Stirling Albion 2-0 Brechin City
Penalties from Peter MacDonald and Liam Caddis earned Dave Mackay’s men a terrific win over our Championship opponents in our final match in Betfred Cup Group A.
The result leaves us in second place in the table ahead of matchday five on Saturday and we will finish third at worst, with Falkirk clinching top spot this evening.
There were five changes to the team that beat Forfar 3-1 on Saturday, with Cammy Binnie, Steven Noble, skipper Willie Robertson, MacDonald and Sean Dickson all drafted into the starting line-up.
It was another hugely impressive performance and the team showed a great work ethic and determination to get the better of a physically strong City side.
We broke the deadlock five minutes before the break when Ewan McNeil was tripped in the box and MacDonald lashed the penalty high past Graeme Smith.
Brechin posed more of a threat in the second half but defender Ryan McGeever hooked a shot over from close range and former Bino Isaac Layne was guilty of some poor finishing.
MacDonald sent a header against the top of the bar and substitute Darren Smith should have converted a Ross Kavanagh cross on the break but fired over.
We sealed victory in stoppage time – on-loan Hearts winger Callumn Morrison was brought down by Euan Spark on the right edge of the box, with Caddis scoring easily from the spot.
With only four of the eight runners-up progressing to the last 16, our points tally of seven won’t be enough even if we hang on to second spot but it’s been an outstanding week of football since the opening-day defeat at Falkirk.
Stirling Albion: Binnie, McGeachie, Noble, McNeil, R Smith (Hamilton 86), Robertson (Black 63), Morrison, Caddis, MacDonald (D Smith 74), Kavanagh, Dickson. Subs (not used): Davidson, McMullan, Cameron, Foden (GK).
Goals: MacDonald pen 40, Caddis pen 90
Brechin City: Smith, Lynas, Dyer, Crighton, McGeever, Dale, Spark, Orsi (Graham 55), Jackson, Love (Sinclair 68), Layne. Subs (not used): Ford, C O’Neil, Dods, P O’Neil (GK).
Referee: Alan Newlands
Crowd: 430
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