Bad week for Binos ends on a good note
STIRLING ALBION .................................... 1 STRANRAER .............................................. 0
Stirling Albion notched a welcome win at the end of a week that had seen both Annan Athletic and Albion Rovers leave Forthbank with maximum points.
It was far from a classic on a dry and bumpy pitch but a first Albion goal from wing-back Aaron Dunsmore 20 minutes into the second period proved decisive.
Stranraer had looked the more likely team to score in the first half - albeit neither keeper had too much to do - but they rarely looked like equalising after Dunsmore’s intervention.
The result leaves Albion sitting seventh in the cinch League 2 table, eight points outside the play-offs but now just two behind sixth-placed Stranraer.
In a disappointing campaign it also means the Stair Park side are the only team not to have inflicted a defeat on the Binos, with two Stirling wins and two draws across the four encounters.
Darren Young made three changes to the team beaten 1-0 by Albion Rovers in midweek with Jack Leitch and Mason Hancock back from injury and Akeel Francis restored to the starting line-up in place of the suspended Dylan Mackin. Nathan Flanagan and Dylan Paterson dropped to the bench while Paul Mclean, Dale Carrick and Ray Grant were again out injured.
The hosts haven’t had their troubles to seek of late and there was another setback 10 minutes in when Jordan Mcgregor was forced off, with Martin Mcniff his replacement.
By then Stranraer could have been in front - Sean Burns had an early effort cleared off the line and Broque Watson fired just over.
There was another let-off when Tommy Muir scuffed his shot from close range and Adam Cummins was able to hook it away just in time.
Muir missed another good opportunity when he sent a volley over the bar while at the other end Kieran Moore and Jack Leitch had half chances for Young’s side before Kurtis Roberts stung the palms of former Partick Thistle keeper Luke Scullion with a powerful volley from fully 30 yards.
The glorious spring sunshine made conditions ideal for the crowd of 501 but the bobbly pitch made good football difficult for both teams.
Muir just failed to convert a cross from the left as Jamie Hamill’s men tried to break the deadlock while Moore might have done better for Albion before Dunsmore showed the way.
With 64 minutes played, Francis swung over a cross from the left and, in attempting to clear, James Hilton could only knock the ball into the path of Dunsmore.
The on-loan East Fife defender smashed a first-time shot high into the net from around eight yards.
It was the sort of break Stirling haven’t had in recent games and they made the most of it. They defended well as a team and limited Stranraer - who had won their previous two matches - to very little in the closing half hour or so as it ended 1-0.
Next up for the Binos is double header in Fife against bottom club Cowdenbeath this Saturday followed by a trip to newlycrowned champions Kelty Hearts on April 9.
Stirling Albion: Currie, Mcgeachie, Hancock, Cummins, Mcgregor (Mcniff 10), Banner, Dunsmore, Roberts, Francis, Leitch, Moore. Subs (not used): Law (GK), Flanagan, Creaney, Laird, J Grant, Paterson.