There was good news before kick-off with the listing of summer signing Ryan Strachan as a substitute and the addition of Jamie Redman from the start and Craig Simpson on the bench.

However Jim McInally’s side were still six players down due to injury and suspension. Jason Brown took his place in defence for the first time this season however both he and his team-mates found themselves a goal down after five minutes.

Former Peterhead favourite Jack Leitch sent over a corner that was helped on by Adam Cummins and Carrick was handily placed on the goal-line to net.

Eight minutes from the interval another Stirling corner created danger in the Peterhead box with Ross McGeachie trying his luck with an overhead kick however it failed to trouble Newman.

Jordon Brown tried to bring his side level on 40 minutes with a header but Stirling’s Callum Law was equal to it and it remained 1-0 to the hosts at the break.

Former Stirling University player and student Robbie McGale gave the locals a reminder of what he was about early into the second half as he set off on a surging run that included a couple of nutmegs on Stirling players however he just failed to pick out on Ola Adeyemo with his cross.

Stirling looked to get back on top with Burns and Josh Cooper testing Newman and home pressure paid off on 72 minutes when they doubled their lead. A corner was again involved with Carrick touching the ball home from a short distance.

Ryan Strachan was brought on two minutes later for Cody McLeod and just seconds later Jordon Brown had a third crack at goal with his fizzing shot just scraping past Law’s post.

With four minutes left Jason Brown had a clash of heads that saw him helped from the pitch and subsequently taken to hospital with Simpson brought on after a lengthy delay. Brown’s injury unsettled Peterhead’s defence and in the final minute Kieran Moore played Carrick through on goal and the striker slotted past Newman to claim the match-ball.

Cup campaign comes to an end for Peterhead