Narrow defeat ends Bino’s unbeaten run
STIRLING ALBION ................... 1 ELGIN CITY ................................. 2
Stirling’s unbeaten start to their League 2 campaign was ended by Elgin City on Saturday as the visitors earned a narrow but deserved victory at Forthbank.
It was a disappointing afternoon for Kevin Rutkiewicz’s side, who had the chance to turn a good start to the season into an excellent one, and strengthen their grip on second spot in the table, but instead were leapfrogged by Gavin Price’s men.
This coming weekend marks a year since Stirling grabbed a last-minute win at Borough Briggs but they have lost all four meetings with Elgin in 2020, including a recent Betfred Cup reverse.
Kurtis Roberts briefly had Albion level with a freak goal early in the second half but headers from Stephen Bronsky and youngster Aidan Sopel saw the points heading back up the A9. Cammy Binnie saved a Russell Dingwall penalty just before the opening goal but still ended up on the losing side.
Stirling announced in midweek that three players were self isolating due to coronavirus and there was no sign of Sean Heaver, Dom Docherty and Callum Law in the squad.
Rutkiewicz was able to name the same team that started the back-to-back league wins over Annan Athletic and Brechin City and defender Paul Mclean was on the bench after recovering from injury. Goalkeeper Blair Currie made his first appearance of the season in the squad and there was also a place among the subs for 17-year-old midfielder Kyle Johnston.
Elgin, who had lost their last two League 2 games after winning the first two, were without influential striker Kane Hester due to suspension – he had scored in each of City’s last three victories against Stirling but the men from Moray managed without him.
This wasn’t a game of great quality and neither goalkeeper was overly busy but the visitors took advantage of slack defending at both goals then put in a power of work to protect their lead.
For much of the first half there was barely a chance of note created at either end. There was no lack of effort and there were a few meaty challenges flying in but the ball was given away too often.
The interval was only eight minutes away when Elgin were awarded a penalty. Stirling did a poor job of clearing their lines then when Jack Leitch did attempt to hack the ball away it came off his arm. Like so many penalties for handball now, it looked harsh but referee David Lowe pointed to the spot.
Russell Dingwall converted from 12 yards when the teams met in the Betfred Cup but the midfielder’s tame spot-kick was easily saved by Binnie. Home joy was short-lived, though, as from the corner that followed centre-half Bronsky sent a near-post header into the net.
The equaliser arrived less than two minutes after the interval. It was fitting that Kurtis Roberts, one of Albion’s better players on the day, should get it but the former Queen’s Park midfielder’s effort was a fluke. From way out on the right wing, his cross looped up and over keeper Tom Mchale for a spectacular if fortuitous goal; his first in a Stirling shirt.
It was an opportunity for the Binos to push on for victory but instead they went to sleep at the back and Sopel met a cross from the right to score his first senior goal with a header that bounced down into the ground and up into the net to give Binnie no chance.
There were still 40 minutes to salvage something and Andy Ryan was unlucky not to equalise when he capped a superb piece of play with a shot against the top of the bar but the home side didn’t do enough in the time that was left to merit a point and Elgin saw the game out.
Stirling Albion: Binnie, Mcgeachie, Banner, El-zubaidi, Mcgregor, K Roberts, Ryan, Wilson, Byrne (Mackin 62), Leitch, S Roberts (Moore 70). Subs (not used): Currie (GK), Magee, Thomson, Mclean, Johnston, Creaney.
Elgin City: Mchale, Cooper, Spark, Mcdonald, Bronsky, Macewan (Mailer 71), Dingwall, Cameron, Peters (Osadolor 69), Macbeath, Sopel (Mchardy 87). Subs (not used): Kelly (GK), Wilson, O’keefe, Hay, Loveland, Allen.
Referee: David Lowe