Jordan White bagged four goals as we overwhelmed 10-man Shire to claim our record league win, eclipsing the 7-0 we managed on a number of previous occasions, most recently against Queen of the South in 1996.
Our biggest overall victory remains the astonishing 20-0 success against Selkirk in a Scottish Cup tie at Annfield in December 1984 but this was the best ever on league business.
We had failed to beat John Coughlin’s men in three previous attempts this season and the visitors missed two great chances to take the lead before Kyle Gillespie turned a Phil Johnston cross into his own net with almost half an hour played.
White squeezed home the second from a tight angle and East Stirlingshire’s day got worse just before half-time when Steven Jackson was sent off for bringing down Scott Davidson – a penalty decision that angered the visitors.
Grant Hay made an excellent save from White’s spot-kick but referee Mat Northcroft ordered a re-take due to encroachment and this time the ex-Falkirk striker made no mistake, going straight down the middle.
Mark Ferry added the fourth early in the second half when his shot sneaked under the keeper but Max Wright soon pulled one back when his effort had just enough to beat Sam Filler at his right-hand post.
We were soon back on the attack and on-loan Dumbarton winger Phil Johnston claimed his first Albion goal with a tidy finish midway through the second period.
His cross from the right was headed home by Ferry for the sixth and Ferry then turned provider as substitute Josh Flood got in on the act with a composed finish.
White completed his hat-trick when he fired a penalty in off the post with 10 minutes remaining after Sandy Cunningham had been impeded.
The 21-year-old rounded off an incredible 90 minutes when he popped up at the back post to make it 9-1 and take his tally for the season to 14 goals.
The historic result leaves us seventh in the table – four points off the bottom but only five short of the play-offs – ahead of our next game against Rangers at Ibrox in a fortnight’s time, live on ESPN at 12 noon.
Stirling Albion: Filler, McCunnie, Forsyth, McClune, Bishop, Allison, McAnespie (Flood 68), Ferry, White, Davidson (Cunningham 63), Johnston (Ashe 76).
Subs (not used): Day, Cleland.
Scorers: Gillespie og 28, White 38, pen 41, pen 80, 90
Ferry 53, 70, Johnston 66, Flood 72
East Stirlingshire: Hay, Gillespie, Maxwell, Miller, Jackson, Zufle (Begg 42), Greenhill, Stirling, Turner (Glasgow 78), Quinn (Benton 68), Wright.
Subs (not used): Anderson, Gordon (GK).
Scorer: Wright 56
Referee: Mat Northcroft
Crowd: 563
