The matches that helped seal the title
A look back at the season’s big games
piled on the pressure as Albion swam against a volume of chances, before the hosts finally doubled their lead on 42 minutes.
The pressure continued through the second half as Stirling looked as if they were heading for a heavy defeat – a damaging one with table-toppers Dumbarton also losing at East Fife.
But the match was to turn in the space of a few second-half minutes, as Kieran Moore and then Ross Mcgeachie lined up to score two of the goals of the season in quick succession, prompting rapturous scenes in the Binos dugout and amongst the fans behind the goal.
It was a game that felt for all money like one that was slipping away after Currie’s early mistake, but the two wonder goals and the most hardearned of points felt like a turning point which solidifed Albion’s never-say-die outlook.
STRANRAER ........................................... 1 STIRLING ALBION ................................. 1 March 18, 2023
Another long trip, another battling draw and another slice of late drama to typify the Binos’ unbeaten run to the title.
On a filthy day in the south-west, Stirling had to battle with a pitch which increasingly resembled a World War Two battlefield and determined hosts who were still fighting for their own play-off future.
Despite creating little, a moment of magic via a Jack Leitch piledriver on 41 minutes had Albion leading at the break – while news began to filter of rivals Dumbarton losing heavily at home to Albion Rovers.
However, the home side ramped up the pressure and equalised through Scott Robertson before being awarded a last minute penalty to put a stop to the winning run.
But Currie was the hero this time, launching himself to his right to produce a fabulous save to keep out the spot-kick and preserve the point.
It gave the Binos the chance to head top of the league just three days later – it was a chance they took and they never relinquished the league lead from that point.
STENHOUSEMUIR ................................ 0 STIRLING ALBION ................................. 1 April 15, 2023
The match where, for many, the League Two title was finally sealed.
In front of a bouncing Albion contingent at Ochilview, it was a match which felt like a local rivalry for much of the afternoon with both sides enjoying clear chances in a topsy-turvy afternoon.
But ultimately it came down to two of the defining themes of the Stirling Albion story – late drama and the goals of Dale Carrick.
It was the ex-hearts striker’s 25th goal of a prolific campaign in the third minute of stoppage time which sealed all three points, latching on to a deep Ross Mcgeachiecross before swivelling to plant a shot beyond Curtis Lyle.
The Stirling players disappeared into the horde of jubilant fans in celebration of a win which moved them to the brink of the crown.
STIRLING ALBION ............................. 3 ANNAN ATHLETIC ............................ 1 APRIL 22, 2023
How could the day it was all confirmed be left off a list of the decisive moments of the season?
Once again, it was a game that followed a predictably dramatic pattern, with a huge, expectant home following falling silent after Chris Johnston’s 27th minute opener threatened to spoil the title party.
But the Binos roared back moments later via an own goal and took charge of the contest in the second half with goals from Jack Leitch and Flynn Duffy finally giving the cue for the champagne corks to be popped, while the Forthbank faithful flooded on to the pitch.
It is, of course, a fixture that will now be reprised in League One for next season.