Stephen Swift made a few changes from the team that drew with Annan last week.

Dan Higgins makes his return to the team at the expense of Tam Orr.

Higgy, Sean and Nicky make up the back three with Ross Philps and Adam Corbett supporting from the wing back positions.

Nat Wedderburn and Ross Forbes continue their central midfield pairing with Matty Yates up top on his own, supported by Euan O’Reilly and Adam Brown.

Stirling Albion get the game underway at a very noisy Ochilview.

GOAL: As the last fixture, The Binos hit first and hit quick. Robert Thomson tee’d up Dale Carrick in the box and the striker doesn’t miss from there to make it a quick start for the visitors. STENHOUSEMUIR 0-1 STIRLING ALBION [Dale Carrick 2 minutes]

The Warriors needed a strong start and it’s another disappointing piece of defending resulting in the opening goal.

It took sometime for The Warriors to get going. Adam Brown had the first glimpse of goal and fired a lame shot from 30 yards when a wide pass to Corbett may have been the better option.

20 minutes in and the visitors seem happy to sit back and counter when they need to. The home side have mustered up very little in way of a goal threat and Stirling are more than happy dealing with the attacks.

And it was the visitors who had a good chance to double their lead as Kai Fotheringham fired a volley well over after 23 minutes.

Only a few moments later, Ross Forbes stepped up to take a 35 yard free kick, but his shot was well saved by Blair Currie in the visiting goal.

That seemed to spur The Warriors on and on 28 minutes Nat Wedderburn set up Euan O’Reilly to run at the defence. The midfielder was barged and pulled in the box, but played on only for the defence to clear. The referee wasn’t interested in any foul as O’Reilly attempted to play on when many others would’ve fallen and claimed a penalty.

35 minutes in and a neat 1-2 between Forbes and Yates produced another good save from Currie with the latter firing in a shot from 20 yards.

GOAL: A Matty Yates corner was met at the near post by Nat Wedderburn and despite having two defenders marking him, the big man was having none of it and fired him his first goal for The Warriors. STENHOUSEMUIR 1-1 STIRLING ALBION [Wedderburn 38 minutes]

A home goal had been coming with Stirling Albion sitting back and trying to defend their lead. Eventually, their stubborn defence are breached and The Warriors find themselves deservedly back in the game.

HALF TIME: STENHOUSEMUIR 1-1 STIRLING ALBION 

The 2nd half started slowly and it was 63 minutes before any chance of note. O’Reilly played a nice ball through to Matty Yates who sent it back to O’Reilly who dinked in a cross. In an attempted clearance by the defence, the ball spun back and only a good save from Currie prevented The Warriors going 1 goal ahead.

15 to play and The Warriors continue to push for a winner. Stirling Albion made a rare venture forward, but the referee pulled back play as Thomson tried to use his arm to control the ball as he was in on goal.

Just a moment later Adam Brown had a couple of chances to get a shot on target with the first blocked and second going well wide.

into the final 7 minutes and Adam Corbett was very light with a back pass to Brennan, luckily the keeper was on his toes and was just able to clear the ball.

GOAL: with 4 minutes left on the clock, Ross Forbes heads into his own net from a corner. Very harsh on the home side who have had enough chances to put the game to bed. Stirling Albion appreciative of the lucky goal though. STENHOUSEMUIR 1-2 STIRLING ALBION [Ross Forbes OG. 86 minutes]

Just a few moments to go and The Warriors push everyone up top to try and salvage a point.

GOAL: And as they’re doing that Stirling catch them on the break with Dunsmore finishing a 1 on 1 with Brennan. STENHOUSEMUIR 1-3 STIRLING ALBION [Dunsmore 90 minutes]

FULL TIME: STENHOUSEMUIR 1-3 STIRLING ALBION. 

Difficult afternoon for The Warriors who outplayed their visitors for most of the match and had enough chances to win the game. Stirling took their few chances well though and punished a defence that has conceded a lot of goals over the last few weeks.