For the first half of the season Stirling Albion looked a good bet for second place behind Queen’s Park. They only suffered 1 defeat in their opening 12 matches (W7 D4 L1). However, 5 defeats in the remaining 10 matches dashed their hopes of the play-offs.
Home form collapsed in the second half of the season with them failing to win any of their closing 5 matches (W0 D2 L3). A 2-2 draw at Forthbank Stadium with Stranraer on the final day saw Stranraer snatch 4th place and Stirling having to settle for 5th.
Stirling’s defence was solid for most of the season with 7 clean sheets in their opening 12 matches. They only conceded more than 2 goals on a single occasion at Elgin City. Banner along with McGeachie and McGregor were outstanding in defence.
In attack Andy Ryan was the star man with 10 goals in 19 appearances. The striker had lost his way at full-time Dunfermline but is back on track at Stirling.
Stirling set out to give Queen’s Park a fight for the title. They achieved that aim in the first half of the season, but then form dropped and injuries crept in to ruin their season.
If Stirling can produce the form they showed in the first half of last season, they will be title contenders. They have retained most of their key players and strengthened with some new additions.
