A controversial penalty gave East Stirling a 1-0 victory in a hard-fought encounter with Albion Rovers at Firs Park.

The visitors went behind on the hour mark when referee Colin Hardie awarded the home team a penalty after he judged Tom Tait to have fouled Gregor McKechnie inside the box.

Top-scorer Steven Hislop despatched the spot kick to claim his 17th goal of the season and all three points for the home side.

Rovers went all-out to try and salvage a draw, even pushing defender Tait into the forward line, but for all their pressure in the closing quarter, they could not find the back of the net.

The home team even had chances to increase their advantage with Albion committing so many to attack. However, twice McKechnie was clean through on goal but could not convert.

The goal came much against the run of play. Rovers had created the better scoring opportunities, the best of which fell to Ryan McMullen, whose curling drive from the edge of the box was brilliantly saved by Jim Butter.

The only other feature of a poor encounter was referee Hardie's over-the-top refereeing. He booked seven players in a match which at times threatened to boil over as tempers frayed.