Dick Campbell accused his Forfar players of never getting out of a jog after they blew a 2-0 lead at Forthbank.
The Loons seemed to be sprinting towards the top of the championship table thanks to goals from Omar Kader and Gavin Swankie.
But they then fell flat on their faces as Stirling’s little livewire Sandy Cunningham came off the bench with a double to deny the Loons their third straight win.
It was hard to take for Campbell whose team slipped into third place, albeit they are just two points adrift of leaders Ayr United.
“With 12 minutes to go you are sitting top of the league,” Campbell said.
“The young lad has come in, scored two good goals and all the best to him. We looked in total control but you are never beat at that stage of the game.
“We had chances to clear our lines for their first goal. For their second, Dale Hilson, who has been doing exceptionally well, miscontrols a pass and they go down the park and get the break of the ball.
“Credit to Stirling. They have been getting a hard time but I am more interested in my own team and I did not think we played well enough to win the game.”
Forfar were awarded a penalty after just nine minutes when referee George Salmond pointed to the penalty spot following Stirling defender Chris Smith’s challenge on Swankie.
But he changed his mind after a brief communication with the far stand side official.
“It was a strange one,” said Campbell, whose side now face Brechin this Saturday.
“The referee gives a penalty but the far side linesman says it was not a penalty. But I am not complaining about that.
“We have set a clear standard about ourselves but in this game we never got out of a jog.
“We were guilty of not applying ourselves properly, never at any stage of the game. I am just angry at our professionalism.”