 3rd September 1955. United managed to win a home Second Division match on 14th December 1957 by 2-0 losing the away match later in the season.

Ayr had gained First Division status with Albion by the home match of 14th November 1959 when a 1-1 draw emphasised that Ayr still hadnt got the knck of beating the Reds from Stirling. However, the in the first division match of 19th March 1960 a Annfield Ayr edged a 7 goal thriller to win 4-3. Despite his there were some further uncertain performances home and away including a 5-0 away defeat in a Second Division match on 5th December 1964 and a 2-1 home defeat on 7th April 1965.

In a bad season for Ayr in 1966/67 they did manage a 1-1 draw on 5th November 1966, although it didn't save Ayr from relegation. Back in the same division Ayr managed a a double over Stirling in the League Cup matches on 14th August 1968 at Stirling and 28th August 1968 by 1-0 at Ayr although he league matches that season only produced a disappointing 0-0 home point from two games.

Ayr had finally secured higher league status than Stirling on a more regular basis and the next match was a Scottish Cup 4th Round match on 24th February 1973 at home, Ayr winning 2-1.

When league action resumed on 7th October 1978 it was no easier than previous encounters. The First Division match at Stirling ended in a slender 2-1 win for Ayr with Ayr winning 2-0 at home on 10th February 1979. The following season saw a home 0-0 draw on 6th October 1979, a 1-1 draw and at Annfield on 8th December 1979 and, on 9th February 1980, a solid 2-0 win for Ayr.

Apart from Scottish League Cup duty the clubs avoided each other due to Ayr being in a higher league. Ayr returned to Annfield on 4th October 1986 to win 1-0 in a Second Division match winning 3-0 at home on 7th February 1987.

In another Championship winning year, Ayr beat Albion 4-0 at home on 26th December 1987 and on 26th March 1988 United secured a 2-2 draw which ensured them the 2nd Division title.

Stirling joined the First Division party and immediately set about spoiling it for Ayr. On 5th October 1991 Albion won 2-1 at Ayr and repeated this on 4th January 1992. On 29th February 1992, with Stirling on their way to a new stadium, Ayr played their last match at Annfield and won by 2-1. Ayr won by 2-1 at the home fixture on 3rd October 1992 and visited Stirling's new Forthbank Stadium on 15th May 1993 , drawing 1-1.

United started the following season in fine shape winning the home fixtures against Stirling on 14th August 1993 by a now familiar 2-1 and by 3-1 on 22nd January 1994. United visited the Forthbank Stadium on 11th December 1993 drawing 0-0 and had their first win at Stirling Albion's new Forthbank Stadium on 29th March 1994 winning again by 3-1 as Stirling Albion were relegated.

However, Stirling finally won that first home match against Ayr on 16th September 1995 and obtaining a draw and a win at Ayr.
United found themselves in division 2 with Stirling in season 2005/06 and the honours were even on 1st October 2005 with a 3-3 draw in front of a low crowd of 709. United lost the second match in February 2006 by 1-0. The following season Ayr won at Stirling on 5th August 2006 by 3-1.
United also won the last encounter of the season at home by 3-2 on 14th April 2007. In between they drew 0-0 at home on 14th October 2006 and lost 4-2 at Forthbank on 23rd December 2006 as Stirling obtained promotion.

Relegated last season Ayr and Stirling resume battle as both look for the automatic promotion place this season.