Stirling Albion 2 - 1 Peterhead: McKenna fires Stirling back into play-off contention

Published on Wednesday 18 March 2009 00:17

Stirling Albion 2 Grehan (65), McKenna (85) Peterhead 1 MacDonald (70)

STIRLING'S hopes of an immediate return to the First Division received a timely fillip after a dominant display against their play-off rivals was rewarded with a late David McKenna winner.

Before 404 fans, the lowest crowd of the season at Forthbank, it was a must-win match for Allan Moore's side and they duly obliged to end the visitors' nine-game unbeaten spell.

Third-placed Peterhead remain firmly in the promotion hunt, but Albion are now only four points adrift of Brechin City in the final play-off spot.

After a dominant first half, Stirling's deserved opener was finally forthcoming on 65 minutes, sub Michael Mullen swinging in a cross from the right that Martin Grehan side-footed home.

Ironically, though, the concession injected new life into Neale Cooper's charges and within five minutes they equalised, Callum McDonald stooping to head in Graeme Sharp's corner.

Yet Albion refused to lose heart, claiming a priceless three points when McKenna superbly rifled past Michael Kula from 15 yards.

Stirling: Christie, Lawrie, Gibb, Roycroft (Devine 76), Forsyth, O'Neil, Corr (Mullen 60), Murphy, Docherty, McKenna, Grehan. Subs not used: Hogarth, Boyle, Dunn.

Peterhead: Kula, Donald, Moore, Smith, McDonald, McVitie, Sharp, Gunn, Bavidge, Anderson, McKay (Ross 88). Subs not used: Jarvie, Skinner, Cowie, Bagshaw.

Referee: C Allan. Attendance: 404.