Stirling 1 Falkirk 0
Darren Smith scored the only goal just before half-time as we began our Betfred Cup Group B campaign by shocking local rivals Falkirk.
Smith bundled the ball past on-loan Aberdeen keeper Danny Rogers after being picked out by a superb deep cross from ex-Alloa forward Eddie Ferns, who was named man of the match.
The first League Cup tie between the teams since 1981/82 was played on an immaculate surface, with the pitch having been lifted and reseeded.
Binos boss Stuart McLaren was without injured duo Ross McGeachie and Aurelien Mazel while Ross Smith was suspended against a Falkirk side who just missed out on promotion to the Ladbrokes Premiership.
Peter Houston’s men had the ball in the net on the half-hour mark but Luke Leahy was flagged offside after Chris Smith had pushed out a Bob McHugh drive.
McHugh then fired when clean through but we finished the half strongly and Darren Smith came close before he broke the deadlock in 42 minutes.
We almost scored again before the break when Marc McKenzie failed to convert from a tight angle after Smith turned the ball across goal.
The ex-Motherwell man delayed just too long inside the opening minute of the second half as we threatened again but Falkirk were more and more on the front foot as the game progressed.
Leahy forced a good save from Chris Smith, James Craigen was just too high with a curling effort and Lee Miller sent a header narrowly over the bar.
There were loud appeals for a penalty with 10 minutes left when McHugh went down in the box under a challenge from David Verlaque but referee Coin Steven booked him for what he deemed to be simulation.
Craig Sibbald then fired over from inside the six-yard box as Falkirk cranked up the pressure and Smith made a vital save during the four minutes of stoppage time as we held on for a deserved win on the back of an outstanding team performance.
Stirling Albion: C Smith, Hodge, McMillan, McKenzie (Olanrewaju 75), Petrie, D Smith (Henderson 67), Ferns (Mills 90), Verlaque, Scott Davidson, Dickson, McCue. Subs (not used): Binnie (GK), Burns, Sam Davidson, Docherty.
Goal: D Smith 42
Falkirk: Rogers, Kidd, Leahy, Kerr, Baird (Miller 55), Sibbald, Hippolyte (Austin 55), Gasparotto, McHugh, Craigen (Taiwo 68), Watson.
Subs (not used): D Mehmet (GK), Muirhead, McCracken, O’Hara.
Referee: Colin Steven
Crowd: 1,315
