SECOND HALF strikes from David Templeton and substitute Andy Little gave Rangers their fifth league win in a row on a day the club celebrated its 140th year.
Rangers could and undoubtedly should have scored more in this one-sided contest but the 140th year celebrations in front of a sell-out crowd of 49,913 made it an occasion to remember for everyone associated with the club.
Prior to kick off a video montage gave fans the opportunity to relive so many great memories and a magnificent card display greeted the teams as the party got underway.
The celebrations continued at half time as former Ger and Talksport star Andy Gray invited over 40 legendary players from past eras onto the pitch, including Greatest Ever Ranger John Greig.
It was a fantastic spectacle and Ally McCoist’s side made sure the day finished on a high note by recording a hard-fought victory against the Third Division’s bottom-placed team.
After just 17 seconds Stirling’s Marc McCulloch was booked for a scissor tackle on David Templeton who tentatively got back to his feet.
The winger was soon involved in the action though and his powerful right foot drive from 25 yards on three minutes whizzed past the post.
Daly McSorley was next up to be shown a yellow card, the midfielder again producing a late tackle on Templeton who will have a few bruises to show from his return to the starting eleven.
The early pressure on the Binos’ backline was relentless and on 10 minutes Barrie McKay stung the hands of keeper Mark Peat after trying his luck with a powerful drive from a tight angle.
With 15 minutes gone the lively Templeton then fired in a cross from the left but there was too much power in the delivery for Kevin Kyle who couldn’t direct his header goalwards.
It was one-way traffic and when Templeton’s diagonal cross found Kyle the big striker nodded the ball back to Macleod.
The ever-present youngster should have scored but hit his shot went into the ground and over the bar from eight yards.
Prior to the half hour mark the game took a dip and with the scoreline sitting goalless Albion player/manager Greig McDonald must have been a relieved man given the early pressure his side had to endure.
It kept coming though and after Lee Wallace had blasted a free kick high into the Broomloan Stand a well worked set piece saw Macleod feeding a low cross to McCulloch but the outcome was the same.
It was a miracle Rangers hadn’t scored and on 39 minutes a flicked pass from Dean Shiels found Kyle who rattled the post with his right foot shot across the Stirling keeper.
After the legends had appeared on the pitch the pressure was back on the current batch of Ibrox stars to get the opening goal.
On 52 minutes Shiels came close with a curling effort but with the hour mark approaching the deadlock was finally broken.
Shiels played the ball down the right channel to McKay and his near post cross found Templeton who swept the ball into the roof of the net.
It was a great run from the winger and he got his reward with his third goal for Rangers.
On 67 minutes McCoist made his first change with Kal Naismith replacing Kyle as the Light Blues went in search of a second goal.
It was Stirling, however, who almost shocked the Ibrox faithful when Flood latched on to Hutton’s slack pass and his right foot shot across Alexander struck the post before being cleared.
The relief was palpable around the ground and after McSorley had been sent off for a poor tackle on Macleod, Little secured the victory with an accurate shot from 12 yards which gave Peat no chance.
Today’s game will also be remembered for the introduction of 16-year-old Tom Walsh who went on in place of Templeton with three minutes remaining.
RANGERS: Alexander; Argyriou, McCulloch, Hegarty, Wallace; McKay, Hutton, Macleod, Templeton (Walsh 87); Shiels (Little 76), Kyle (Naismith 67)
Subs: Gallacher, Cole
Booked: Kyle
STIRLING ALBION: Peat; McClune, Thom (White 87), Bishop, McAnespie; McCulloch; McSorley, McGeachie (Flood 76), Ferry, Day; Weir
Subs: Filler, Allison, Davidson
Booked: McCulloch, McSorley
Sent Off: McSorley
Referee: Mike Tumilty
Attn: 49,913