Stirling racked up a comprehensive win against Ian Little’s Lowland League side on Boxing Day as we sealed our place in round two of the Scottish Cup.

Kurtis Roberts and Declan Byrne were on target in the first half and top scorer Andy Ryan sealed the victory early in the second period in windy conditions at Shielfield.

Our away form in 2020 has been outstanding and that continued on what was our first visit to Berwick since a 2-1 success in League 2 in February 2019.

We looked in control from the start and it was no surprise when we went ahead in 17 minutes – Ryan teed up Roberts and the midfielder sent a beauty into the net from the edge of the box.

Byrne scored for the third game in a row just a few minutes later with a cool, low finish after he had latched on to a pass from defender Aldin El-Zubaidi.

Berwick missed a good chance to pull one back when Grant Nelson scuffed his shot but keeper Blair Currie had very little to do on what was his first appearance of the season.

It was all over six minutes into the second half when Ryan lashed a 25 yarder high into the net for his seventh goal of the season and sub Dylan Mackin was denied by keeper Dougie Horne.

Berwick Rangers: Horne, Waugh, Ferguson, Finnie, Sinclair (D Purves 79), Smith, Ward (J Purves 69), Forster, Somerville (Wright 69), Nelson, Allan. Subs (not used): McNeil (GK), Lawler, D Smith, L Smith.

Stirling Albion: Currie, McGeachie, El-Zubaidi, McLean, McGregor, K Roberts, Ryan (Mackin 61), Docherty, Byrne (Heaver 87), Leitch, Roberts (Thomson 77). Subs (not used): Binnie (GK), Banner, Mitchell, Moore.

Goals: K Roberts 17, Byrne 21, Ryan 51

Referee: Mike Roncone