It was another frustrating long drive home for Stirling Albion on Saturday as they slipped four points off the League Two pace with defeat at Stranraer.
After the Binos’ positive display in the cup defeat to Highlanders Inverness CT the previous weekend, the Albion squad and fans faced another mammoth trip, this time down to Stair Park against a Blues side they saw off comfortably 4-1 in their previous encounter.
That game was characterised by a fast start which led to Albion having the game under control and the early signs were positive at the opening of the match this time around as
well.
Robert Thomson’s 15th-minute headed the opener after he got on the end of a Danny Denholm cross, but the Blues equalised shortly afterwards after a fine team move was finished off by Dylan Forrest.
Sean McIntosh then fired home from close range after a long-throw to ensure Stranraer went into the interval ahead.
It didn’t get much better for the visitors after the break as Grant Gallagher’s acrobatic bicycle kick from close range added a third and effectively sealed the match as a contest.
It’s a disappointing way to head into a week’s break from action as the SPFL Trust Trophy takes centre stage, before Forfar Athletic are the visitors to Forthbank on December 17 – with the struggling Loons seeing a pick up in their form under new boss Ray McKinnon.
Similar to their opponents on Saturday, the Binos came away easy winners the last time the two sides met in Angus in September – featuring three goals before the break from Paul McLean, Cammy Clark and Dale Carrick with Kai Fotheringham adding a fourth in the second half.
But former Dundee United, Falkirk and Queen’s Park manager McKinnon has overseen an uptick in the form of the Loons, who were viewed among the promotion favourites at the season kick-off before slipping to the foot of the table.
They beat Albion Rovers 1-0 at the weekend in a big match at the bottom.
The result in Galloway drops Stirling further behind leaders Dumbarton, who secured a battling point at Bonnyrigg Rose, while the gap to third-placed Elgin City was trimmed to five points after they saw off Stenhousemuir 2-1.
Meanwhile, Stranraer lifted themselves into the final play-off spot in fourth after the Stirling win – seven points behind the
Binos.
The break may offer an opportunity for Darren Young and his squad to regroup after a long stretch which has cemented their status as title
contenders.
