Stirling got their cinch League 2 season back on track with a convincing victory at Stair Park.

We hadn’t won any of their last eight meetings with the Blues but fine goals from Dylan Mackin, Ray Grant and skipper Ross McGeachie gave the Binos a first win in this fixture since an incredible 8-2 triumph on this ground in January 2009.

Manager Kevin Rutkiewicz made two changes to the team that were well beaten at Galabank. Jack Leitch returned and Kurtis Roberts was also handed a start as Rabin Omar and Kieran Moore made way.

Paul McLean and Marc Laird missed out due to injury while new signing Daniel Scally was on the bench and made his debut as a substitute, along with fellow recent recruit Ciaran Summers.

Stranraer went into this one having drawn their opening game at Elgin before losing 3-0 at home to Annan. Their trip to Cowdenbeath was postponed due to Covid issues in the Fife club.

Martin McNiff, Dale Carrick, Grant, Leitch and Mackin all came close in a half peppered with efforts on goal while at the other end new Stranraer signing Emile Ngoy should have broken the deadlock.

In the last two matches, Stirling had conceded two goals in as many minutes but here they scored a quick double to effectively put the game beyond their hosts.

Mackin was excellent as a focal point to the attack and was rewarded in 39 minutes when he controlled the ball and arrowed a low shot across on-loan Kilmarnock keeper Curtis Lyle for a fantastic finish. Grant then made it 2-0 when his drive from at least 30 yards went in off the post.

Stranraer thought they had scored in the early part of the second half but the referee had already blown for a foul and they were denied again when Josh Walker was unlucky to see his free-kick smack against the crossbar.

The clincher came midway through the second period when Nathan Flanagan’s superb delivery from a free-kick on the left flank was met by McGeachie, who sent a downward header into the net.

Stranraer: Lyle, Roberts, Burns, Ross, McIntosh, Langan, Gallagher, Ngoy (Rennie 80), Woods (Duffy 46), Walker, Yates (Moore 71). Subs (not used): Scullion (GK), Sonkur.

Stirling Albion: Currie, McGeachie, McNiff (Summers 67), Cummins, McGregor, Grant (Banner 79), Carrick, Roberts, Mackin (Bikey 85), Leitch (Scally 79), Flanagan (Heaver 85). Subs (not used): Law (GK), Omar, Moore, Creaney.

Goals: Mackin 39, Grant 41, McGeachie 66

Referee: Barry Cook

Crowd: 275