Albion beat bookies with Ainslie Park win
The bookies aren’t always right. Stirling were 5/1 outsiders at Ainslie Park but upset the odds and ruined a fair few fixed odds coupons with a battling win over the League 2 leaders.
Darrens Smith’s fourth goal of the season shortly after halftime proved decisive as Albion triumphed on the road for only the second time in 2018/19 – their other away success was a 3-0 dismantling of Elgin City at Borough Briggs on September 1.
This was a hugely impressive all-round performance from Kevin Rutkiewicz’s side to inflict only a third league defeat of the campaign on James McDonaugh’s men, who retained their three-point lead over Peterhead at the top after the Blue Toon were beaten by Clyde.
Albion remain seven points outside the play-offs, with a game in hand, going into Saturday’s crucial clash against fourth-placed Annan Athletic and have now lost just once in eight matches.
Stirling have generally been too easy to score against this season and individual errors have blighted them at times but this was a solid and determined showing. Blair Henderson, with 18 league goals among an incredible tally of 26 in all competitions was kept largely quiet.
Binos boss Rutkiewicz made two changes to the team that beat Cowdenbeath with Kyle Banner and Cammy Thomson replacing Jason Marr and Dylan Mackin, who had both suffered knocks and were on the bench. Mark Stewart, Lee Hamilton and Kevin Moon were again ruled out.
The home side, held 2-2 at Berwick in their last outing, were without former Albion midfielder Andy Black while influential defender Conrad Balatoni was forced off after 20 minutes.
It was cold and grey in the capital and this was a hardfought affair that probably wasn’t one for the neutrals. With the Premiership on its winter break, there were a fair few of them and the crowd of 621 was double the attendance who watched City see off Stirling 3-1 back in August.
Chances were at a premium but Albion were disciplined and kept their shape. They had been loose in the 2-1 win over 10-man Cowdenbeath the previous week and recently shipped four goals at Peterhead but on-loan Dundee keeper Calum Ferrie was never over-worked here.
Skipper Ross McGeachie and Banner were immense in the centre of defence and Peter MacDonald led the line well at the other end, winning his share of headers against an imposing City side.
The Citizens looked to get the ball forward early but Stirling stood up well to the challenge and reached the interval on level terms without too much trouble. Scott Shepherd fired wide and Henderson had a couple of half chances but 0-0 was about right at the break with Dom Docherty firing over for the visitors after a positive run into the area by Danny Jardine.
The winning goal came six minutes after half-time. Docherty’s deep corner from the right was met by McGeachie, who did well to steer the ball towards goal. Smith nodded it beyond keeper Calum Antell from around five yards, despite the attention of defender Craig Thomson stationed near the line.
Edinburgh tried to hit back but Henderson was well marshalled. He rarely looked like adding to his haul of six goals in the last four games while Shepherd, the capital club’s second-top scorer with four league goals, was replaced midway through the second half after a fruitless shift.
City threw plenty balls into the box but the crosses and long throws were repelled by the men in blue shirts. There was an anxious moment in stoppage time when a freekick was awarded 20 yards out but former Hibernian winger Danny Galbraith sent his effort well over the crossbar.
Stirling didn’t really threaten a second goal after going in front but one was enough to get 2019 off to the best possible start as their season reached the halfway stage.
Edinburgh City: Antell, Thomson, McIntyre, Balatoni (Rodger 20), Laird, Smith, B Henderson, Shepherd (Hall 76), Watson (Taylor 66), L Henderson, Galbraith. Subs (not used): Morton (GK), Donaldson, Kennedy, Lumsden.
Stirling Albion: Ferrie, McGeachie, Allan, Hughes, Horne, Banner, Jardine, Docherty, MacDonald, Smith, Thomson. Subs (not used): Binnie (GK), Rutkiewicz, McLaughlin, McLaren, Mackin, Marr. Referee: Duncan Williams Crowd: 621
Fixtures: Saturday, January 12
Ladbrokes League 2 Stirling Albion v Annan Athletic. Lowland League Kelty Hearts v Stirling University.
RJM Sports Stirling & District AFA Premier Division: AFC Chryston v Bo’ness Cadora; Barrhill v Westquarter Violet; Campsie v Alva; Dunipace v Clackmannan Community; Pennies v Raploch Hearts; Syngenta v Braehead. Division 1: Condorrat v Riverside. League Cup: Section 1 - Dollar Glen v Westfield Colts; Loganlea United v Bo’ness United. Section 2 - Carbrain Boys v MLS Leeds. JF Colley Cup quarter-final: Kincardine v Beechwood Albion.
Caledonian League Division 1A: Doune Castle v FC Dal Riata; Eaglesham v Callander Thistle; Weirs Rec v Cambusbarron Rovers. Division 1B: Westerlands v Dunblane Soccer Academy William Turner Challenge Cup first round: Giffnock North v Milton.
Foster’s Central Scottish AFL