Stirling Albion boss believes bruising Annan defeat offers harsh reminder of League One levels

Darren Young said his Stirling Albion side received a reality check on the levels required in League One after a loose performance saw them go down to a comfortable away defeat in Annan.

In an entertaining match, both sides enjoyed their opportunities in front of goal but in truth, the home side always enjoyed the better of the play and merited the three points in the first meeting between the two promoted sides this season.

Home striker Tommy Goss netted a brace either side of Dominic Docherty’s free kick – with the visitors’ defence stretched all afternoon.

It’s the second defeat of the season for Stirling – and a second defeat on the road – but the damage is limited on the afternoon, with Albion remaining in third place in a competitive League One.

Young insisted the margin of the defeat was harsh on his troops, but recognised the need to be better where it counted.

The Binos boss said: “I don’t think it was a 3-0 game to be honest, but we speak about being ruthless in both boxes and they were today.

“The first goal should be defended better but then we’ve had four or five gilt-edged chances to score in the first half but they’ve defended their box very well.

“Then the second goal is a deflected free-kick which Blair can’t do much about and that was a gutter because we were just about to make four changes.

“For big parts of the game, we had large parts of the possession but in the final third, we weren’t great at all and we need to be better with that final pass or shot.

“They did defend well with the chances we had, we’ve taken those chances in the other games this season and we let ourselves down there.

“On the other side, the third goal, we’re on the right wing looking to put in a cross and five seconds later,