Keeper Lewis is amatch winner

Stirling Albion were sunk on Saturday by bottom club Brechin City in only their second league defeat since September.

And to rub salt in their wounds, the clinching goal in the 4-2 win for the Glebe Park outfit was a 90-yard clearance by their keeper – Bannockburn lad Lewis McMinn.

The 22 year-old former St Modan’s High School pupil launched a kick downfield which was left by defender Paul McLean and he watched as it bounced over helpless Blair Currie in the Albion goal.

“I didn’t remember how it happened until I saw it on film later on,” Lewis told the Observer.

“Just before, I shanked a kick into the stands and I just wanted to make a clean connection as their striker was closing me down.

“I thought I had given the ball away and couldn’t believe when it went in.”

He added: “I thought I had actually made a cracking save near the end but noone will mention that – just the goal.”

The young keeper has been at Brechin since leaving Stenhousemuir at the end of last season and joins a band of goalscoring goalkeepers including Northern Ireland legend Pat Jennings, Danish giant Peter Schmeichel and former Binos stopper Iain Turner who netted while at Preston North End.

“I’ve never done that before while playing in goals,” said Lewis, who started off his career as a defender with Central Rio, moving into goals when his team was short of a keeper.

He never looked back and was part of Falkirk’s academy from the age of nine, spent some time at Rangers then Falkirk again before going to Stenhousemuir.

At Ochilview he stayed a couple of years, playing around a dozen first team games but left in the summer because he wanted more top team action.

“I’ve been given a chance at Brechin since Mark Wilson came in after Barry Smith left and I’m enjoying being here.”