Stirling went down to their second home defeat in a row as City followed Stranraer in claiming a single-goal midweek victory Forthbank.

A mistake by goalkeeper Cammy Binnie – who has been excellent this season – gifted Ouzy See a 34th-minute goal and that proved to be decisive in a hard-fought contest of few clear-cut opportunities for either side, although a draw would probably have been fair.

The result meant Albion finished third in the regular 18-game season and begin their post-split fixtures against the same opponents at Ainslie Park on Saturday, having won 3-2 on their last visit to the capital just before Christmas.

Manager Kevin Rutkiewicz named an unchanged side to the one that thrashed Cowdenbeath 5-1 at Central Park on Saturday, with Paul McLean and Aldin El-Zubaidi still on the injury list. Edinburgh arrived in town on the back of their first defeat since Gary Naysmith took over – 3-2 to leaders Queen’s Park – and they made a number of changes to freshen things up.

It turned out to be a frustrating night for Stirling as they slipped to defeat and fell three points behind City while fellow promotion contenders Stranraer, who won at Albion Rovers, and Elgin City, who held champions Queen’s Park to a draw, both picked up points.

The visitors stated this match better but didn’t create much and Stirling soon found their feet, knocking the ball about well. They almost went ahead after 20 minutes but Liam Brown cleared a shot from on-loan Hearts midfielder Chris Hamilton off the line.

The opening goal came out of nothing in 34 minutes and is one Binnie will want to forget. Kyle Banner passed the ball back and there was plenty time for the Stirling No 1 to decide his next move but he took too long and was robbed by See – the former Albion Rovers forward knocked the ball into the empty net.

Stirling almost responded immediately but midfielder Jack Leitch’s lovely curling effort from the left, which beat Calum Antell, bounced against the top of the crossbar.

There were few occasions in the second half when an equaliser looked likely and Andy Ryan, who has scored 12 times this term, was kept fairly quiet by the visiting defence. Dylan Mackin had a header blocked following a corner but Edinburgh saw the game out to seal a significant victory in the four-way battle for three play-off places.

Stirling Albion: Binnie, McGeachie, Eadie, Banner, Hamilton, Allan (S Roberts 75), Ryan (Byrne 84), Docherty (Kirkpatrick 84), Mackin, Leitch, Moore (Bikey 84). Subs (not used): Currie (GK), McGregor, Wilson, K Roberts, Heaver.

Edinburgh City: Antell, McIntyre, Balatoni, Laird, Crane (Newman 67), Brown (Black 90), Handling (Campbell 77), Jardine, Denham, See, De Vita. Subs (not used): Goodfellow (GK), Beveridge (GK), Thomson, Dishington.

Goal: Ouzy See 34

Referee: David Lowe