Hoops Kid Joins Shire

East Stirlingshire today completed the signing of Celtic youngster, Gary Walsh, on loan until the end of the season.

The Irish youth international has played in Celtic's under-19 and reserve teams this season. The move to give him first team experience at Firs Park seems to have come from within Celtic's youth team coaches.

Gary can play anywhere on the right. Manager, Gordon Wylde, is expected to hand him the role on the right hand side of midfield. He should make his Shire debut against Albion Rovers on Saturday.

"He comes highly recommended," Wylde told Zebra Diary. "He's not very big, but is strong and quick and can score a goal too. I am hoping by signing a player of this quality we can do our chances of moving up the league a power of good."

It is clear Wylde's connections at Parkhead have served the club well in this case. The manager's own son is a highly-valued member of Celtic's under-15 set-up, while, of course, Adam Owen is a full-time member of Celtic's back room staff.

Celtic Come To Shire's Aid

Shire will this week complete the signing on loan of a young Celtic player. The midfielder was offered to boss Gordon Wylde by Celtic's Head of Youth Development, Tommy Burns, who wanted to give him some first team experience futher down the league ladder.

Zebra Diary understands the player is Irish, and has won under-17 caps for Ireland. He will stay at Firs Park until the end of the season. The paperwork is expected to be completed on either Monday or Tuesday.

Shire 0 Elgin City 2

Shire's failure to take chances against Elgin ended up costing them dear. Despite dominating the match, especially the first half, the Firs Parkers found their way to goal blocked by Elgin keeper, Kieron Renton. The longer they game went on the feedling grew that Shire would throw it all away, and that is what happened.

After 51 minutes the visitors took trhe lead with just their second shot at goal. Nelson released Cumming down the inside-right channel and after Henry Sobolewski failed to match the run the Elgin man was clean through on goal and made no mistake.

Shire could, and should, have drawn level with some good chances but the game was put beyond them on 68 minutes when Elgin got a fortuitous second goa. Nelson was allowed too much time on the edge of the box and, although his shot was well-hit, it migght not have gone in had it not taken a deflection off the head of Mark Tyrrell.

The rest of the match was about Shire's catalogue of missed chances. They started as early as the ninth minute. Derek Ure really should have scored when clean through, but Renton denied him with a fine save. When the ball broke to Steven Dymock his effort was cleared off the line by an Elgin defender.

Shire's luck did not change. After 14 minutes Renton was at full stretch to keep a Paul Tyrrell effort out with his fingertips. Dymock was also denied by another good save, but on 42 minutes Shire really should havbe gone ahead.

Carl Thywissen, partener Dymock up front, was put through one-on-one with the keeper. The big Norwegian tried to lift the ball over the advancing keeper but smacked it straight against him. The homesters could not even pick up the rebound.

Even after Elgin's first goal Shire should have come back. Derek Ure only had the keeper to beat ten minutes later but his shot lacked any conviction. The game was up after Nelson's strike and the tall midfielder could have added a third but his shot late on smacked off the Shire crossbar.

SPL Club Offer Shire A Player

An un-named SPL club has offered Shire the chance to take one of its youth team players on loan until the end of the season.

"The young lad comes highly recommended," coach Gordon Wylde told Zebra Diary. "But whether he comes here will be worked out over the next couple of days." If a deal can be concluded the player could make his debut against Elgin City on Saturday.

Still Waiting On McKenzie

The fight to land former Stenhousemuir winger, Marc McKenzie, is still not over. It seems as though Queen's Park are now first in the queue for his signature, but according to Shire coach, Godon Wylde, that does not mean he has given up hope of eventually persuading the player to come to Firs Park.

McKenzie impressed as a trialist in the home win over Montrose almost two weeks ago. Since then, though, he has appeared in a bounce game for Queen's Park, and a move there would appear to be the player's preferred option. If that falls through, Wylde has assured Shire fans he will do his best to bring McKenzie to the club.

