Sandy stuns Methil men

Late winner clinches promotion

It will be six years this weekend since Stirling Albion overcame East Fife in the play-off final to clinch promotion to League 1.

Greig McDonald’s men overturned a 2-1 first-leg deficit thanks to late goals from Jordan White and substitute Sandy Cunningham in front of an ecstatic travelling support .

Albion had dropped out of the top four after losing to East Stirling in March but finished third after a fine run of results towards the end of the campaign, including a 4-0 win at champions Peterhead and a 4-1 thumping of Clyde on the final day.

The Binos then overcame Annan Athletic 8-4 on aggregate after two superb displays in the play-off semi-final to set up a showdown with an East Fife team who finished ninth in League 1.

We look back at how the game was reported in the Stirling Observer…

EAST FIFE ..................................... 0 STIRLING ALBION ...................... 2

Stirling Albion can look forward to League 1 football come August after a dramatic and thrilling victory at Bayview on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

Greig McDonald’s men trailed 2-1 from the first leg of the playoff final at Forthbank in midweek but goals in the last 16 minutes from Jordan White and Sandy Cunningham turned the tie on its head.

There was sheer joy for Stirling and their 700 or so travelling supporters come the final whistle and despair for East Fife, who avoided the drop at this stage a year ago but will now go down.

It was 90 minutes of almost unbearable tension and time was ebbing away when White slammed home his 23rd goal of the season from a tight angle via the underside of the bar.

Then came a stunning winner.

Cunningham, a huge favourite with the fans, and not long on as a replacement for the injured David Weatherston, smashed a wonderful volley across keeper Dylan Rooney and into the far corner. It was in all the way.

The teenager has been a talisman for Albion this season, rescuing the Scottish Cup tie at Whitehill Welfare in the autumn then scoring another last-gasp winner against Berwick in April when the club’s play-off hopes were very much in the balance. He’ll never forget this goal. Nor will the Stirling fans who travelled to Methil in such big numbers.

Binos boss McDonald made one change to the side that lost 2-1 on Wednesday, with Chris Smith replacing Jamie Bishop, while East Fife’s scoring subs Scott McBride and Nathan Austin both started.

Stirling began brightly but were unable to make an early breakthrough and keeper David Crawford made a smart save to deny Austin before he plunged to his right to push away a free-kick.

East Fife’s only home win since January was in the play-off semifinal against Clyde but a draw would have done them here and it was goalless at the interval on Albion’s first visit to this ground since season 2011/12, when they lost 1-0 on both occasions.

Gary Naysmith’s men were solid and organised but Stirling had won their four previous away games and were on course for a fifth when White pounced to make it 2-2 on aggregate.

The hosts hit back and there was a terrifying moment when a ball fizzed across goal but didn’t find any takers, then Crawford came to the rescue as East Fife threatened again.

Cue Cunningham’s intervention. When White flicked the ball into his path on the edge of the penalty area he arrowed a fabulous left-foot volley into the net to send the Albion fans wild.

There were still 10 minutes to go. It felt more like 10 hours. East Fife substitute Liam Buchanan found space in the box but Crawford was able to block his shot. Losing a goal at that stage would have been a massive blow and the relief in the away end was palpable.

Then referee Calum Murray blew for what the fans thought was full-time and they poured on to the pitch, but it was only to signal a substitution and they were quickly ushered back off.

Two minutes later it really was all over and the party could begin - a run of eight wins in their last 10 matches means the promotion dream is a reality and Albion will be playing the likes of Dunfermline Athletic and Greenock Morton in 2014/15.

Stirling Albion: Crawford, Hamilton, Forsyth, McClune, C Smith, D Smith, Johnston (Ferry 90), Comrie (Bishop 89), White, Weatherston (Cunningham 71), Weir. Subs (not used): Fulton, McGeachie, O’Byrne, Reidford (GK).