Mackin strikes to continue win run
STIRLING ALBION ............................ 1 ALBION ROVERS ............................... 0
Stirling Albion left it late to grab a crucial midweek victory against bottom club Albion Rovers and move to within a point of the promotion play-offs.
Dylan Mackin was the home hero, coming off the bench to slam the winner past on-loan Motherwell keeper Peter Morrison with only seven minutes left at Forthbank.
It was a sixth win in the last seven games for Kevin Rutkiewicz’s men, who could move into the top four tomorrow if they beat Elgin City at Borough Briggs and Annan spill points at Cowdenbeath.
Stirling were short-priced favourites to see off Kevin Harper’s team on Tuesday night but it turned into a slog and time was running out when Mackin made the breakthrough with his seventh goal since moving from Falkirk in the autumn.
It was 5-0 for the Binos when the teams met in Coatbridge at the end of January but that was against 10 men and it was a different story here. The hosts toiled to create much in the first half and were frustrated for much of the second period despite upping the tempo and creating more chances.
Rovers won the first meeting between the teams in September, when their 3-0 triumph ended Dave Mackay’s tenure as manager, and they might have completed a double had Declan Byrne not blazed over when it looked easier to score with 13 minutes remaining.
Overall, Stirling just about deserved their narrow win on the basis of their improved secondhalf showing but the visitors will be feeling sore after putting so much into the game for no reward.
Brushed aside 3-0 by Elgin last weekend, they were hard-working, organised and determined and made a couple of good chances – Ben Reilly had a shot blocked at the end of the first half when he should have done better and Byrne’s bad miss was to prove costly.
The Cliftonhill club remain seven points adrift of Berwick Rangers at the foot of the table but Stirling are firmly on an upward path – the result was all that mattered here and Mackin delivered it with a thumping finish from around 14 yards after being set up by fellow sub Neil McLaughlin.
This was the first meeting between the teams at Forthbank since February 2014 when Stirling won 2-0 thanks to goals from David Weatherston and Jordan White before going on to clinch promotion via the play-offs. That dream remains alive this season despite a disastrous start of eight defeats in 10.
There was one change to the team that beat Berwick 2-1, with Peter MacDonald replacing Mackin but they swapped places 10 minutes from the end after MacDonald picked up a hamstring injury.
On a difficult, bumpy pitch this was far from a classic and the first half was a hard watch. Rovers were resolute and Stirling didn’t move the ball quickly enough. Darren Smith’s strong run and shot fielded by Morrison right on half-time was about the best opportunity of a dreary 45 minutes.
The second half was better. There was a bit more urgency and chances begin to fall – skipper Ross McGeachie headed wide from a corner, Max Wright was thwarted by Morrison and Smith couldn’t quite apply the finish after a powerful run into the area.
Smith had been booked for diving in the first half when there appeared to be some contact as he broke into the penalty area but referee David Lowe thought otherwise.
It all added up to a frustrating night for the home side, who were in danger of dropping two crucial points but they made the breakthrough in the 83rd-minute. Mackin, just on as a substitute, was the beneficiary after McLaughlin gathered a ball played in from the right flank and his finish was emphatic.
Stirling survived eight minutes of stoppage time – half of it added on following a head knock suffered by defender Jordan McGregor – to move five points ahead of tomorrow’s opponents Elgin. A good week will become an outstanding one if they can deliver another victory at Borough Briggs.
Stirling Albion: Ferrie, McGeachie, Allan, Hughes, Horne, McGregor, Jardine, Docherty, MacDonald (Mackin 80), Smith (McLaughlin 80), Wright (McLear 61). Subs not used: Binnie, Thomson, Banner, Glover. Albion Rovers: Morrison, Hardie, Clarke, Fagan, Krones, Ross (Watson 86), Reilly, Fotheringham, Newell (Russell 63), Byrne, Wilson (McMahon 82). Subs not used: Potts Escuriola, Phillips, Wharton