The Forfar assistant manager Ian Campbell praised his side for a professional performance as they moved to within a point of leaders Stranraer with a deserved win at Forthbank.
Gavin Malin’s 38th-minute goal was decisive, but Forfar were much the better team and looked on course for a win even before the bottom-of-the-table Binos had skipper Chris Smith sent off for denying Martyn Fotheringham a clear goal-scoring opportunity 60 seconds after half-time.
Campbell said: “It was a very disciplined performance; our shape and organisation were good.
“Stirling worked hard with 10 men and you have to give them credit for that, but we had all the chances and should have finished the game off.
“Our defence has been solid all season, and that’s two wins on the trot. Everyone did their job and we defended from the front. We put them under pressure when they had the ball.
“We have a big game now against Morton, but we have a very good home record. I thought we looked more like ourselves and caused Stirling plenty of problems, so that is encouraging.”
The game got the go-ahead after two pitch inspections and Dick Campbell’s team always looked the more likely to break the deadlock in a first half of few chances.
Malin got the goal with a simple finish after good work by Gavin Swankie.
Stirling’s task then became almost impossible when Smith impeded Fotheringham, who had latched on to a long ball.
Danny Denholm missed a couple of good chances to add to Forfar’s lead, and Malin should also have scored again. Stirling posed little threat and Rab Douglas was only called into action in stoppage time when he did well to clutch a 20-yard drive from Angus Beith.
Binos boss Stuart McLaren said: “We didn’t cause Forfar any real problems. It was really difficult when we went down to 10 men. I have a different opinion from the referee as I didn’t think it was a clear goalscoring opportunity.”