Queen's Park 3 Shire 1

After the euphoria of the previous week's win over Montrose it was back to earth with a bump for Shire. They were never totally outplayed by Queen's Park, but by the same token did little to merit taking anything from the match.

As predicted, Scott Livingstone moved to right back to cover for the injured Andrew Brand while Paul Tyrrell and Derek Ure returned to the midfield. Mark Molloy partnered Steven Dymock up front and Alan Patrick dropped back to play at outside right.

From the start Queens had more of the ball and looked more comfortable but could not really create any chances. But on 17 minutes they scored with their first serious effort of note. Mark Ferry raced into the box and fired off a shot which Derek Jackson did well to save with his legs but Alan Trouten simply collected the rebound to tap-in.

Brian Felvus should have put the home team 2-0 up just minutes later but he somehow managed to miss the target from Trouten's cross when it seemed easier to score. The rest of the half was a dour midfield battle with the Spiders hogging possession but unable to do very much with it.

The second half produced much the same. Shire did survive a decent penalty shout when Stephen Oates appeared to handle a shot from Weatherston. The visitors did not show anything in attack at all, but as long as Queen's Park continued to have problems finding a second goal they were still in the match.

That all changed in 70 minutes, and in controversial circumstances. Jackson collected a cross from the right which Derek Ure had deflected into his path and, to the keeper's amazement, the referee awarded an indirect free-kick eight yards from goal for a passback.

Shire were furious and after several players were given a talking to by the ref the ball was touched to Mike Dunlop who smashed it into the net. Jackson was then booked after continuing his protests with both referee and linesman.

At 2-0 down Shire were out of the game but they kept on fighting and eventually conjured a goal out of nothing on 80 minutes. A sloppy defensive pass across the face of goal left the Shire man in the clear once he had picked up the loose ball and his finished was a clever chip over the exposed goalkeeper. For the first time in the match Shire pressed Queen's Park and an improbable equaliser seemed a posibility but that hope was ended on 88 minutes when Adam Owen was hopelessly short with a header back to Jackson, allowing Proctor to nip in and score.

Queen's Park Preview

Manager Gordon Wylde has a number of selection problems ahead of the visit to Queen's Park tomorrow. Chief among them is who to replace Andrew Brand with. The midfielder fitted in to the right back role well against Montrose but a broken wrist will rule him out for the next five weeks. It's expected Scott Livingstone will deputise. Jordan Smith's hamstring problem is still an issue, so that could mean another run out for the central defensive pairing of Stephen Oates and Mark Tyrrell.

Paul Tyrrell and Derek Ure, both of whom missed the victory over Montrose are likely to resume their places in the midfield, but it seems the trialist outside right, Marc McKenzie, may not return. It's believed he could be about to sign with one of Shire's Third Division rivals. Up front, Steven Dymock will partner either Alan Patrick or Mark Molloy.

Graham McWilliam has re-signed for the club. The centre-half first put pen to paper with Shire in pre-season but was discarded after barely two months by Dennis Newall. He has been told to get his fitness levels up before he will be considered for a place in the starting line-up.

Broken Wrist Sidelines Brand

Shire's right sided midfielder/defender Andrew Brand will miss the next five weeks of the season after breaking his wrist. The youngster went to hospital after feeling pain following an injury sustained in last weekend's 1-0 win over Montrose.

He was diagnosed with a fractured wrist bone. His arm is now in plaster and doctors have told him not to play for at least fibve weeks. "It's a big blow for us," Shire boss Gordon Wylde told Zebra Diary. "Andrew has been one of our better performers throughout the season and played very well against Montrose when we tried him out at right-back."

It's not been a lucky season for injuries for the player. He missed much of September with a leg injury sustained in the early part of the season.

Shire Face Fight For McKenzie

Manager Gordon Wylde has admitted the club faces a fight to secure the services of trialist winger, Marc McKenzie. The former Albion Rovers and Stenhousemuir player featured at outside-right in Shire's 1-0 weekend win over Montrose, and is now considering his options. He is expected to feature in a bounce game this week for one of Shire's Third Division rivals. However, Wylde remains hopeful the wee winger will come back to Firs Park to put pen to paper this week.

