A great opener for the new Binos boss
Mackay shows winning form against Elgin City
Elgin City ........... 2 Stirling ............... 3 Dave Mackay made a winning start as manager as Stirling edged a thrilling match at Borough Briggs on Saturday.
The Binos were behind to a Darryl McHardy goal at the interval but Marc McKenzie and Blair Henderson quickly turned things round, only for Brian Cameron to haul City level.
Jamie Mills, on as a late substitute and making his first appearance since the opening-day defeat at Annan, was the unlikeliest of goal heroes with a last-minute winner as second-placed City’s indifferent home form continued.
Ironically, it was Elgin who ended Stuart McLaren’s reign as manager at the end of September by dishing out a 4-0 thrashing at Forthbank but Albion gained revenge at a venue where they suffered three defeats last season.
The reward was only their second away league win of 2016 and Mackay will be hoping they can push on against Arbroath at Forthbank on Saturday before Wick Academy visit in the Scottish Cup a week later.
The former St Johnstone skipper had to do without Ross Forsyth, Ross McGeachie, Darren Smith, Isaac Layne, Jack McCue and Moses Olanrewaju through injury.
Henderson was recalled up front and there was a surprise selection at right-back, with former Albion midfielder Willie Robertson fielded as a trialist after parting company with Annan.
Albion headed north on the back of a 3-0 defeat to Forfar while Elgin were looking to bounce back from a 2-1 reverse at Clyde and it was the hosts who posed more of a threat in the first half.
Chris McLeish had a good chance when he burst through the middle but Chris Smith came to the rescue with a smart save then Shane Sutherland dragged a 20-yarder narrowly wide.
Albion’s nearest thing was when keeper Marc Waters just managed to prevent a deflected looping effort from McKenzie crossing the line but the Binos were a different proposition after the break.
The second half was only 20 seconds old when Eddie Ferns swung over a cross from the left and top scorer McKenzie nodded in his seventh goal of the season at the back post.
Henderson fired Albion in front as the hour mark approached, pouncing from close range after Waters had denied both Robertson and Sean Dickson. It was a sixth