Stirling’s hopes of reaching the play-offs suffered a major blow when we were beaten by Edinburgh City on Friday.

On a cold and windy evening at Ainslie Park, former Forthbank defender Lee Hamilton scored the only goal of the game just short of the hour mark.

It earned City a third straight win in cinch League 2 and leaves Albion 10 points behind Gary Naysmith’s side and sitting seventh in the table.

Darren Young made two changes, with Jordan McGregor returning and Kieran Moore playing at right-back as skipper Ross McGeachie and fellow defender Adam Cummins were ruled out.

Kyle Banner had a volley cleared off the line by Hamilton inside two minutes and we were playing some nice stuff, with on-loan Aberdeen full-back Mason Hancock a driving force on the left.

Edinburgh then came more into things – Blair Currie did well to tip over a powerful drive from Callum Crane and made a superb save to deny Michael Travis at the back post following a corner.

Dylan Mackin went close with a header early in the second half but there was a let-off when McGregor diverted a cross on to his own post before City broke the deadlock. A long throw-in was flicked on and Hamilton was free at the back post to lash the ball into the net from around six yards.

We had some late pressure but created little in the way of clear-cut chances as Edinburgh held on to make it six games without loss in cinch League 2.

Edinburgh City: Schwake, Hamilton, Logan, Travis, Crane, Stirling, Handling (Berry 89), Brydon, Murray, Robertson (Jardine 80), See (Shanley 65). Subs (not used): Leighfield (GK), Farrell.

Goal: Hamilton 59

Stirling Albion: Currie, Moore, Hancock, Banner, McGregor, Grant, Roberts, Leitch, Flanagan (Paterson 67), Francis (Carrick 67), Mackin. Subs (not used): Law (GK), McNiff, Creaney, Laird.

Referee: Stewart Luke

Crowd: 498