"I am not finished bringing in new players," Wylde told Zebra Diary. "I would like to add another defender and a left sided midfielder before the transfer window shuts. The players we have brought in so far have been of a good quality, better than was already here and they have raised the standards.

"I am pleased that the rest of the squad responded so well to the new boys. They raised their game and it has given us the shot in the arm we need for this week's visit to Hampden. There is no doubt in my mind that Queen's Park are the best footballing side in the division, so we know it will be a tough one, but I am full of confidence."

It's hoped Paul Tyrrell's work commitments are over which will allow him to make a return to the squad. Andrew Brand, who limped off injured against Montrose is not too badly hurt and should be fit. Derek Ure, who missed Saturday's match to be present at the birth of his first child, a son, could also make the trip.

Shire 1 Montrose 0

A great first half performance was enough to get Shire their first win since October. The Firs Parkers played Montrose off the park in the opening 45 minutes and although they led through Steven Dymock's 20th minute strike, they should have been further in front. Shire were almost made to pay for that by some late Montrose pressure but they clung on for a well-merited three points.

New boss, Gordon Wylde, gave home debuts to new signings, Alan Patrick and Mark Molloy and also included former Albion Rovers and Stenhnousemuir winger, Marc McKenzie as a trialist. But the injection of fresh talent was balanced out by a number of call-offs. Skipper, Paul Tyrrell was absent because of work commitments, Derek Ure was in the maternity ward at Stirling Royal awaiting the birth of his first child, and Jordan Smith was injured in the pre-match warm-up.

Shire started the brightest and could have been a goal up after just two minutes. A cross from McKenzie was headed goalwards by Stephen Oates but his effort was hacked off the line by Barry Donachie. Four minutes later Partrick linked well with Dymock and the latter's shot forced Mike Hankinson in the Montrose goal into a fine save.

It was all Shire in the early stages. Carl Thywissen picked out McKenzie at the back post but the youngster's header was straight at Hankinson. A Shire goal had to come and it duly arrived on 20 minutes. Andy Brand's corner produced a header from Thywissen which again Donachie cleared off the line, but Dymock was on hand to collect the ball and send it high into the roof of the net.

Dymock and Patrick both unleashed god efforts which had Hankinson scrambling as Shire went in search of more goals. But at half-time they had to be content with a 1-0 lead. Montrose upped their pace in the second half and, as Shire tried, they came more into the game.

First Euan Hall should have scored but somehow managed to miss an empty goal. The Jackson was tested with his only real save of the game, a long range effort from Martyn Fotheringham. Shire were pushed further into defence the longer the game wore on and there were some nervy moments as the defence tried to withstand the pressure. Henry Sobolewski replaced the injured Brand and Steven Blair was brought on for Patrick, who had run himself into the ground.

Montrose tried everything to find an equaliser but it was not their day.

Montrose Preview

Paul Tyrrell is out of Shire's Third Division meeting with Montrose at Firs Park tomorrow. The combative midfielder has had to withdraw from the squad due to work commitments. The bad news is that he could even miss next week's visit to Queen's Park.

It is a headache new boss, Gordon Wylde, could well do without. "We will just have to draft someone else into that role," he told Zebra Diary. Wylde will include new signing, Alan Patrick, in the starting eleven and midfelder, Mark Molloy, who is due to sign tomorrow morning should also be there. There is also the chance of one, maybe even two, trialists in the team, although that will depend on a number of factors. Adam Owen, who last played in the 4-0 defeat against Queen's Park in December, will fill his customary left-back position after recovering from a bout of the flu.

Montrose have the upper hand in meetings this season. They drew 1-1 at Firs Park on their last meeting, and were only denied victory by Steven Dymock's late equaliser. However, the return match at Links Park in October ended in a convincing 3-0 victory for Montrose. Interestingly, the man who scored all four Montrose goals against Shire this season, Greig Henslee, was not even in the squad for last week's game.

