History shows that its been difficult to win in Stirling however. Despite Stirling Albion only coming into the league at the start of season 1947/48 Ayr United wasted no time in securing a trip to Annfield, home of Albion.
The Scottish League Cup match played on 16th August 1947 provided United with an emphatic 5-1 victory for a first win on their first visit although only a few weeks later at Stirling in the 'B' division match Albion turned it around, winning 4-1. Ayr did win the return League Cup match at Ayr by 3-2 on 6th September 1947 and the league match at Ayr by 2-0 on 27th December 1947.
Ayr had some indifferent results in the following seasons losing 2-1 on 6th November 1948 at home but none worse than a 7-1 defeat on 6th May 1950, albeit in a Stirlingshire Charity Cup match.
United's next success at Annfield was a Scottish Cup 1st Round match on 27th January 1951, winning by 2-1. and they recorded a 2-0 home league win on 17th February 1951. Draws and defeats were all that Ayr could muster home or away such as the 2-2 home draw in the Scottish League Cup match of 3rd September 1955. United managed to win a home Second Division match on 14th December 1957 by 2-0 losing the away match later in the season.
Ayr had gained First Division status with Albion by the home match of 14th November 1959 when a 1-1 draw emphasised that Ayr still hadnt got the knck of beating the Reds from Stirling. However, the in the first division match of 19th March 1960 a Annfield Ayr edged a 7 goal thriller to win 4-3. Despite his there were some further uncertain performances home and away including a 5-0 away defeat in a Second Division match on 5th December 1964 and a 2-1 home defeat on 7th April 1965.
In a bad season for Ayr in 1966/67 they did manage a 1-1 draw on 5th November 1966, although it didn't save Ayr from relegation. Back in the same division Ayr managed a a double over Stirling in the League Cup matches on 14th August 1968 at Stirling and 28th August 1968 by 1-0 at Ayr although he league matches that season only produced a disappointing 0-0 home point from two games.
Ayr had finally secured higher league status than Stirling on a more regular basis and the next match was a Scottish Cup 4th Round match on 24th February 1973 at home, Ayr winning 2-1.
When league action resumed on 7th October 1978 it was no easier than previous encounters. The First Division match at Stirling ended in a slender 2-1 win for Ayr with Ayr winning 2-0 at home on 10th February 1979. The following season saw a home 0-0 draw on 6th October 1979, a 1-1 draw and at Annfield on 8th December 1979 and, on 9th February 1980, a solid 2-0 win for Ayr.
Apart from Scottish League Cup duty the clubs avoided each other due to Ayr being in a higher league. Ayr returned to Annfield on 4th October 1986 to win 1-0 in a Second Division match winning 3-0 at home on 7th February 1987.
In another Championship winning year, Ayr beat Albion 4-0 at home on 26th December 1987 and on 26th March 1988 United secured a 2-2 draw which ensured them the 2nd Division title.
Stirling joined the First Division party and immediately set about spoiling it for Ayr. On 5th October 1991 Albion won 2-1 at Ayr and repeated this on 4th January 1992. On 29th February 1992, with Stirling on their way to a new stadium, Ayr played their last match at Annfield and won by 2-1. Ayr won by 2-1 at the home fixture on 3rd October 1992 and visited Stirling's new Forthbank Stadium on 15th May 1993 , drawing 1-1.
United started the following season in fine shape winning the home fixtures against Stirling on 14th August 1993 by a now familiar 2-1 and by 3-1 on 22nd January 1994. United visited the Forthbank Stadium on 11th December 1993 drawing 0-0 and had their first win at Stirling Albion's new Forthbank Stadium on 29th March 1994 winning again by 3-1 as Stirling Albion were relegated.
However, Stirling finally won that first home match against Ayr on 16th September 1995 and obtaining a draw and a win at Ayr.
United found themselves in division 2 with Stirling in season 2005/06 and the honours were even on 1st October 2005 with a 3-3 draw in front of a low crowd of 709. United lost the second match in February 2006 by 1-0. The following season Ayr won at Stirling on 5th August 2006 by 3-1.
United also won the last encounter of the season at home by 3-2 on 14th April 2007. In between they drew 0-0 at home on 14th October 2006 and lost 4-2 at Forthbank on 23rd December 2006 as Stirling obtained promotion.
Relegated last season Ayr and Stirling resume battle as both look for the automatic promotion place this season.