A brilliant finish by Steven McGuire at the start of the second half secured three points for East Stirling in a match Annan never looked like winning.

The heavy overnight and morning rain relented an hour before the kick off to allow the game to go ahead but the conditions did nothing to dampen the well organised East Stirling team.

Annan were presented with an opening in the first minute but Mike Jacks free kick from the edge of the penalty area was blocked.It was the home team who made all the early running and in the 11^th minute Steven Sloan unlocked the visitors defence with a ball  into the path of David Cox who’s penetrating run took him beyond Paul Weaver but as the Annan striker homed in on goal the ball got caught underneath his foot and the opportunity was lost.

Neilson came close in the 15^th minute with a low shot from the outside of the box as Annan continued to press forward. East Stirling forced their first corner in the 19^th minute and Annan were almost caught when Paul Weaver ghosted behind Derek Townsley but the glancing header flashed past the upright.

Annan created another half chance in the 25^th minute when Cox and Steele combined to create an opening for Mike Jack who hammered in a low shot which keeper Jamie Barclay confidently dealt with.

Annan playing with the strong wind in their favour came close to opening the scoring in the 29^th minute when John Macbeth’s corner found Kevin Neilson in space but his net-bound header was cleared off the goal line by Dunn.

The closest  East Stirling came to scoring arrived in the 42^nd minute when Paul Weavers cut the ball back to Craig Donaldson but Summersgill in the Annan goal was equal to the effort with an impressive save.

The second half started disappointingly for Annan when they fell behind to a superb Steven McGuire strike in the 50^th minute. The ex Airdrie man weaved his way down the left and cut inside  Derek Townsley and from 20 yards rifled in a great shot which beat Craig Summersgill all ends up.

East Stirling were then dealt a real blow when they lost the serviced of full back David Dunn who received his second yellow card for a reckless challenge on Jack Steele.

Andy Rodgers came close in the 62^nd minute when his long range effort flashed past the upright and in the 70^th minute Annan had Summersgill to thank for a brilliant fingertip save to deny substitute Marc McKenzie.

Annan substitute Lewis Sloan’s introduction in the 73^rd minute started to pay dividends when he sent in a testing 80^th minute cross and in the 83^rd minute the Annan substitute once again made a penetrating run along the by line finishing with an inviting low cross which was caused alarm in the East Stirling defence.

Annan finished strong and John Macbeth came close to equalising in the 86^th minute when Lewis Sloan cut the ball back into his path but the ball went agonisingly wide.

 Jim McInally the jubilant East Stirling boss praised his team “ all in all that was a great result for us especially after going down to 10 men early in the second half.