It was an almost identical story to the previous week when the visitors then, Peterhead, snatched an unlikely winner near the death.
The home side started brightest, with Paul Sludden trying his luck after a minute, but the forward lacked composu
re and snatched at Stuart Cargill's cutback.
On-loan Sludden was linking well with strike partner Paul McManus and it was no surprise when they combined to give the Fifers the lead almost halfway through the opening period.
Andy Gibson tried to usher the ball out for a goal kick but Sludden was able to get round the midfielder and set up McManus, who was on hand to tap home.
The roles were reversed just after the half-hour mark when McManus cut back to Sludden but he was unable to get his shot away.
Sludden was again in the thick of it a couple of minutes before the break when he reacted well in the box to pick up a loose ball, but saw his effort drop just wide.
And, as on the Saturday before, East Fife were made to pay for their missed opportunities when David O'Brien was on hand to snatch an equaliser after Martin Greehan's header had come back off the bar.
McManus then had an opportunity to restore his side's lead but couldn't convert from John Ovenstone's flick on.
Lloyd Young forced a great save out of Scott Christie before McManus again got a glimpse of goal but his volley dipped just wide.
Greehan was looking dangerous up front for Stirling and after passing up a great opportunity from six yards to head his side in front, he made up for it by grabbing a last-minute winner after Mark Ridgers had saved well from David McKenna.
The result was tough on the Fifers, who again played some decent, flowing football in patches.
However, the defeat leaves Crawford's men just two points off bottom spot.
East Fife – Ridgers, Gourlay, MacRae (Conway 83), Muir, Staunton (Kerr 81), Ovenstone, Young, McCunnie, McManus, Sludden, Cargill (Linn 65). Subs (not used) Crawford, Brown.
Stirling Albion – Christie, Graham, Forsyth, Roycroft, Murphy (Corr 50), Robertson, Gibson (Taggart 80), Devine (McCord 27), Greehan, McKenna, O'Brien. Subs (not used) Hogarth, O'Neill.
Attendance – 633.
Referee – Bobby Madden.
Starcheck – Young 3 pts, Muir 2, McManus 1.
Starcheck ratings – David Muir 11, Stuart Baillie 10, Paul McManus 10, Robert Campbell 6, Lloyd Young 6, Aaron Conway 5, Guy Kerr 5, Jonathan Smart 5, Mark Staunton 5, Bobby Linn 3, Paul Nugent 3, Jamie McCunnie 2, Scott Thomson 2, Stevie Crawford 1, Shaun Fagan 1, Darren Gourlay 1, Jordyn Sheerin 1, Paul Sludden 1.
