First half treble yell from Binos enough for points
Capital showing keeps Albion in race for promotion place
EDINBURGH CITY ..................................................... 2 STIRLING ALBION ..................................................... 3
Stirling Albion completed the first third of their League 2 campaign with an impressive victory against a promotion rival at a windswept Ainslie Park on Saturday.
The win leaves the Binos level on points with second-placed Elgin City and propels them five points clear of Edinburgh City, who now sit just outside the play-off places.
Jack Leitch, Declan Byrne and Andy Ryan all scored in a 16-minute spell from the midway point of the first half but the hosts fought back after the break and it was a tense finish in the capital.
Kevin Rutkiewicz’s side held on for a significant success and now face Berwick Rangers in the first round of the Scottish Cup at Shielfield on Boxing Day before kicking off 2021 with a derby match against Stenhousemuir at Forthbank on Saturday, January 2.
Stirling had won 1-0 on their previous visit to Ainslie Park and continued their remarkable run of away league form this year – their sole setback was at Elgin back in March.
There were four changes to the team that beat Cowdenbeath 1-0 the previous week, with Aldin Elzubaidi, Leitch, Byrne and Scott Roberts replacing Dom Docherty, David Wilson (injured), Sean Heaver and Kieran Moore.
City included former Binos Blair Henderson, Andy Black and Lee Hamilton but Black and Hamilton were replaced at the interval as James Mcdonaugh rang the changes with his team three goals down – “the first half was atrocious, absolutely terrible” was the verdict of the City boss.
The hosts had drawn 3-3 with leaders Queen’s Park a week earlier but Albion were the better team in the first half and deservedly went ahead in 24 minutes. Keeper Cammy Binnie launched the ball downfield, Ross Mcgeachie flicked it on and Andy Ryan cut in from the right to set up Leitch, who thumped the ball past Calum Antell from around 15 yards.
Ten minutes later Stirling doubled their advantage. Leitch’s free-kick caused all sorts of panic in the home defence. El-zubaidi hooked the ball towards goal, Ryan nodded it against the post when it looked easier to score and Byrne followed up to bundle it in from close range.
There was even better to follow as Albion struck again in the 40th minute. This time Byrne was the provider with a great cross from the left wing and Ryan buried a near-post header for his sixth goal of 2020/21.
It looked all over but City have been a consistently strong League 2 side in recent years and rallied after the interval, with the wind now at their backs, although for 20 minutes or so Binnie wasn’t really troubled.
That changed in 68 minutes when substitute Robbie Mcintyre was given too much space outside the box and he lashed the ball home, with Binnie appearing to be unsighted.
Ten minutes later the ball broke to Liam Brown some 20 yards out and the former Queen’s Park midfielder hammered a superb first-time shot high into the net.
Leitch came close to a fourth goal for Stirling but City were doing most of the pressing and there were four minutes of stoppage time to endure before referee Duncan Williams called time.
With just one defeat in nine matches it has been a hugely encouraging start for Rutkiewicz’s side, who 12 months ago went into Christmas on a downer after a home defeat to the same opponents.
Edinburgh City: Antell, Thomson, Black (De Vita 46), Balatoni, Laird (Jardine 85), Harris (See 46), Brown, B Henderson, Hamilton (Mcintyre 46), Campbell, L Henderson. Subs: Sharp (GK), Newman, Quate.
Stirling Albion: Binnie, Mcgeachie, El-zubaidi, Mclean, Mcgregor, K Roberts, Ryan (Mackin 88), Banner, Byrne (Moore 79), Leitch (Mitchell 90+2), S Roberts (Docherty 79). Subs: Currie (GK), Johnson, Thomson, Heaver.