Undone at the end at Forthbank

Last updated : 06 March 2016 By Fargone

From the Stirling Albion website:

Stirling 1 Arbroath 0

Craig Beattie came off the bench to grab the only goal with eight minutes left and move us to within a point of the play-offs with a precious win.

The former Scotland striker had only been on the pitch for five minutes when he took a pass from Steven Doris and found the corner with a low shot beyond Arbroath keeper Allan Fleming.

Chances were few in a poor game that looked to be heading for a 0-0 draw but Beattie’s fifth goal of the season gives us a big lift going into Tuesday’s match at Elgin.

Binos boss Stuart McLaren had to do without seven players due to injury, with Scot Buist, Kevin McKinlay, Ross Smith (also suspended), Lewis McLear, Craig Comrie, Aurelien Mazel and Sean Dickson all ruled out.

There was a debut for U20 midfielder Scott Burns in a team that showed three changes from the 2-2 draw at Annan last week – David Verlaque and Ross McGeachie also returned to the starting line-up.

Burns, who has been on loan with Carluke Rovers, showed up well and within two minutes he sent Doris clear but our top scorer’s first touch was heavy and Fleming made the save.

Thereafter, this was a match of very little goalmouth incident. Burns did well to bravely block a Mark Whatley shot and Arbroath created a couple of openings in the second half but Bobby Linn was thwarted by timely interventions from Ross McGeachie and Ross Forsyth.

Doris thundered a shot narrowly off target with 10 minutes left but it was Beattie who made the difference to earn us our third win of 2016 as the Red Lichties failed to score for the fourth match in a row.

Stirling Albion: C Smith, Johnston, Forsyth, Robertson, McGeachie, McMillan, Lamont (Hamilton 89), Verlaque, Doris, D Smith (Beattie 77), Burns (Olanrewaju 67).
Subs (not used): Kavanagh, Herron, Kouider-Aissa, Binnie (GK).

Scorer: Beattie 82

Arbroath: Fleming, Wilson, Lowdon, Williams, Munro, Whatley, Linn, Stewart (Alvarez 77), G Rutherford (Hester 63), Henry (Skelly 77), Ramsay.
Subs (not used): S Rutherford, Reid, Brodie (GK).

Referee: Alan Newlands

Crowd: 652