Shire Get Paddy Power

Head Coach, Gordon Wylde, has made his first signing since taking over from Dennis Newall, bringing in striker, Alan Patrick. The youngster played as a trialist in Saturday's 4-2 defeat at Albion Rovers, but made an impression by winning the penalty which got Shire's first goal, then scoring the second, a wonder strike from 35 yards. Wylde is also hopeful the midfielder who played at Coatbridge, Mark Molloy, will sign in time to play against Montrose on Saturday.

The Firs Park boss also revealed he has plans to play two new trialists on Saturday. He is hopeful of fielding a right sided midfielder and perhaps also a defender. However, the weather is hampering the plans. Wylde had to cancel a scheduled training match against Cumbernauld United on Wednesday because of rain. He had five trialists, all prospective signings, lined up to play. He now plans to re-schedule the match for next week.

Gordon Wylde Is New Shire Manager

Gordon Wylde has been appointed East Stirlingshire's manager in succession to Dennis Newall. He has been given the job until the end of the season after which the position will be reviewed. It follows a board meeting at Firs Park on Monday night.

"It is a big challenge for me," Wylde told Zebra Diary. "I have ambitions to make an impression and I have the club at heart." Wylde's first task will be to run the rule over several potential new signings in a trial game against Cumbernauld United on Wednesday night. He is is no doubt that the nine point gap between Shire and the rest of the league can be made up. "What we need are good players and a bit of self-belief. A win on Saturday against Montrose is essential."

Shire Chief Executive, Les Thomson, said, "I am really pleased for Gordon. He is a good coach who knows the game inside out. I am sure he will do well."

It is Gordon's first managerial post. He was assistant to Gardner Spiers at Clyde before taking over the youth development system at St. Mirren. He returned to Shire, where he started his career as a player, in August as assistant to Dennis Newall.

Albion Rovers 4 Shire 2

The prospect of a fourth successive wooden spoon for Shire now looms large after defeat at next-to-bottom Albion Rovers. Caretaker boss Gordon Wylde introduced two trialists, and while their debuts could be considered successes, there were too many defensive negatives to give them team a chance of taking anything from the game.

The trialists, former Celtic youth team player Mark Molloy and amateur striker Alan Patrick, fitted well into the Shire system. Patrick won the penalty which allowed Shire to equalise George Wallace's early Rovers goal, then scored a wonder strike from fully 30 yards to make it 2-2. But that hard work was undone by a shaky defence.

Shire lined up with a more attack-minded 4-4-2, but could not put Rovers under any early pressure. The best they could muster was a Jordan Smith effort from 20 yards which flew wide of goal. It was Smith's failure to intercept a pass on 18 minutes that led directly to Rovers' first goal. His mistake allowed Stephen Reid to race into the box and thread the ball through to Wallace who shot low past Derek Jackson.

But within two minutes Shire were level. trialist Patrick tricked Scott Chaplain into a rash challenge and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot. Andy Brand sent the keeper the wrong way with the spot kick.

Shire should have held on to go in level at the interval. But in time added on at the end of the first half, Wallace was allowed too much space down the right. He crossed low and Steven Noble ghosted in at the back post to score and give Rovers a 2-1 half-time advantage.

Derek Jackson was busy after the break and he denied Wallace with a great diving save at the striker's feet. Paul Tyrrell might have scored for Shire with a free header from Brand's corner but Allan Creer made a point blank stop.

The visitors got back into the game on 64 minutes with a great strike from Patrick. He picked up the ball 35 yards from goal and made space before unleashing an unstoppable drive past Creer. But Shire never got a chance to build on that. Just four minutes later Rovers' winger, Andy Sim, who had been a constant danger, raced through the heart of the Shire defence to slot the ball past Jackson. The game was as good as lost on 75 minutes when Rovers grabbed a fourth, this time a close range effort from Stephen Reid with the Shire defence posted missing.

Albion Rovers Preview

The club's first visit this season to Coatbridge was postponed on January 17th and moved to tomorrow, but the frost which caused the first cancellation could return. With temperatures expected to dip to -3 tonight, there will be an anxious wait to find out if the game will, at last, get the go ahead.

