Albion had to settle for a point in the Friday night fixture despite an impressive performance in the capital.
The Binos had the bulk of the chances in an entertaining match but City keeper Brian Schwake was in fine form and we couldn’t quite manage the victory that would have taken us top of the cinch League 2 table, albeit for 24 hours.
Kevin Rutkiewicz made one change to the team that beat Forfar Athletic, with Dylan Bikey replacing the injured Daniel Scally for the trip to Ainslie Park, where we won twice in season 2020/21.
The Binos went ahead with a stunning goal after 13 minutes. Dale Carrick played the ball up to Dylan Mackin, who nodded it down for Jack Leitch and the midfielder didn’t have to break stride as he lashed a superb shot beyond Schwake from the edge of the area.
City were not without threat and equalised towards half-time when on-loan Hibs midfielder Innes Murray scored from a tight angle with a fine finish in off the bar.
Gary Naysmith’s men took the lead on the hour mark when James Hilton smashed home a 20-yarder but we deservedly equalised through Mackin’s free kick 10 minutes later.
On a night when Bikey hit the bar and Mackin had a header blocked on the line, we almost won it in stoppage time when Jordan McGregor headed a Nathan Flanagan free-kick wide.
Edinburgh City: Schwake, Reekie, Hamilton (Toshney 28) (Jardine 46) (Kane 64), Bronsky, Tapping, See, Hilton, Brian, Murray, Robertson (Shanley 73), Crane. Subs (not used): Goodfellow (GK), McFarlane.
Goals: Murray 40, Hilton 60
Stirling Albion: Currie, McGeachie, McNiff, Cummins, McGregor, Grant, Carrick (Flanagan 65), Roberts, Mackin, Leitch, Bikey. Subs (not used): Law (GK), Banner, Watson, Heaver, Laird, Omar, Moore.
Goals: Leitch 13, Mackin 69
Referee: Ross Hardie
Crowd: 479
