Elgin City manager Gavin Price felt his side’s poor start cost them at Forthbank as Stirling picked up their first points of the season to move off the foot of the table.
An early goal from Josh Peters, the former Strathspey Thistle forward, proved decisive while City had Rabin Omar sent off for a second bookable offence with 20 minutes left as their six-match unbeaten away run ended.
Price said: “We seemed a bit flat. We didn’t start the game well and never really recovered from that. The first goal is always so important, particularly when you consider the position Stirling were in. We gave them the advantage and suffered the consequences of that – how you start is really important.
“In the second half I thought we were on top but without really threatening.
“You could argue we could maybe have got a point but it wouldn’t have been richly deserved. The red card didn’t help and it’s frustrating because Rabin should know if you are on a yellow card you don’t get involved.”
Midfielder Matthew Cooper said: “It was disappointing after the high of beating Dundee. We were off the game in the first 20 minutes and that has cost us because there wasn’t much between the teams after that, even after the red card.
“The wind played a part. It was a poor game of football and there weren’t too many clear-cut chances.
“We have been a lot harder to break down than in previous seasons but it was a poor goal to lose. The boys are frustrated because we’ve had an all right start to the season but we don’t have the number of points on the board we should have.”
Stirling started with a real intensity and keeper Thomas McHale made up for his poor clearance by denying Darryl Duffy and it was no surprise when the deadlock was broken in 10 minutes.
Peters, the only player to score for the Binos in League 2 this season, got away from a defender and found the corner with a sweet, low drive from 20 yards.
Albion could have added to their lead but City came more into things and Kane Hester hit the outside of the post after a good move in the second half and Blair Currie kept out a Stephen Bronsky header from a corner.
Omar saw red in the 70th minute – the former Annan winger had been booked earlier for a foul and received a second yellow card for dissent when a decision went against the visitors.
Stirling sub Dylan Mackin hit the bar with a late header as the hosts won a league game for the first time since beating Elgin 2-1 at Forthbank on April 6.
Stirling boss Kevin Rutkiewicz said: “We deserved the win and could have scored three goals in the first 20 minutes.”