In front of a packed crowd at Dorrien Gardens, striker Phil Arnold stole all three points for the Lions with a great individual goal five minutes from time, and in the process ended the Knights chances of progressing further.

Stirling had to fight hard for the result against an impressive and improved Knights side that deserved to come away with something after dominating proceedings for most of the match.

Ronnie Campbell’s men were quick out the blocks and they took an early lead when in-form striker Tonchi Skorich was the recipient of a long ball into the 18 yard box, before controlling beautifully and firing a wonderful strike past goalkeeper Phil Straker.

The game was being played at a frenetic pace and it was the Knights who looked the more potent in attack. However, Stirling were quick on the counter and if not for some great saves by stand in goalkeeper Beau Geerlings, they could have found themselves on level terms.

Skorich was leading the way up front for the Knights and had a couple of great chances to double his tally but was denied by some tight Lions defence.

The Knights defence was also kept busy keeping out a couple of goal line scrambles in the dying stages of the half but they still went into the break 1-0 up.

It was a goal spree ten minutes after the break, with the Lions equalizing in the 56th minute through a Kevin Henderson header from close range.

Three minutes later, the Lions took the lead through another defender Michael Pugliese, who found space in the box before unleashing a thunderbolt in off the crossbar to give Stirling a 2-1 advantage.

The Knights were quick to respond though and another three minutes later, they brought the game back level when Skorich poked home a loose ball from close range.

The match was being played at the highest quality as both sides searched desperately for the winner, and with man of the match David Micevski providing plenty of thrust going forward, it looked like the Knights who were going to grab the result.

Against the run of play though, it was the Lions who snatched the victory when a wonderful run and dribble from Phil Arnold found the striker in shooting range, before he slid a low shot through the hands of Geerling and into the net.

Stirling will be confident of a semi finals berth now with their last two matches against Inglewood United and Swan I.C.