Jack pops up with vital equalising goal
STENHOUSEMUIR ..................................... 2 STIRLING ALBION ...................................... 2
Jack Leitch grabbed a last-minute leveller as the first local derby of the season ended all square at a blustery Ochilview on Saturday.
Stirling were the better team in the first half and deservedly led at the interval thanks to a David Wilson free-kick but the Warriors were on top after the break and turned the game round through goals from substitute Botti Biabi and Greig Spence, the latter via the penalty spot.
Leitch, however, rescued a point as Albion followed up their opening-day draw against title favourites Queen’s Park with another one. It’s been a solid start for Kevin Rutkiewicz’s men, who now host Annan Athletic on Saturday before travelling to Glebe Park to play struggling Brechin City on November 7.
Both managers admitted that, over the 90 minutes, the outcome was a fair one. Stenny boss Davie Irons was less than impressed by his side’s display before the break and didn’t seem too down about the concession of the late equaliser.
Rutkiewicz, meanwhile, felt his side had done enough in that opening 45 minutes to merit Leitch’s last-minute intervention, even though they otherwise offered little threat after half-time.
The Binos had won 2-0 on their last visit to Ochilview in December thanks to goals from Dylan Mackin and Wilson but the big striker missed out this time round. Declan Byrne was drafted into the team along with Scott Roberts, with winger Kieran Moore also ruled out.
Goalkeeper Cammy Binnie returned from the suspension which saw on-loan Hearts keeper Harry Stone play against Queen’s Park and there was a trialist among the subs in the shape of former Kilmarnock winger Olly Mcdonald.
Stirling lost influential defender Paul Mclean to injury just a few minutes in and Aldin El-zubaidi came on for his debut. That change didn’t hinder the purple-clad visitors and they forged in front after 18 minutes when Wilson added another fine goal to his stylish showreel.
Andy Ryan was brought down some 25 yards out and the former Annan midfielder – who has netted some special goals against Hibs, Alloa and Stenhousemuir since joining in summer 2019 – curled a beauty beyond the wall and into the bottom right-hand corner.
Stirling were in command and came close to adding to their advantage on a couple of occasions in a first half that included six minutes of stoppage time due to an injury to home keeper Graeme Smith.
He was replaced by Callum Erskine but it was Binnie who was the busier in the second period. He made a fine save from David Hopkirk but the Warriors continued to press, albeit without creating too many clear-cut opportunities but they deserved their 75th-minute equaliser.
Callum Tapping’s free-kick from the left flank was only half cleared and the ball eventually dropped to Biabi – the former Falkirk and Swansea man forward lashed a shot into the net.
Worse was to come for Albion with eight minutes left. Scott Roberts tripped Spence in the box after Hopkirk had nodded the ball down and the striker took the resulting spot-kick himself, confidently converting straight down the middle as Binnie dived to his right.
It was looking bleak but Leitch – who netted 12 goals for Peterhead two seasons ago – came up trumps right at the end. Erskine could only push out a shot from Byrne and the midfielder gathered the ball on the half turn and swept it emphatically into the net from around eight yards.
Stenhousemuir: Smith (Erskine 45), Tiffoney, Munro, Little, Yeats, Brown (Biabi 54), Blair, Tapping, Hopkirk (Hodge 88), Spence, Muir (Mcguigan 88). Subs not used: Grigor, Watters, Graham, Fairley, Mcqueen.
Stirling Albion: Binnie, Mcgeachie, Banner, Mclean (El-zubaidi 7), Mcgregor, K Roberts (Heaver 84), Ryan, Wilson, Byrne, Leitch, S Roberts. Subs not used: Law (GK), Magee, Thomson, Docherty, Creaney,trialist.
Referee: Stewart Luke