Stirling Albion left it late to win 1-0 against a sturdy Montrose side at Forthbank with the goal coming in the last minute of the game from substitute Kieran Offord in Darren Young’s 100th game as manager.
There was only one change to the starting line-up from last week’s match against Hamilton at New Douglas Park, with Kyle Banner coming in for Lewis Milne.
The game’s first significant moment came when Jack Leitch received a yellow card just 7 minutes in, following a robust tackle on Luke Graham.
In the 13th minute, Albion’s fluid passing allowed Dale Carrick to break free on the left side of the box. He managed to send a well-placed ball into the middle, but it was cleared away before any Binos players could reach it.
20 minutes into the game, Josh McPake took a shot from distance outside the box, but it went wide of the left side of the Montrose goal.
Five minutes later, the Binos had a prime chance to take the lead through Dale Hilson as he raced down the right side of the pitch and cut inside the Montrose box. His shot on goal was tipped around the post by Cammy Gill.
Paul McLean made a clever run down the middle in the 33rd minute, chipping the ball over the Montrose defense to Dale Carrick, however it had too much power and was collected by Cammy Gill.
Cameron Clark tried to put Stirling ahead in the 37th minute with an ambitious 25-yard shot on goal, however his attempt went wide for a goal kick.
Dale Hilson linked up nicely with Dale Carrick in the 42nd minute. Carrick received Hilson’s pass from out wide perfectly on the edge of the box, turned neatly, and got a shot away, but it went wide.
Half-Time: 0-0
Five minutes into the second half, Josh McPake made a storming run down the left flank, managing to cut inside and attempt to get a shot away, however it was bravely blocked by Sean Dillon.
Montrose had their first chance of the half in the 58th minute as Graham Webster received the ball in the middle of the Binos box after a quick breakaway and rifled his shot well over the bar.
The ball dropped to Kyle Banner unexpectedly in the 64th minute, he reacted well and managed to get a quick reaction shot away but it would fire over the bar.
Montrose had another opportunity in the 66th minute, as substitute Harry Craig made a quick run towards the Albion goal and found Blair Lyons out wide who crossed the ball across goal. No Montrose player could connect with it though, and the score would remain level.
Paul McLean had the biggest chance of the game to put the Binos 1-0 up on the 70th minute as his header, which looked destined to go into the net, was cleared off the line by Graham Webster to keep the score level.
The Binos looked to be coming on to a game as Josh McPake had another effort on goal a minute later from 16 yards out but his shot curled around the right side of the Montrose net.
With 5 minutes left of the game, a hanging ball in from a corner found Greig Spence inside the Montrose box who managed to connect with the ball nicely, but his header was just too high and landed on the roof of the net.
A quick counter attack from Montrose meant that substitute Craig Batchelor had the opportunity to put the visitors 1-0 up, this was prevented by a tremendous saved by Blair Currie to keep the score level.
In the last minute of the game, with the game looking to be petering out for a 0-0 draw. Super subs Greig Spence and Kieran Offord were the game changers, as Spence broke free from the Montrose back line and passed the ball neatly into the middle of the Montrose box to find Offord who then slotted the ball into the back of the net to secure a 1-0 win and all three points for the Binos.
Full-Time: 1-0
Stirling Albion: Currie, McGeachie, Clark, McLean, McGregor, Carrick (Offord 78’), Leitch (Milne 83’), Banner, McPake (Cummins 90’), Hilson (Spence 78’), Crane
Unused Subs: Weir, Moore, Cooper
Montrose: Gill, Steeves, Quinn (Williamson 68’), Webster, Hester, Gardyne, Lyons (Batchelor 78’), Dillon, Shrive (Hermiston 78’), Geaham, Machado (Brown 63’)
Unused Subs: Matthews, Emslie, Craig, Bradford
