Stirling Albion:- Christie, Nugent, Forsyth, Ellis, Reid, McBride, Bell, Aitken, McKenna, Cramb and Taggart.
Subs:- Walker for Cramb, Hay for Bell and Easton for Taggart.
Not Used:- Currie and Hogarth

Stranraer:- Black, McKinstry, White, Kane, Keogh, McLaughlin, Tade, Creaney, Coakley, Mitchell and Gibson
Subs:- Cashmore for Keogh, McColm for Coakley and Bonar for Gibson.
Not Used:- Ferguson and Thomas
Booked:- Keogh, Mclaughlin and Kane
Sent Off:- McKinstry

The Binos, and their small band of travelling supporters, made the long trip to Stranraer more in hope than expectation. Although the team are bottom of the First Division, some of the football they have played has been of the highest standard. However, the Stranraer team which they were about to face in the Third Round of the Scottish Cup proved to be their bogey team last season, winning three and drawing the other encounter between the two teams.
The weather during the long trip to the south west corner didn’t give much hope that the game would be very difficult but, thankfully, by the time we reached Stair Park, the wind had dropped to a very strong wind rather than gale force.
The Binos made one enforced change from the team which narrowly lost at Livingston 2 weeks ago. The sending off of Harris was deemed to be for serious foul play which resulted in an automatic one match ban, irrespective of the competition, and his place was taken by top goalscorer, McKenna, himself returning from suspension.
The Binos started the match facing the strong wind but this seemed to suit their style of play which relies less on the long punt up the field which would have been impossible in the conditions.
The Binos took the lead in 15 minutes when Cramb was bundled over in the box by McKinstry and Aitken stepped up to sent the ball high to the keeper’s right.
The second came 5 minutes later when Bell hit the crossbar but McKenna was on hand to head home from close range.
The Binos place in Thursday’s Fourth Round draw was secured a minute before the interval when a Cramb volley from 35 yards hit the bar, bounced down and spun up into the roof of the net.
With the wind in their favour in the second half, the Binos’ fans were expecting a barrowload of goals. The fourth came shortly after the re-start when Walker, who had come on for Cramb at half time, scored his first goal for the club with a well taken goal after being set up by McBride.
Stranraer were then reduced to 10 men when McKinstry was sent off for a rash tackle on Taggart.
Walker scored his second of the game in 68 minutes when he picked up the ball on the corner of the 6 yard box and drilled the ball past Black.
Aitken completed the scoring in the 81st minute with a typical Chris Aitken free kick from 25 yards which gave Black no chance.
The Binos also finished the match with 10 men after Reid was taken off about 20 minutes from the end after suffering from a head knock. The injury looked as though it needed stitches but, with the match won, and having already used their three substitutes, it was decided not to rush Reid back on to the pitch. Hopefully his injury isn’t too serious.
In very difficult conditions, the players coped admirably with McBride, once again, dominating midfield. The Binos fans will be hoping for a big club in the next round, which is due to be played on 12th January, but I would be happy to avoid any long away trip with Dingwall top of that list.
The Binos return to league business with the visit of league leaders, Hamilton Accies, to Forthbank. Hopefully, there will be a big crowd as theer is plenty of time to do Christmas shopping later in the minth.