It was honours even on our first league visit to Stair Park since January 2015 as we stayed a point ahead of Stranraer, although we slipped to fourth place in the table on goal difference after Edinburgh City’s big win over Albion Rovers.
A draw felt about right overall – we should have been further than 2-1 ahead at half-time but the Blues were more of a threat in the second half on a bright but cold day in the south west.
Stranraer went ahead after just seven minutes – Ruari Paton provided the assist and Thomas Orr headed home from almost on the line but we were level soon after. Kieran Moore was fouled by Darryl Duffy just inside the box and Andy Ryan easily converted from the spot for his fifth goal of the season.
We took the lead in 34 minutes when David Wilson’s speculative 35-yarder took a big deflection off Connor McManus and beat keeper Greg Fleming for an own goal. The former Peterhead No 1 then made a superb save to tip a Declan Byrne volley on to the bar after he was picked out by Moore.
Stevie Farrell’s men were back on level terms in 56 minutes when former Stirling striker Duffy found the bottom corner from 20 yards to score for the fifth game in a row.
Jack Leitch almost restored our advantage 60 seconds later but the home side had more chances in the second half and Cammy Binnie made an excellent save in the closing stages to ensure a point.
Stranraer: Fleming, Robertson, Cummins, Sonkur, McManus, Gallagher, Duffy (Stirling 74), Victoria, Millar, Paton (Yates 87), Orr. Subs (not used): Walker (GK), Burns, Hilton, Devitt, Hamill.
Goals: Orr 7, Duffy 56
Stirling Albion: Binnie, Banner, Creaney (S Roberts 64), McLean, McGregor (El-Zubaidi 80), K Roberts, Ryan, Wilson, Byrne (Mackin 84), Leitch, Moore. Subs (not used): Currie (GK), Thomson, Magee, Docherty, Heaver.
Goals: Ryan pen 15, McManus og 34
Referee: Matthew MacDermid
