Stirling Albion boss Darren Young admitted his side dodged a potentially big blow in the League Two title race as they snatched a dramatic last-gasp winner in a Valentine’s Day thriller at New Dundas Park.
Rose threatened to put a thorn in the side of the Binos’ effort to hunt down table-topping Dumbarton after Kevin Smith’s leveller seven minutes from time. But Greig Spence popped up with his second goal for Albion since signing in January to cut the gap on the Sons to four points – much to the delight of the sizeable away support.
Stirling gaffer Young acknowledged his side weren’t at their best on a night where their injury problems continued to grow, but hailed his side’s never-say-die spirit – and his new striker – for sealing a tough win.
Young said: “We had a great start and that gave us something to hold on to but it wasn’t pretty on the eye.
“They could possibly feel unfortunate to be going into half-time 1-0 behind but we defended our box well and that’s one of the things you need to do in this league. It was a hard-fought game and everyone had to stand up and be counted and they all did.
“Every single player knocked their pan in and they’ve all turned up on the night. It was scrappy but it’s a really good result for us.
“It’s a massive three points and we’re delighted to get them, there are games this season where we’ve played a lot better than that and come away with nothing. We had a few words at
half-time knowing we were playing down the slope in the second half and I thought we did a lot better and got our foot on the ball.
“We had a few half-chances and then Spenny comes on and does what he’s good at – he’s here to score goals. He scored one last week to get us the point .”
The task doesn’t get easier for the Binos as tomorrow they head for Galabank to take on Annan Athletic, who have enjoyed a recent surge in form as they launch a play-off bid – but lost out 2-1 to Dumbarton in a tight contest last weekend. Stirling travel south with a lengthening injury list, with Jack Leitch and Ross Davidson missing Tuesday’s game and Paul McLean having to limp off after half an hour.
But Young praised the display of new loan signing Robbie Hamilton from Hibs with the teenager coming on for an impressive cameo.
“Annan are doing well and on form, we’ll need to see how we are because it’s the walking wounded in there”, the Binos boss added.
“I thought young Robbie [Hamilton] did well on his debut, he’s someone we’ve had our eye on.”
