East Stirling ran out 4-2 winners over Peterhead at Balmoor but the league newcomers looked at one stage on the verge of a stunning comeback.

Stirling got off to the best possible start when Gregor McKechnie drove the ball home from 16 yards with only five minutes on the clock.

Shire doubled their advantage on the half hour when Craig Lynes headed home a Douglas Todd free-kick.

And it was another headed goal, this time from Steven Hislop in the 43rd minute, that had Shire three up at half time and with game seemingly in the bag.

Peterhead pulled themselves back into the game on 56 minutes with a Craig Cooper penalty after Martin Johnson was upended inside the box.

The home side further reduced the deficit on 77 minutes when substitute Craig Yates hooked the ball over his shoulder high into the roof of the net.

But hopes of a comeback were dashed when Hislop hit his second of the game with a side-footed shot past Peterhead's Ivor Pirie from two yards.