Stirling Albion 2, Forfar Athletic 1: Comeback seals back-to-back wins for Binos

Ricky Waugh's first goal for Stirling leaves them sitting in fourth in the standings after the first quarter of the campaign.

SPFL LEAGUE TWO

Stirling Albion 2,Forfar Athletic 1

Stirling Albion finished the first quarter of the League Two season inside the league's top four after a comeback home win against Forfar.

The home side gave away a sloppy opener from the penalty spot and it looked to be another frustrating afternoon at Forthbank.

But Erik Sula followed up his goal in Stranraer with another from a set piece, before Ricky Waugh's close range finish sealed back-to-back wins for the Binos.

The Binos had a chance inside two minutes, Adam Brown hanging a deep cross from the left which found Dale Carrick and he fired just wide of the post.

The visitors were almost gifted the opener on ten minutes, when skipper Ross McGeachie had his pocket picked by Nathan Cannon, but Derek Gaston made an excellent one-on-one stop.

But Forfar were given the opportunity to take the lead on 14 minutes when Bailey Dall hauled down Cannon in the area, with ref Sean Murdoch having no hesitation pointing to the spot.

Bradley Rodden stepped up and tucked the penalty away confidently in the bottom left corner.

Brown saw a deflected shot trundle wide of the post as Stirling fought to get back into affairs.

The Binos got themselves level on 29 minutes courtesy of another trademark set piece goal

Brown's inswinging corner was met by Sula and the big Slovak defender bundled in his second in two games, despite protests from the Loons over a foul on the goalkeeper.

Stirling then had their own cause to moan at ref Murdoch after Alex Ferguson's low cross was blocked by a Forfar defender, with strong shouts that an hand was involved.

But the Binos capped an excellent turnaround as they took the lead on 34 minutes.

Cooper Knox weaved down the right and stood up an excellent cross to the back post where Ricky Waugh was on hand to force his first goal in Stirling colours past Marc McCallum.

Forfar came close just before the break when an attempted clearance from a dangerous cross came back off Ross MacLean, but the ball spun wide of the post to the relief of the home fans.

The Stirling fans were on their feet just after the break when Josh Kerr thundered a header towards goal, but it hit only the side netting and the offside flag was also raised.

Brown almost made it three in four matches when he collected a McKinley knockdown and curled a shot inches wide from 20 yards.

The task to hold on was made harder for the Binos when Dall completed a difficult afternoon by picking up a second yellow card after a foul on Cannon on 65 minutes.

Forfar keeper McCallum kept his side in it with 15 to play, making a fine reaction stop from Kerr's close range bullet header after another teasing corner from Brown.

Cannon latched on to a long ball down the right as the Loons tried to snatch a late leveller, but his volley from a narrow angle was right down the throat of Gaston.

Another chance for the away side came in added time when sub Josh Skelly's drilled corner was met by the head of Bayley Klimonek with his first touch but the ball drifted over the top.

However, it was a comfortable enough finish for Stirling to a satisfying afternoon as Alan Maybury's troops head into a week off on a happy note.

Stirling – Gaston, McGeachie, Sula, Kerr, Ferguson, Carrick (McKinley 62'), Brown (Hilson 90'), Knox (Trialist 62'), Waugh (Weir 86'), Dall, Harkness. Subs not used – McIlvaney, Howe, Wright, Milne.

Forfar – McCallum, Morrison, Allan, MacLean (McLean 71'), Malcolm (Klimionek 90'), Whatley (Logan 71'), Inglis (Allan 46'), Robson, Taylor, Cannon, Rodden (Skelly 46'). Subs not used – Paris, Reekie, Cocks, Mohammed.

Referee – Sean Murdoch

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