Stirling suffered a fifth straight league defeat on Saturday as second-placed Forfar took the points on a cold and misty afternoon at Station Park.

Goals early and late in the second half from Craig Slater and Stefan McCluskey did the damage as the Loons extended their unbeaten home record this season.

James Creaney was in interim charge after the resignation of Kevin Rutkiewicz but he was without skipper Ross McGeachie and fellow defenders Martin McNiff and Paul McLean so there was a first start at left-back for Leo Watson, on loan from Hearts.

Forfar edged a first-half short on chances then took the lead in 47 minutes when Slater found the bottom corner with a well-taken shot from the edge of the area.

Substitute Dylan Bikey had a goal harshly disallowed for handball and Dale Carrick missed a good chance before the Loons sealed the win in stoppage time.

Scott Shepherd broke on the right and picked out McCluskey, who swept a first-time shot past Blair Currie for his sixth league goal of the campaign.

Forfar Athletic: McCallum, Meechan, S Anderson, Munro, Fisher (Hussain 62), Ness (Thomas 27), Slater, G Anderson, Crossan, Aitken (Shepherd 85), McCluskey. Subs (not used): Sanderson (GK), Doris, Gallagher, Harkins, Irvine.

Goals: Slater 48, McCluskey 90

Stirling Albion: Currie, Banner, Watson, Cummins, McGregor, Laird (Roberts 45), Scally (Bikey 70), Grant, Carrick, Leitch (Flanagan 65), Mackin. Subs (not used): Law (GK), Heaver, Moore, Creaney.

Referee: Duncan Williams

Crowd: 473