Albion suffered a first League 2 defeat of the season and slipped to third place in the table as Elgin came out on top at Forthbank.

Midfielder Kurtis Roberts scored his first goal for the club and Cammy Binnie saved a Russell Dingwall penalty but headers from centre-half Stephen Bronsky and young forward Aidan Sopel moved Gavin Price’s men up to second spot.

This was the fourth meeting of the teams in 2020 and Elgin have won all of them. They went into the game on the back of two league defeats and without influential striker Kane Hester but shaded a tight and often untidy contest of few clear-cut chances.

Binos boss Kevin Rutkiewicz was without Sean Heaver, Dom Docherty and Callum Law but was able to name the same team that had beaten Annan and Brechin in our last two League 2 outings. Blair Currie and Paul McLean returned to the squad and were joined on the bench by 17-year-old midfielder Kyle Johnston.

Not too much happened before Elgin were awarded a penalty in 38 minutes for handball against Jack Leitch. Dingwall’s poor effort was saved by Binnie but from the corner that followed Bronsky headed home at the near post.

The equaliser arrived just two minutes into the second half and was something of a freak goal. Kurtis Roberts swung over a cross from out on the right touchline and the ball looped beyond keeper Tom McHale.

Elgin were back in front a few minutes later when Sopel’s downward header gave Binnie no chance and, although Andy Ryan was unlucky to see a shot hit the top of the bar, we struggled to make inroads as Elgin defended well to secure the victory.

Stirling Albion: Binnie, McGeachie, Banner, El-Zubaidi, McGregor, K Roberts, Ryan, Wilson, Byrne (Mackin 62), Leitch, S Roberts (Moore 70). Subs (not used): Currie (GK), Magee, Thomson, McLean, Johnston, Creaney.

Scorer: K Roberts 47

Elgin City: McHale, Cooper, Spark, McDonald, Bronsky, MacEwan (Mailer 71), Dingwall, Cameron, Peters (Osadolor 69), MacBeath, Sopel (McHardy 87). Subs (not used): Kelly (GK), Wilson, O’Keefe, Hay, Loveland, Allen.

Scorers: Bronsky 39, Sopel 51

Referee: David Lowe