David Galt scored the only goal with 14 minutes left as we slipped to an opening-day defeat in Ladbrokes League 2.
In a game of few chances, the Spiders’ skipper made the difference and our day got worse when captain Ross McGeachie saw red for lunging in on substitute Alfredo Agyeman.
On an afternoon of warm sunshine a healthy crowd of 701 turned out at Forthbank but it was the visiting fans who went home happy. There wasn’t much in it for the most part but Mark Roberts’ side were denied by the woodwork on two occasions while we struggled to create much.
Binos boss Kevin Rutkiewicz was without injured defenders Jordan McGregor and James Creaney for our first league opener on home soil since a 1-0 defeat to Clyde in 2015/16.
The first half produced little in the way of goalmouth incident but Queen’s Park almost took the lead early in the second period when Salim Kouider-Aissa – a summer signing from Kilsyth Rangers –headed a free-kick on to the underside of the bar and David Wilson cleared the danger.
We had a penalty shout waved away when Cammy Thomson went down under a challenge from keeper Willie Muir and the Hampden side took the lead shortly after.
Galt seized possession in the middle of the park and Kevin Nicoll, already on a booking, was unable to risk a challenge from behind as he chased. The defence backed off and the former Alloa man drilled a low shot beyond Blair Currie and into the corner.
The same player was denied a second when his 30-yard free-kick crashed off the post but one goal proved enough to take all three points and we now head to Central Park to play Cowdenbeath next weekend aiming to bounce back immediately.
Stirling Albion: Currie, McGeachie, Lowdon, Thomson, Banner, McLean, Jardine, Nicoll (Hawke 80), Mackin, Wilson, Willis. Subs (not used): Binnie (GK), Truesdale, Docherty, Scott, Wright, Peters.
Queen’s Park: Muir, Mortimer, Summers, Little, Magee, Jamieson, Lidouren, Block, Kouider-Aissa, Galt, Purdue (Agyeman 71). Subs (not used): Heraghty (GK), Moore, Grant, Main, Gibson, Griffiths.
Scorer: Galt 76
Referee: Calum Scott
Crowd: 701
