Jack’s the lad as Binos extend run
STIRLING ALBION ........................................ 1 STENHOUSEMUIR ........................................ 0
Stirling Albion kept their promotion hopes very much on track with a narrow but deserved win over their local rivals on Tuesday evening.
Midfielder Jack Leitch scored the only goal early in the second half as Albion came out on top in this rearranged fixture that was abandoned at Ochilview on January 2 with the Binos leading 1-0.
It was switched back to Forthbank due to the shortened season as the Warriors had already hosted the 2-2 draw between the teams back in October.
This win keeps Stirling third in the table, level on points with second-placed Edinburgh City and seven behind leaders Queen’s Park, who they face at the Falkirk Stadium tomorrow.
Kevin Rutkiewicz’s side are now 10 points in front of a Stenhousemuir side who are now up against it in their bid to finish in the top half before the split but do have a Scottish Cup tie with Kilmarnock to look forward to this weekend after beating Peterhead last midweek.
Stirling went into this one on the back of a 1-1 draw at Elgin City while Stenny were beaten 3-1 at Edinburgh in their latest outing. They ended that game with 10 men and it was the same story on Tuesday when substitute Tommy Muir saw red in the closing minutes.
The former Annan striker was deemed to have stamped on goalkeeper Cammy Binnie and referee Graham Grainger had a good view of the incident but it was hard to tell from the stand and visiting boss Irons felt it was a harsh call.
On a perfect spring evening, the first half was a competitive and keenly contested but clear chances were hard to come by. Stirling had more possession and more territory but were unable to cause too many problems for on-loan Hibernian keeper Paddy Martin.
The breakthrough came three minutes after half-time and it was a well-worked move. A perfect pass released Kurtis Roberts on the left and the ex-Airdrie man was too strong for defender Adam Corbett. He laid the ball on a plate for Leitch, who had a simple finish from eight yards for his fourth goal of the season.
Ryan had a header saved and the Binos’ top scorer then saw his angled drive fly just wide of the far post as the home side chased a second goal. Kieran Moore had a shot blocked and substitute Dylan Mackin had a header cleared off the line as the clocked ticked down.
Stenhousemuir rarely looked capable of conjuring up an equaliser against a resolute defence that included on-loan Darvel skipper Daryll Meggatt, with Aldin El-Zubaidi injured and Ross McGeachie unavailable.
Midfielder David Wilson should have sealed the victory in stoppage time but blazed over after Martin had denied sub Sean Heaver but one goal proved enough.
Cammy Binnie barely had a save to make but had to be alert right at the end to tip over a cross-shot and Stenny sent keeper Martin up for the corner but it came to nothing.
Stirling Albion: Binnie, Meggatt, Allan, Banner, McGregor (Eadie 62), K Roberts, Ryan (Heaver 88), Wilson, Byrne (Mackin 72), Leitch, Moore. Subs not used: Currie (GK), Hamilton, Docherty, S Roberts, Kirkpatrick,Thomson.
Stenhousemuir: Martin, Tiffoney, Kane, Corbett (Muir 60), Yeats, Brydon, Biabi, Blair (Spence 78), Tapping, Collins (Hopkirk 74), McGuigan. Subs not used: Erskine (GK), Hodge, Docherty, Halleran, Fairley, Brown