Binos leave it late to stay on title trail
STENHOUSEMUIR .............. 0 STIRLING ALBION ............... 1 Dale Carrick’s 25th goal of the season deep into stoppage time secured a heartstopping win which puts Stirling Albion on the brink of sealing the League Two crown.
For much of the afternoon this highly competitive affair between the local rivals at Ochilview seemed destined to end with a share of the points.
However, the forward’s first real chance all afternoon secured yet another gritty win as Stirling extended their unbeaten run to 16 games and set up the chance to win the title at Dumbarton last night in their fifth scheduled attempt at playing the fixture.
The home side started off the stronger of the two sides in the opening minutes, with Sean Crighton heading wide from a Ross Forbes corner after breaking free from his marker.
The Binos threatened moments later when neat interplay on the edge of the Stenny box saw Kieran Moore slide in Jack Leitch, but his hooked shot was tipped over by Curtis Lyle.
It was a match being played at a frantic pace as both sides fought for supremacy and crucial points in their respective causes.
Stirling had the next big chance when Ross Davidson dummied the ball into the path of Leitch, who split the defence with a pass back to Davidson but he squared it when he should have had a shot.
The home side nearly opened the scoring on 41 minutes when Nat Wedderburn laid the ball back to Jordan Lowdon and his shot from 20 yards whistled past the post.
Once again the visitors nearly had the perfect response with Jordan Mcgregor’s back post header from a corner pushed away by Lyle.
Stirling came out of the break firing and had a good chance when Carrick laid the ball wide to Robert Thomson but his shot was repelled again by Lyle in front of an onrushing Leitch.
Ross Mcgeachie then missed a golden opening after the Binos launched a rapid break out of defence, with the ball swept to the right-back who sidefooted his shot past the post.
It felt like those missed opportunities were going to haunt the title-chasing Binos as the home side gained more of a grip on proceedings.
On-loan Queen of the South forward Gavin Reilly saw a goalbound effort deflected wide by a sliding Mcgeachie on 71 minutes.
The sizeable throng of Binos supporters behind the goal were facing the reality of losing ground in the title race as the time ticked on, with Dumbarton winning comfortably at Bonnyrigg.
But they need not have worried as Stirling produced the latest chapter in their book of last-gasp drama with virtually the last kick of the game.
In the 93rd minute, Mcgeachie produced a lovely piece of skill to beat a Stenny defender wide on the right and launched in a high cross which found Carrick at the back post and the forward swivelled to plant a precise finish beyond Lyle. It prompted pandemonium in the away end as the Binos players and fans rushed to hail the talismanic forward – and celebrate maintaining their nine-point gap at the top with just four games left.
Stenhousemuir – Lyle, Corbett, Crighton, Jamieson, Lowdon (Higgins 70’), Miller, Wedderburn, Forbes (Brown 61’), Yates (Orr 70’), O’reilly, Reilly.
Subs not used – Brennan, Speirs.
Stirling Albion– Currie, Mcgeachie, Clark, Mclean, Mcgregor, Dunsmore (Denholm 61’), Davidson, Carrick, Leitch (Banner 90’), Moore, Thomson (Hamilton 75’).
Subs not used – Weir, Duffy, Spence.
Referee – Steven Kirkland.