Stirling Albion…………………..3

Arbroath…………………………..1

David Verlaque had the first chance of the afternoon after Sandy Cunningham had found him with a low cross but the wideman’s effort was blocked.

Bobby Linn then should have opened the scoring when he was sent clear, but Chris Smith smothered his effort. There was a suspicion of offside about the chance but the linesman’s flag stayed down and the Arbroath man really should have scored.

Kevin McKinlay was next to have a go for the hosts but again the shot was blocked on the goal line.

On 20 minutes Linn opened the scoring for the visitors. Darren Ramsay picked him out and the Arbroath man got the better of Smith this time with a finish into the corner.

Mark Lamont drew a decent save from Allan Fleming after he picked the ball up and drove at the Arbroath defence before firing a shot at goal which the keeper tipped round the post.

The keeper was forced into action again when he parried Kevin McKinlay’s free kick, before he tipped Steven Doris’ header over the bar.

Minutes into the second half Cunningham’s header was cleared off the line as the Binos searched for a route back into the game.

The equaliser arrived moments later. David Verlaque sent a lovely low cross towards the near post and skipper Willie Robertson arrived to rifle the ball into the roof of the net.

Doris forced Fleming into another great save with a well-struck free kick.

However, the Binos’ afternoon took a turn for the worse when keeper Chris Smith was sent off. Bobby Linn raced clear and the stopper raced out to make what appeared to be a good challenge, but the referee blew for a foul and brandished the red card.

18-year-old Cammy Binnie took his place between the posts but was not tested by Martin Grehan’s resulting free kick.

Fleming pulled off another superb save from a Doris free kick as the Binos forced the issue despite their disadvantage.

But Albion would take the lead as the game moved towards the closing stages. A corner caused a scramble in the box, and Ross Smith rose to head the ball powerfully into the corner of the net.

And they were awarded a penalty moments later when Craig Watson fouled Verlaque in the box. Doris stepped up and sent Fleming the wrong way.

In the dying seconds Ricky Little was sent packing for apparent dissent towards the officials.