Five-star finish as Binos stun Citizens
Carrick hat-trick sends fans home happy
STIRLING ALBION ............................ 5 EDINBURGH CITY ............................ 0
Stirling Albion ended a disappointing season in style by putting five goals past play-off bound Edinburgh City in the rain at Forthbank on Saturday.
Dale Carrick bagged a first-half hat-trick in the space of 11 minutes with midfielders Kyle Banner and Jack Leitch also on target against Alan Maybury’s men. It was the club’s biggest win since a 5-0 thrashing of Brechin City at Glebe Park in November 2020.
The Binos had only managed three goals in their previous seven outings but they bettered that tally inside half an hour with Carrick taking his personal haul for 2021/22 to 11 in the process.
Edinburgh’s focus was on the playoff semi-finals against Dumbarton (last night, Tuesday and Saturday) and they made five changes but it was still a strong and recognisable line-up.
Stirling boss Darren Young restored Kieran Moore to the starting XI in place of Dylan Mackin following the 1-1 draw at Albion Rovers and gave a league debut to goalkeeper Callum Law, who featured against Montrose in the SPFL Trust Trophy back in September. The former St
Mirren keeper could hardly have hoped for a quieter afternoon, with the visitors posing little threat.
Ouzy See almost equalised with a shot that flashed wide but Stirling could have scored six or seven against a team who had enjoyed their recent visits to Forthbank.
The opening goal came from an unlikely source in 14 minutes when Banner was picked out by Leitch and did well to stretch and divert the ball past Jack Leighfield for his first goal of the season.
It quickly became a rout, with exairdrie forward Carrick confidently sending a penalty into the corner after Aaron Dunsmore was carelessly brought down. Two minutes later, he tucked the ball away from close range after a slick move down the left and a Moore assist.
There has been little for the home fans to cheer at Forthbank this term and few in the 508 crowd would have expected Stirling to be 4-0 ahead after just 28 minutes, which was when Carrick completed a first senior hattrick with a powerful low drive from 30 yards.
Stirling, beaten 2-0 by Elgin City here a fortnight ago, went searching for more goals in the second half and Dunsmore fired wide at the end of a great move before the East Fife loanee was thwarted by Leighfield, who also did well to turn a Mackin shot round the post in the closing minutes.
By that stage it was 5-0 for the Binos, with Leitch having sent a cool finish inside the left-hand post midway through the second half following great work by Carrick to set him up.
Albion went into the game knowing seventh place was the best they could achieve in the cinch League 2 table but they certainly finished with a flourish - the result eclipsing the 4-0 win over Cowdenbeath in September.
Stirling Albion: Law, Mcgeachie, Hancock, Mclean (Mcniff 72), Mcgregor (Cummins 46), Banner, Dunsmore (J Grant 78), R Grant, Carrick (Mackin 78), Leitch, Moore. Sub not used: Currie (GK).
Edinburgh City: Leighfield, Mcintyre, Hamilton (Jardine 62), Stirling (Mitchell 36), Tapping (Murray 79), Berry, Logan, Brian, Crane (Handling 62), See (Shanley 46), Robertson. Subs (not used): Schwake (GK), Travis.