Students return to action with comfortable win.
Having not played a game since November, the students were brought out of storage to continue their challenge for the District league title. With 3 wins out of 3 before the cold snap took control, Stirling were looking to keep their 100% record intact against a tricky Wasps team who gave Stirling two tough games the previous season under their previous name, Alloa.
The first half began in typical fashion for a side returning to action, with rustiness evident from the offset. With a mixture of 1st, 2nd and 3rd team players available, the team managed to gel despite the lack of continuity. Stirling’s first chance of the game came through a magnificent cross from Jamie McLean, which just evaded the arriving Hughes at the back post. McLean, showing his versatility in playing wide right, looked composed and caused problems down a profitable right hand side.
Stirling took a somewhat deserved lead through prolific Englishman, Chris Betreen. After being slipped through on goal, a trademark touch and finish put Stirling ahead and continued the scoring form Betreen left back in 2010. Wasps were causing problems of their own however with their two strikers exploiting the out of practice students. With a few of the players showing their Christmas physiques haven’t been totally lost, the opposition nearly snatched an equaliser. A cross from the Stirling left was dealt with superbly by Chapman, punching away under severe pressure and taking a bang on the nose to add to his Ian Dowie look-a-like concerns. Moments later, a deflection took the ball away from Crawford and Chapman was on hand to tip the ball onto the bar and Stirling cleared.
Stirling took the wake-up call on board and managed to increase their lead midway through the first half. After some terrific play in the wide area, McLean kept the ball brilliantly before laying it back to Clark. Spotting Crawford’s run; Clark dinked a delicate ball through to the fullback in space. With confusion at the lack of defenders, Crawford audaciously chipped the goalkeeper leaving Gavin Skelton turning in his grave and annoying his teammates furthermore. Stirling were unlucky not to add to their lead before half-time with Cooper and Crawford seeing headers cleared off the line, with Jacobs and Barker whipping in tremendous corners time and again. However Wasps survived and the score remained 2-0 at the interval.
Expecting a stern Wasps comeback in the second half Stirling put paid to that notion with a third goal shortly after the restart. Clark won the ball in midfield which allowed McLean to slide in Betreen and he did what he does best, securing his brace, leading calls from the sideline for his immediate substitution due to the 12 doubles and no hat-tricks in his university career. Wasps, undeterred by the scoreline, pushed further forward leaving Stirling to rely on the counter. In contrast to the first half most of Stirling’s play came down the left hand side as Wasps began to threaten a defence who had coped admirably with the long balls in behind. Jack Nixon and Jacob Arnold-Smith were introduced for Jacobs and Betreen and their influence was key in seeing out the storm.
Clark switched out to the left as Nixon moved inside and with more space against a tiring defence; he had two glorious chances to add to the lead. Unfortunately they fell on his weaker side and like a toddler swinging a golf club, the accuracy wasn't quite there. Matty McLaughlin then replaced ’60 minute’ Barker to add some flair to the midfield, which gave a different option in the middle of the park. Great build-up play from Nixon soon after resulted in a 4th for Stirling. Beating Wasps players at ease he managed to drive to the left of the box and zip a ball to the onrushing Arnold-Smith, who calmly eased the ball into the corner giving a comfortable look to the score. A 5th wasn't long in coming as Nixon got on the score sheet himself. Driving through on a burst from midfield towards the over-worked keeper, Nixon scored from the rebound after a poor first effort was blocked and exuberant celebrations followed.
Wasps were to sneak a goal back in the remaining minutes as slack play was punished. The ball wasn't cleared and a through ball to a suspiciously offside frontman, left Chapman exposed and the ball was confidently put away for what was merely a consolation. Stirling had one final chance as Arnold-Smith almost found the supporting Crawford with a through ball, but the keeper got their first and the chance was gone.
Overall Stirling will be happy with the win and performance after 2 full months without a game. With the prospect of 3 games in a week, this was a welcome boost and keeps the 100% record intact in a division which is very much winnable for this talented Stirling squad.
Man of the Match: Jono Cooper
Man of the Match: Jono Cooper
Stirling: Chapman, Crawford, Cooper, Mahoney, Thom, McLean, Barker (McLaughlin), Clark, Jacobs (Nixon), Hughes, Betreen (Arnold-Smith) Subs: Quinn, Wells
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