Annan Athletic secure League One survival with draw at Stirling Albion

Annan manager Peter Murphy admitted his side were lucky to snatch a point to stay in League One in a nerve-shredding draw at Stirling.

They fought out a 1-1 clash at Stirling Albion which keeps Galabankies up and sends the Binos into tonight’s play-offs with Dumbarton.

Murphy said: “It was a helluva game but I don’t think we actually did ourselves justice at all.

“I think we were lucky we got that early goal because I thought Stirling were absolutely outstanding. They hit the bar, they had one cleared off the line by Matt Douglas and our keeper Greg Fleming was sensational and we needed that.

“We needed to put our bodies on the line. We said they would throw everything at us and they did.

“We just had to ride our luck a bit and we did. We managed to get our point, not just today but on the run we have had.

“The run we have been on for the last nine games, just one defeat, it has been outstanding from the players.

“I mentioned about the great escape a few years back by Albion Rovers under Kevin Harper and now we have gone and done that today. We were nine points adrift at one point and to go on a run and do it ourselves is absolutely unbelievable.

“I am proud, not surprised because I believed in the players.

“This game was always going to be strange and in the end Stirling threw four forwards up and were just gambling to go for it and one wrong move and slip by us put them in. But Greg Fleming was making saves that were just unbelievable.

Murphy paid tribute to goal grabber Benji Luissint and said: “Benji has developed with us brilliantly. With his size and frame, we knew we had something. We got him a personal trainer we know who is local and now he is so powerful and strong.

“He is great to coach