Annan Athletic 3-5 Stirling Albion (agg 4-8)

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David Weatherston and Jordan WhiteImage source, SNS

Stirling Albion cemented their League One play-off final spot with a comfortable aggregate win over Annan, who were reduced to 10 men at Galabank.

The Binos' progress to a two-leg tie versus East Fife is largely thanks to Jordan White's hat-trick.

David McClune and Craig Comrie netted the others for the visitors.

Annan, for whom Martin McNiff, Ally Love and Scott Davidson all scored, had looked in contention until McNiff's sending off on 52 minutes.

His second yellow card dented any real hopes of the hosts' comeback as Annan's chances of progressing from the fourth tier for the first time crumbled.

Greig McDonald's Stirling, who are looking to return to the third tier following two seasons in the bottom division, started quickly in front of a crowd of 912 in the sunny border town.

Former St Johnstone and Falkirk winger David Weatherston twice sent excellent low crosses from the right for McClune and then White to turn home.

Jim Chapman's Annan were far from out of it and Kenny MacKay's thundering strike off the underside of the bar showed The Black and Golds had more to offer.

They pulled a goal back before the break when McNiff's header squeezed past David Crawford, then Love drove a sweet left-footer low into the far corner to equalise soon after the restart.

However, referee George Salmond dismissed McNiff when the 25-year-old caught Comrie.

From there, Stirling were in control and Comrie fired a crisp low strike beyond Kenny Arthur from the edge of the box to ease any nerves.

White met a low cross well to finish expertly for his second and was on hand to turn in from close-range soon after to complete the hat-trick and take his tally to 22 for the season.

Former Albion man Davidson shot well past Crawford following a mazy run in injury time to reduce the deficit, but many home fans had left prior to that.

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