It’s three wins on the trot for Stirling Albion as they firmed up their position in the top four of League Two with a comfortable win over Clyde.
Stirling had the first opening of the game in the eighth minute, Josh Kerr freeing Alex Ferguson down the left, but his shot from a narrow angle was smothered by Robbie Hemfrey.
The Binos had enjoyed the bulk of the play and had a deserved lead on 14 minutes.
A dangerous corner into the Clyde box wasn’t cleared by the visitors and after Dale Carrick’s shot was blocked, it fell to Josh Kerr to stab into the net from a few yards out.
But out of nothing, the visitors got themselves level with a soft goal just after the half hour mark.
Stirling half cleared a corner from the right side, but when the ball was thrown back into the box, Robbie Leitch swivelled to squeeze a finish beyond Derek Gaston from 16 yards.
The Bully Wee almost benefited from some calamitous Binos defending as Gaston was beaten to a long ball by Jordan Allan, but Erik Sula got back quickly to head away the goalbound effort.
Almost directly from that chance, Kerr had a chance for a second as he latched on to a long ball forward but his lob sailed well over the bar.
Carrick pierced the Clyde defence with an excellent pass which found James Graham wide on the right, but his drive was well blocked.
The back-and-forward nature of the game continued as Allan was played through on goal for the away side, but the shot was pulled wide of target.
Graham’s pace was causing problems on the break and he had another opportunity ten minutes into the second half, his low left-foot shot forcing a good save from Robbie Hemfrey.
Rennie was close to putting the Bully Wee in front three minutes later with a deflected effort which forced Gaston to tip over the bar.
The chances were flooding in at both ends at this stage and Ricky Waugh should have done better after neat play split the Clyde defence on the left but he smashed his shot high and wide.
Alex Ferguson – the Binos’ brightest player on the afternoon – almost had the goal his played deserved, finding space on the penalty spot with a neat turn before volleying over.
But the goal was on the way just moments later when sub Dale Hilson sprung the Clyde offside trap and raced through on goal before finishing confidently beyond Hemfrey.
The game was sealed on 75 minutes as the Binos made it three courtesy of a lovely team move.
Amid complaints of a Kerr handball, Stirling worked it down the right and Adam Brown flicked the ball into space for Dale Carrick to race on to and slam into the net.
The third goal took the sting out of the contest as the Binos managed the encounter to an easy three points which brings them level on points with third-placed Peterhead.
Stirling – Gaston, McGeachie, Sula, Kerr, Ferguson, Carrick (McKinley 80′), Brown (Milne 80′), Graham (Hilson 60′), Waugh (Wright 60′), Harkness, Crane. Subs not used – McTavish, Featherstone, Davidson, Knox, Weir.
Clyde – Hemfrey, Houston, Hamilton (Howie 81′), Cuddihy (Grant 66′), Allan, Rennie, McKay, Leitch (Scullion 66′), D Lyon, R Lyon (Dunachie 58′), Murdoch. Subs not used – Sliwinski, Robson, Redfern, Docherty, Hynes.
Referee – Alex Shepherd
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