Hurlford 1 Stirling 1
Defender Chris Smith headed a late equaliser after Craig Wedderburn had been sent off to set up a Scottish Cup third-round replay at Forthbank next Saturday.
Stewart Kean gave the Junior Cup holders an early lead and we endured a difficult afternoon at Blair Park but Smith levelled from a Dale Fulton corner with 12 minutes remaining.
Ourselves and Hurlford United can now look forward to Monday’s fourth-round draw at Hampden, live on Sky Sports News at 2pm.
Darren Smith and Ross Forsyth again took charge of the team following the recent departure of Greig McDonald and there was only one change to the side that drew 2-2 with Airdrie, with David McClune replacing the suspended Sandy Cunningham.
Willie Robertson was also banned, with Darren Lee Smith, Craig Comrie and Lewis Coult ruled out through injury against Darren Henderson’s side.
Hurlford had already knocked Edinburgh University, Clachnacuddin and Inverurie Locos out of the Scottish Cup and came into this tie on the back of a 3-1 win at Rosyth in the Junior Cup.
In truth, the Ayrshire club were the better team and we can count ourselves fortunate to have a second chance next weekend, which means the League 1 trip to Brechin will be rearranged.
Hurlford included ex-Dundee defender Neil McGregor and former Clyde midfielder Stevie Masterton and it was another ex-senior who fired them in front after 10 minutes of the 2.00pm kick-off.
A shot from outside the box was blocked by Wedderburn and Kean, previously with Stenhousemuir and St Mirren, lashed the ball high into the net.
Steven Doris came close to an equaliser soon after but we generally struggled to create openings and had Callum Reidford to thank for making some vital saves to keep us in touch.
Kean squandered a couple of clear-cut chances for Hurlford but it looked as if one goal would be enough, particularly when Wedderburn, one of five Albion players booked, saw red for a second yellow card with 14 minutes remaining.
Stirling dug out an unlikely equaliser two minutes later when Fulton’s deep corner was met by Chris Smith at the far post and he did well to guide a header into the net.
Hurlford pressed hard for a winner in the closing stages but we survived four minutes of injury time and a flurry of late corners to force a replay.
Hurlford United: A Brown, Cameron, Byrne (M Brown 73), McGregor (R Robertson 46), Mitchell, Masterton (Wilson 68), McKenzie, Cochrane, Kean, C Robertson, Chisholm. Subs (not used): Watt, McHarrie, Dempster, O’Neil.
Scorer: Stewart Kean 10
Stirling Albion: Reidford, Hamilton (McGeachie 62), Forsyth, McClune, Wedderburn, C Smith, Weir, Fulton, G Smith, Doris, Creaney (Johnston 53).
Subs (not used): D Smith, Munn, Al-Sayed, Paterson.
Scorer: Chris Smith 78
Referee: Alan Newlands
Crowd: 551
