Peterhead take a narrow victory into Saturday's Ladbrokes League One play-off semi-final second-leg clash after beating Stirling 1-0 at Forthbank Stadium.
The visitors enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges as William Gibson fired a couple of efforts wide and team-mate Russell McLean had a chance held out by goalkeeper Cameron Binnie before top scorer Rory McAllister hit the crossbar.
Their pressure paid off as Mason Robertson tapped McLean's header into the bottom corner just before the half-hour mark for his sixth goal of the season.
Peter MacDonald almost levelled matters for Stirling on the brink of half-time but his header was pushed out.
The hosts came out in search of an equaliser as the second half got under way but MacDonald fired over the bar before Daniel Jardine sent his effort wide, while Willie Robertson came close late on but Peterhead held on.
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