Stark can live with this narrow victory
EK boss would have slammed side earlier in season
Match winner
“If anything the red card galvanised them and they played quite well with 10 men. They worked really hard.
“We missed the penalty and we had a perfectly good goal chalked off when Malky scored from Sean’s cross but it was given offside.
“At that point it looked like things were going against us, but the sending off changed things.”
Eight minutes in Kilby had a lucky escape when keeper Matt McGinley got caught out on the edge of the box and former Kilby striker Jack Smith saw his attempt to lob him cleared off the line by Craig Howie.
The early BSC pressure continued and the hosts were denied by the woodwork in 17 minutes when Tom Bentham’s effort from 25 yards cannoned back off the crossbar.
After weathering the early storm, EK had the chance to take the lead from the penalty spot in 23 minutes.
Grehan was adjudged to have blocked a free-kick with his hand, picking up a booking for his trouble. Winter stepped up for Kilby, only to see his effort saved by Ryan Marshall.
However, more drama was to follow just two minutes later when BSC were reduced to 10 men. Grehan spoke out of turn to referee Craig Napier as Kilby were preparing to take a corner and the BSC striker was sent off for dissent.
Malcolm had an effort ruled out for offside in 34 minutes and half-time arrived with the sides level at 0-0.
But just three minutes after the restart Kilby broke the deadlock when Malcolm curled home a delightful strike from the edge of the box.
BSC pushed for an equaliser, but Stark’s men held out to keep their title hopes alive going into the final two games of the season.
Malcolm’s winner was his eighth goal in nine games and Stark added: “The quality of Malky’s goal was great.
“There was some lovely build-up play and Adam Starchan set him up nicely for a wonderful finish, curling the ball around a few bodies. “It’s a vital goal for us.” Attention now turns to a massive week with trips to Whitehill Welfare tonight (kick-off 6.30pm) and Stirling University on Saturday (kick-off 3pm). If Kilby are to win the league, they will likely have to win both games and hope Spartans slip up at either Dalbeattie Star tonight or at home to East Stirling on Saturday.
The champions will play Cove Rangers in the Highland/Lowland play-off on April 28 and May 2.
P W D L GD PT Spartans 28 22 3 3 43 69 EAST KILBRIDE 28 21 5 2 52 68 East Stirlingshire 29 19 6 4 36 63 BSC Glasgow 28 18 5 5 38 59 Selkirk 25 13 1 11 14 40 Cumbernauld Colts29 11 7 11 -1 40 Gretna 2008 29 12 4 13 -2 40 Civil Service Strolls 28 10 6 12 2 36 Stirling University 29 10 5 14 -6 35 Edusport Academy 28 9 6 13 -2 33 Edinburgh Uni 28 8 7 13 -8 31 Gala Fairydean Rvs 29 8 7 14 -18 31 Whitehill Welfare 25 9 1 15 -15 28 Dalbeattie Star 27 6 8 13 -16 26 Vale of Leithen 26 7 2 17 -34 23 Hawick Royal Alb 28 1 3 24 -83 6