Stirling Albion boss Alan Maybury was left purring over his side’s professionalism as they swept aside Bo’ness Athletic and secured their spot in the Scottish Cup third round.
Albion took the lead after just 10 minutes courtesy of Dale Carrick’s first of two goals on the afternoon and never looked back as Carrick’s brace was added to by Josh Kerr, Dale Hilson and a stunning Aaron Weir goal in a thumping 6-0 win.
The East of Scotland First Division side had come into the game full of goals and scenting an upset, but were never allowed to get into the game by a Binos side who have now made it four wins in a row in all competitions.
They will travel to Station Park for a tie against fellow League Two side Forfar Athletic on November 30 following Sunday night’s draw.
Maybury insists the message to avoid complacency was made clear to his charges in the build-up – and he was left delighted by the product on the pitch.
He said: “We sent that message all week, keeping our standards high no matter the opposition – we expect things to be done right and spoke about the Stranraer game to warn them about what can happen if you don’t go about things the right way.
“For the most part today, we did the same things as we did against Forfar or Clyde, we were organised without the ball and we had lots of energy with the ball and forward runs.
“I think we’re trying to build a consistency, nothing has changed from when I came in, we know where we want to get to and how to get there, it’s been a little stop-start with availability in that first quarter but I just feel the squad is in a good place.
“I feel we are doing a lot of things right, it looks more like a team of mine last week and today with the energy levels and I said to the players at the end, regardless of the scoreline, we were in a good shape and compact when Bo’ness had the ball, the standards didn’t drop.”
One of the plus points for the Binos on an afternoon full of them was the ability to get minutes into players throughout the squad, with youngster Weir putting the cherry on top with a 30-yard pearler.
“It’s been a really good day, we tried to leave Carrick on to get a hat-trick but it wasn’t to be. Dale Hilson doing 90 minutes was a real positive, same with James Graham and Callum Crane”, Maybury added.
“Part of the remit when I came back was trying to make that pathway easier for some of the younger players to come through.
“I’m not sure we envisaged so many of the younger players coming in so quickly, but I have no problem in putting them in, whether it’s Aaron or Cooper Knox, Harrison Howe, Sam Featherstone; there are good opportunities for them all.
“Aaron is a brilliant professional who is really willing to learn – I didn’t know he had that in the locker, it was a hell of a strike for your first senior goal.”