Binos caught cold near kick-off.

Byline: By ALLY GRAHAM

GUTTED Stirling and Alloa fans suffered a late derby downer when Albion's pitch was declared unplayable with just over an hour until kick-off.

The Second Division game looked to have beaten the big freeze after the pitch passed an early-morning inspection but ref Chris Boyle later decided the surface was too treacherous.

Stirling boss Allan Moore (right) said: "We thought the park was playable in the morning.

"But the ref was unhappy with part of the goal and thought it would be dangerous for the keepers.

"He spent half an hour out there and decided to call it off around 1.40pm." Alloa gaffer Allan Maitland believed the ref had no choice. He said: "Part of the area was still hard so he made the right decision."

The cold weather saw a host of other lower leagues games called off.

In the First Division, St Johnstone's trip to Ross County was an early victim of the freezing conditions.

The Second Division games between Stranraer and Ayr and Brechin City v Arbroath were also postponed.

Only one match survived in the Third Division - East Stirling's game with Stenhousemuir - thanks to the all-weather pitch at Ochilview. But Albion Rovers' home fixture with Dumbarton, Montrose's trip to Forfar, Cowdenbeath v Berwick Rangers and Elgin City's home clash with Annan Athletic were all called off.

Elsewhere, the Highland League also ground to a halt while all the fixtures in the East of Scotland senior league were postponed too.

The junior card was all but wiped out with only two games going ahead with Wishaw winning 5-3 at Newmains while Dunbar beat Blackburn 3-0.

England also suffered a raft of call-offs with the major casualty the FA Cup third-round clash between Championship high fliers Birmingham and Wolves.