Contentious decisions cost the Stirling 3rd team a victory in their first BUCS home game of the season. On a fine day for football, Stirling began the match well, keeping possession between the back four, with Curtiss Wilson seeing a lot of the ball in the early stages.
Changing back to a 4-5-1 formation after the weekends 4-4-2, Stirling linked up well through the middle of the park and created the first chance of the match early on. A long ball forward was flicked on by Crawford into the onrushing Barker’s path, which he took expertly forward holding off the Glasgow defender. Barker got the shot away but couldn’t direct it away from goalkeepers grasp and the scores stayed level.
Glasgow were next to threaten and Stirling were lucky to escape without conceding. A dangerous ball from the Stirling left fizzed into an awkward area and, after confusion in the box; the ball rebounded off the bar and thankfully for Stirling was cleared to safety. With both teams struggling to get the better of each other, the game struggled to come to life. However after the ball was flicked on by the impressive Barker, Stirling were denied a stonewall penalty. Crawford took the ball on the chest and knocked it forward. With the defender lunging in and taking none of the ball, Stirling were waiting to hear the whistle. The referee, however, had other ideas and inexplicably played on.
With Stirling bewildered by the decision Glasgow took advantage to move into the lead. After a soft free-kick, the ball was crossed into the 6 yard box and was punched clear by the imposing Ross Harkness. Backpedalling the Glasgow central midfielder took it brilliantly on the volley to lob Harkness and give Glasgow the edge. However Stirling responded superbly, getting a goal back virtually straight away. After a driving run by the prominent Clark the ball was nudged off to lone striker Chris Betreen. Spotting the run of Crawford, Betreen sprayed a delightful ball over the Glasgow defence into Crawford’s path. Taking a good touch, and playing a sensational one-two with the keeper’s legs, Crawford smashed home to get off the mark for the season and get the home-side level at half-time.
The second half took a similar pattern to the first with Glasgow beginning to creep more into the game. Repelling the Glasgow attack, the imposing Cooper led from the front to deny the opposition time and again. Assisted admirably by Wilson, Mahoney and Cooper, Glasgow couldn’t break the Stirling defence down and it was Stirling who had a big chance to sneak into the lead. After another superb dead-ball delivery from Barker, Crawford rose to meet the cross 5 yards out. Unfortunately the ball whistled over the bar and the chance was gone. With Stirling struggling to make any headway, Coach Craig brought on fresher Stevie Boyle for his first appearance for the club. Playing in the holding role this allowed Barker and Clark to push forward and cause the Glasgow side problems.
Glasgow were having a lot of possession but were unable to break down the Stirling barrier and were vulnerable to the counter attack. With Stirling visibly tiring down the flanks, further changes were made. McCall, having been booked in the first half after losing his temper, was replaced by MacDougall who offered another attacking threat in the final third. Stirling changed to 4-4-2 in an effort to get the winning goal and began to trouble the opposition with the ball sticking up front. The tiring Betreen flourished with the addition of a second striker after yet another hard shift on his own upfront.
Lynch replaced Crawford as Stirling pressed to get a second goal which would have won the game. The referee came into the spotlight once again as Stirling were denied a second stonewall penalty. Betreen touched the ball past the defender and had his legs scythed away. However the official was not impressed and to the amazement of everyone Stirling were denied the chance to win the game. The remaining period of the game was end to end with both teams trying to get the vital winner However neither side made the breakthrough and the game finished a fair 1-1.
Stirling will be disappointed not to take a win from a game they had chances in. However a draw was probably the correct result on the day with Glasgow dominating the second half as Stirling had the first. Moving onto the Scottish cup 2nd round on Saturday, Stirling will be in positive spirits and feel they can win progress further in the competition after Wednesday’s showing.
Stirling: Harkness, Flanagan, Cooper, Mahoney, Wilson, Crawford (Lynch), Barker, Boakye (Boyle), Clark, McCall (MacDougall), Betreen Subs: McCulloch, Bews
Man of the Match: Jono Cooper
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