Stirling went down to a disappointing defeat at Galabank as Annan deservedly took all three points.

Two goals in the space of 60 seconds midway through the first half had Peter Murphy’s men in control and they added a late third after Kurtis Roberts had pulled one back.

Jack Leitch was again missing but Dylan Mackin returned from a one-match ban as we looked to bounce back from the 3-1 defeat to Kelty Hearts.

We had won our last four meetings with Annan but that run ended with a poor performance at a blustery Galabank.

The hosts, with the wind behind them in the first half, went ahead in 22 minutes when keeper Blair Currie allowed Chris Johnston to nick the ball off him and the winger scored with a lob from the edge of the box.

Almost immediately, Annan scored again as we gave the ball away – ex-Dalbeattie frontman Iain Anderson strode forward and lashed a 20-yarder into the corner.

We had more of the ball in the second half and Ray Grant had a shot blocked before Roberts, on as a sub, scored with a low, deflected drive from the edge of the area in 73 minutes.

Kieran Moore came close soon after but the Galabankies sealed the victory when Tommy Goss got away from Jordan McGregor and thumped a shot past Currie.

Annan Athletic: Fleming, Barnes, Lowdon, Douglas, Swinglehurst, Moxon, Wallace, Docherty (Goss 67), Johnston (Hunter 78), Anderson, Smith.
Subs (not used): Adamson (GK), Birch, Purdue, McCartney, Fleming.

Goals: Johnston 22, Anderson 23, Goss 85

Stirling Albion: Currie, McGeachie, McNiff, Cummins, McGregor, Grant, Moore, Omar (Roberts 46), Flanagan (Bikey 67), Carrick (Heaver 79), Mackin.
Subs (not used): Law (GK), Banner, Summers, Creaney.

Goal: Roberts 73

Referee: Calum Scott

Crowd: 295