Kieran Moore came off the bench to score the only goal after 65 minutes as we marked our League 2 return with a narrow win against the bottom club to move up to second in the table.
If you discount the abandoned New Year derby at Stenhousemuir, this was Stirling’s first League 2 outing since beating Edinburgh City 3-2 on December 19.
It was far from a classic but in this shortened season of just 18 games, followed by a split into a top and bottom half for a further four fixtures, every win is precious.
Binos boss Kevin Rutkiewicz had to do without suspended midfielder Jack Leitch while Cammy Thomson and Dylan Bikey missed out through injury. Paul McLean picked up a knock during the first half and was replaced by David Wilson, with Kyle Banner dropping back into the centre of defence.
Brechin’s new recruits included experienced winger Bobby Barr, former Partick Thistle midfielder Abdul Osman and veteran centre-half Gerry McLauchlan. They were resolute and offered Albion little encouragement during a first half largely devoid of goalmouth incident until the closing minutes.
Cammy Binnie then did well to tip over a header from on-loan Rangers forward Chris McKee and pushed away a fierce drive from midfielder Connor Barron, who is on loan from Aberdeen.
Amid that flurry of action just before the interval, Dom Docherty should have put the Binos ahead but instead he blazed over from only seven yards.
Stirling were a bit brighter in the second half and Ross McGeachie and Andy Ryan forced saves from David Hutton but the visitors were holding their own.
The breakthrough came, however, in 65 minutes. Moore, not long on as a substitute, found space at the back post and found the net with a cool, low finish from six yards after being perfectly picked out by Ryan’s cross from the right.
It was the winger’s first goal since joining from Queen’s Park and it proved to be a decisive one from the 21-year-old, who originally came to prominence as a striker for Lochgilphead Red Star.
Stirling Albion: Binnie, McGeachie, El-Zubaidi, McLean (Wilson 32), McGregor, K Roberts, Ryan, Banner, Byrne, Docherty (Hamilton 83), S Roberts (Moore 59). Subs (not used): Currie (GK), Greenhorn, Heaver, Creaney, Mackin.
Scorer: Moore 65
Brechin City: Hutton, McLevy, McLauchlan (Jordan 84), Hussain, O’Connor, Barron, M Paton (Coupe 54), Osman (Inglis 84), Barr (Currie 74), McKee, Slaven (C Paton 74). Subs (not used): O’Neil (GK), McIntosh, Page, Reekie.
Referee: Barry Cook
