Rovers claimed their first win of the season after a horrible 90 minutes for Stirling at the Reigart Stadium.

An early Lewis McLear goal and a second-half double from Ryan Watters – son of Albion legend Willie – earned John Brogan’s men a deserved three points as we suffered our sixth defeat in eight League 2 fixtures. It turned out to be Dave Mackay’s last game as manager after almost two years in charge.

On-loan Hamilton midfielder Ronan Hughes made his debut at right wing-back while Lee Hamilton, Darren Smith and Willie Robertson missed out through injury.

Rovers, with the strong wind behind them, went ahead after just nine minutes when keeper Calum Ferrie hit a clearance straight at McLear, who took the ball round him and knocked it into the empty net.

The Binos offered little response in a first half largely devoid of incident and the home side looked comfortable on their one-goal advantage. We showed a bit more life in the second half but were caught out when McLear’s ball in from the right was converted by Watters at the far post.

Stirling did plenty of pressing but couldn’t find a way past on-loan Motherwell keeper Peter Morrison. He made a number of fine saves, notably one from a Jason Marr overhead kick. Kyle Banner hit the bar with a header from a corner and Mark Stewart dragged a shot wide when he might have done better.

It was all over with seven minutes left when Watters was free in the box to lash the ball past Ferrie and complete a miserable afternoon on our first visit to this ground since a 2-0 win in April 2014.

Albion Rovers: Morrison, Fagan, Reid, Eley, Wharton, McGeough, McLear (Gracie 88), Fisher, McMahon (Watson 56), Gallagher, Watters (Cunningham 90).
Subs (not used): Potts, Kearney, Murdoch, Wilson.

Goals: McLear 9, Watters 53, 86

Stirling Albion: Ferrie, McGeachie, Allan, Banner, Thomson (Marr 31), Moon, Stewart, Jardine, MacDonald (McLaren 56), Hughes, Fell (McLaughlin 56).
Subs (not used): Binnie (GK), Horne, Docherty, Barr.

Referee: Kevin Graham

Crowd: 260