Captain Ross McGeachie scored the only goal as Dave Mackay’s men ended their long wait for a home win in front of 702 fans at Forthbank.

It was our first success here since beating Clyde 2-1 in late February and came on the back of an excellent 3-0 victory at Elgin City in our previous outing on September 1.

Stirling were much the better team in the first half and, although the second period was tighter, we ran out worthy winners against Gus MacPherson’s side.

The Spiders had stunned Welsh champions The New Saints in the IRN-BRU Cup the previous week but failed to create much against a solid-looking Albion side, on what was their first visit to Fortbank since a 0-0 draw in January 2016.

Darren Smith and Lee Hamilton were sidelined through injury and Kyle Banner missed out due to illness. There was a debut as a trialist for former St Mirren midfielder Evan Horne and he impressed in a right wing-back role as we again went with a back three.

Stirling started positively and Peter MacDonald came close after just 20 seconds but we didn’t have long to wait for the opening goal.

It came in 12 minutes when man of the match Jordan Allan’s deep corner was met by McGeachie – his header from a tight angle found the roof of the net for his first goal since the 3-0 defeat of Annan in February.

Allan rattled the crossbar with a spectacular effort from 30 yards in 44 minutes and Cammy Thomson nodded over early in the second period but one goal was to prove enough.

Queen’s Park had some decent spells of possession in the second half but Calum Ferrie didn’t have too many saves to make.

The visitors played the last few minutes of normal time and the eight additional minutes with 10 men after Cammy Foy sustained what looked like a serious knee injury when their three subs had already been used.

Stirling Albion: Ferrie, McGeachie, Allan, Marr, Horne, Thomson, Jardine (Moon 65), MacDonald, Fell (Stewart 77), Docherty, Robertson (McLaughlin 82). Subs (not used): Binnie (GK), McLaren, Barr.

Goal: McGeachie 12

Queen’s Park: Hart, Grant, Summers (Miller 46), McKernon, Foy, Gibson, Roberts, Fotheringham, Mortimer, Peters (East 71), Osadolor (McLean 52). Subs (not used): Anderson (GK), Martin, Sharpe, Maguire.

Referee: Lloyd Wilson

Crowd: 702