Kieron strikes in Binos return
STIRLING ALBION 1-0 BRECHIN CITY
The long wait ended on Saturday as League 2 resumed and it was a winning return to action for Kevin Rutkiewicz’s side.
This hard-fought victory against the bottom club lifted Stirling to second place in the table as they prepare for Saturday’s trip to Elgin City, the only team to have beaten them this season.
Substitute Kieran Moore grabbed the only goal 20 minutes into the second half as Albion edged a tight game of few clear-cut chances at either end.
Stirling thrashed Michael Paton’s men 5-0 at Glebe Park in November but this City side – with no fewer than eight new players brought in since January – were a different proposition.
They could well have been heading back up the road with a draw but were undone by a rare lapse in concentration and remain two points adrift of Albion Rovers.
If you discount the abandoned New Year derby at Stenhousemuir, this was Stirling’s first League 2 outing since beating Edinburgh City 3-2 at Ainslie Park on December 19. It was far from a classic but in this shortened season of just 18 games, followed by a split into a top and bottom half for a further four fixtures, every win is precious.
Rutkiewicz had to do without suspended midfielder Jack Leitch while Cammy Thomson and Dylan Bikey missed out through injury. Paul McLean picked up a knock during the first half and was replaced by David Wilson, with Kyle Banner dropping back into the centre of defence.
Brechin’s new recruits included experienced winger Bobby Barr, former Partick Thistle midfielder Abdul Osman and veteran centrehalf Gerry McLauchlan, along with ex-Airdrie keeper David Hutton and a number of younger players on loan from Premiership clubs.
They were resolute and offered Albion little encouragement during a first half largely devoid of goalmouth incident until the closing minutes.
Cammy Binnie then did well to tip over a header from on-loan Rangers forward Chris McKee and pushed away a fierce drive from midfielder Connor Barron, who is on loan from Aberdeen.
Amid that flurry of action just before the interval, Dom Docherty should have put the Binos ahead but instead he blazed over from only seven yards.
Stirling were a bit brighter in the second half and Ross McGeachie and Andy Ryan forced saves from Hutton but the visitors were holding their own and you wouldn’t have bet against a 0-0 draw.
The breakthrough came, however, in 65 minutes. Moore, not long on as a substitute, found space at the back post and found the net with a cool, low finish from six yards after being perfectly picked out by Ryan’s cross from the right.
It was the winger’s first goal since joining from Queen’s Park and it proved to be a decisive one from the 21-year-old, who originally came to prominence as a striker for Lochgilphead Red Star.
Albion had won their last home game 1-0 against Cowdenbeath back on December 12 and it was the same outcome on Saturday as they saw out the final 25 minutes in relative comfort.