Ally Graham briefly threatened for the visitors with a weak shot from Andrew Brand's cross before East Fife took the lead after 17 minutes. A corner found its way to Stuart Noble, but after his shot was blocked on the line John Bradford steered the rebound into the net.
The Fifers were on top, and John Martin came close with a half volley after 29 minutes, while Bradford poked a shot wide 12 minutes later after a mix-up in the Stirling defence.
East Stirling could have levelled on the stroke of half-time, but John Dodds dropped down low to his left to block Iain Diack's fierce drive.
Bradford continued to find space in the box, and the striker was unfortunate to see a shot on the turn slip wide after 53 minutes.
Diack sprung the offside trap after 65 minutes, but Dodds made a great save to push the hitman's shot around the post.
Fife substitute Sean Paliczka punished Shire when he broke free on the left and buried a cross-shot past Derek Jackson in the 71st minute.
The visitors could have given themselves an immediate lifeline, but Scott Livingstone ballooned the ball over an open goal from six yards.
Substitute Jonathan Mitchell grabbed a third goal to make the points safe before Steven Dymock's eventful three-minute cameo for East Stirling. He came off the bench after 87 minutes, netted a consolation goal with his first touch a minute later, and in the next minute was booked for a bad tackle.