Students gain scrappy 3 points to continue 100% record
Stirling kept up their unblemished record in the District league with a win over the team consigned to the bottom. On another day the score could have been a lot different, but Stirling will be pleased to take 3 points after sloppy play could have lost them the game.
Taking the game to the relegation battlers from the off, Stirling almost took the lead on their first attack. Dropping deep to collect the ball, MacDougall expertly dinked a pass in behind for Crawford to run onto. Unfortunately a heavy touch meant the chance was gone and Greenhill regrouped. Stirling almost went ahead soon after through a long-range Barker strike. Filling the Cheick Tiote role in midfield, Barker drove forward and let fly. With the keeper beaten the ball clipped the bar and went over to the student’s dismay. Stirling continued to threaten with Mahoney, in his first game since being cleared from an Andy Carroll like assault charge, spraying some delightful balls around the park. Betreen and MacDougall were combining well and they both had one on one chances with the fragile Greenhill goalkeeper, but regrettably Stirling’s finishing was befitting of a bottom of the league side rather than title challengers.
They eventually got the reward their play deserved with Crawford’ second of the season. The ball was cleared from a Stirling corner and arrived back at the feet of Barker. The ball was whipped, at pace, onto Crawford’s head who guided it past the keeper. After a rather embarrassing celebration, Stirling tried to add to their lead from the restart but the Greenhill defence blocked two shots in quick succession, one being header from Mahoney which smacked the post. The tempo of the performance dropped, and some slack passing was apparent, as the mindset of Stirling’s players altered with the opening goal. While having rarely threatened throughout the first half, Greenhill began to create some opportunities throughout their lively striker, Jacko. They managed to take advantage of this to go into half-time level with an unusual moment of carelessness from captain Cooper. A loose ball broke on the edge of the area and rather than clear his lines, Cooper tried to take on the onrushing attacker and lost out. Taking his chance calmly the Greenhill player slotted past the unlucky Harkness in the Stirling goal and the scored were level.
With issues addressed at half-time, Stirling came out fighting and began to play the possession football they have become known for. Jamie McLean was winning the battle against the Greenhill midfield three, allowing Barker to break forward to support the impressive Stirling strike force. MacDougall, his typical inventive self, was providing opportunities for his teammates which on another day would have been taken. Combining well down the left Lynch and Brodie were causing problems for the Greenhill management, who were changing their players’ positions more often than Chapman changes his skin colour. This may have contributed to their team losing a second goal as with one defender sitting ten yards behind his teammates; MacDougall threaded a ball through for Crawford to run onto. A great supporting run from Betreen allowed Crawford to slip him in for a simple touch and finish for the English front man.
With a trio of David Weir’s in the Greenhill backline they began to tire allowing further chances to be created. The dependable Flanagan came off through injury and was replaced by the energetic Matty McLaughlin, Crawford moving to right back. Stirling began to be careless with the ball and invite Greenhill back into the match. Returning from injury Ryan Quinn replaced the abnormally quiet Lynch on the left side and it was through an attack down this side Stirling scored a third. Space was created on the counter and breaking forward the ball arrived at Betreen. Cutting inside Betreen steadied himself, before firing Stirling into a two-goal advantage. The coaches involved were disappointed with the lack of sole of the foot turning and dipping of the shoulder on display and this could have contributed to another bout of slackness in the Stirling rearguard. With the ball lost carelessly again, the pass went over the head of the out of position Cooper. Taking the ball on early a wonderful lob took the Stirling goalkeeper out of play and the ball nestled into the net setting up a nervy finish for the students.
Stirling regained their composure and kept the ball away from a tiring opposition, who still had one final chance. A break from a set-piece left MacDougall facing his own goal and indecision between him and the goalkeeper almost let the striker in. A good block from Harkness sent the player sprawling but he was given a 6.0 and told to get up by the referee. The students were able to see the final minutes out thanks to some poor attacking play by the Greenhill side and sustained possession by the Stirling side.
Overall Stirling will be disappointed not to score more considering the chances they created but maintaining their 100% record in the league is a just reward from a great footballing performance in spells.
Stirling: Harkness, Flanagan (McLaughlin), Cooper, Mahoney, Brodie, Crawford, Barker, McLean, Lynch (Quinn), MacDougall (Wells), Betreen
Man of the Match: Graeme Crawford (Seriously I don’t choose them)
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