Should the weather relent, Shire are hopeful of adding one new trialist in a bid to freshening up the attack. This would allow a two-pronged attack in a game the club has to win to have any serious chance of finishing bottom of the Third Division. Defeat would leave Shire nine points adrift having played a game more than Rovers, who are next to bottom.

"It will be a very hard game because Albion Rovers will scrape and fight for everything," Shire's caretaker manager, Gordon Wylde told Zebra Diary. "We will be involved in a battle, and although I have been trying to get the team to play fotball it may be a day where we try to get the ball forward quickly."

Wylde has little alternative but to stick with the majority of players who disappointed in the 5-0 defeat at Stenhousemuir. Adam Owen's out with the flu, so that should mean another run out for Henry Sobolweski. Triaist Graham McWilliam is also expected to retain his place in the team.

Aaron Gillespie Leaves

Shire have agreed to Aaron Gillespie's request to be released from his contract. The club's back-up goalie believes his first team chances are limited and wants to try his luck elsewhere. Reluctantly, his request has been agreed to. He started just two senior games for the club; the Stirlingshire Cup win at Dumbarton and the home league defeat against Elgin City in September.

Aaron's decision leaves Shire with just one signed keeper. Caretaker manager, Gordon Wylde, brought in a young trialist to sit on the bench at Ochilview on Monday. The youngster has played at youth level with both Celtic and Dunfermline but no decision has been taken on whethere or not he will be signed in time for Saturday's match with Albion Rovers.

Stenhousemuir 5 Shire 0

Another doleful afternoon for Shire at the hands of their old rivals. Anyone hoping for something better from 2006 may have to change their outlook quickly. It seemed inevitable Shire would lose against the team at the top of the league. Just as likely was an Iain Diack goal against his old team and a Paul McGrillen hat-trick. All of which came to pass without even the mereset hint of a surprise.

Gordon Wylde had a surprise in store before kick-off for one or two erstwhile regulars in his team, they were dropped. Karl Lejmann and Henry Sobolewski both made their first starts of the season and Graham McWilliam, a player binned by Dennis Newall after failing to impress in August, returned to the centre of defence as a trialist.

For a while the five at the back approach kept a largely disinterested Warriors team at bay, but if it was Shire attacks you were looking for, then you were in the wrong place. That said, it took Stenhousemuir 23 minutes to even get a shot at goal, although it was easily blocked. After 28 minutes, though, the home team went in front. Paul McGrillen crossed from the left, Jim Mercer knocked the ball down and Diack picked up the pieces to sweep the ball past Derek Jackson.

Half-time came as merciful relief to the punters on both sides, who had to sit through 45 minutes of risable non-activity from the two teams. Shire altered things at the break and came out with a more forward-looking 4-4-2 formation.

It almost paid dividends when Paul Tyrrell released Derek Ure down the inside left channel. Ure's shot was true and looked netbound, but he was denied by a fine piece of goalkeeping from Willie McCulloch.

Shire altered the shape and the personnel and that tipped the balance overwhelmingly in the Warriors' favour. Mark Tyrrell was withdrawn in favour of Scott Livingstone, while Sobolewski came off and Stephen Oates went to left-back. The defensive shape was lost and the customary Stenhousaemuir avalanche of goals ensued.

After 58 minutes McGrillen ran at pace into the box, glided past McWilliam's poor excuse for a challenge and stuck the ball into the net at the far corner from a tight angle. Four minutes later Oates failed to stop Sinclair making progress down the right and his cross was headed home at the near post by McGrillen with very little opposition from the Shire central defenders.

The rout was completed in the last ten minutes. Templeton was allowed too much room down the flank and although Jackson saved Fallon's initial shot, the ball ballooned into the air and McGrillen, first to react, nudged the ball into the net with his head. The 16 year old Templeton then displayed the kind of skill that people have been raving about, turning McWilliam inside out before creating the room for a shot which easily beat Jackson.