Listless Binos dash hopes of top-four finish

Stirling fail to bring fight to East Fife

- Stuart McFarlane

Stirling’s League Two hopes were dealt a likely fatal blow as Nathan Austin’s brace secured a deserved win against a listless Albion side.

Coming into the match, both sides had much to play for in their respective fights for the end of the season - but in reality, Stirling failed to muster much excitement as the streetwise home side controlled the contest from the first whistle.

It was the visitors who were first to threaten on a typically blustery afternoon at Bayview, Callum Crane linking up with Ryan Shanley, with the latter’s pass just skipping on too far on the artificial surface to allow Liam McFarlane to collect

But it was the Fifers who had the lead on nine minutes with their first chance of the match.

A corner was swung into the Stirling box and could only be half punched clear to the edge of the area where Nathan Austin was on hand to drill a low finish into the net from 16 yards.

There was almost a quick fire second as East Fife attacked with confidence, Adam Laaref laying in Michael McKenna, but his angled finish was tame and straight at Derek Gaston.