Drumpellier Thistle 1 Stirling 3

Stirling ease through to next round



Ryan Lynch impressed



Stirling came through yet another cup tie as the league has been put to the side for now. Having only played 5 league games it is another competition they may have preferred not to have, but it is another chance at silverware for this deserving side.

Stirling took control of the match from the off against a side a division above but not at a standard befitting this. Possession was maintained comfortably as they stretched the Cumbernauld side early on. Ryan Lynch was involved heavily in the early exchanges beating his man time and again, with the linkup between himself, Stevie Boyle and Will Barker being a particular highlight.

Stirling were to take the lead in typical Chris Betreen fashion. A delightful dinked ball through the middle was taken in his stride and powered across the goalkeeper into the bottom left corner. It was no more than the university outfit deserved and they continued to cause the Thistle defence problems. Euan McCall was holding the ball up well and bringing wide men Jamie McLean and Lynch into play to great effect although a second goal remained out of reach for the minute.

Jono Cooper and Tom Flanagan were giving tremendous cover to allow James Brodie and Graeme Crawford to push forward in support without having the backline exposed. Crawford almost gave Stirling a cushion when a header from a corner was played back across goal and was cleared a yard from the line. The game was becoming stretched as the fitness of the Thistle players didn’t match up to going forward and tracking back too often and as such, Barker and Boyle were exploiting the gaps through the middle. Unfortunately the Stirling side couldn’t quite find the target with their efforts on goal.

Man of the Match with a double

Thistle nearly equalised when a header from a corner clipped the back post with returning keeper Ross Harkness stranded. Stirling were to go into half time with a second goal in their locker however after the goalkeeper gave away a penalty. Boyle had broken from midfield and got the break of the ball in the box. Taking a touch round the keeper, he was ready to slot home but was denied as the keeper took him down. Barker stepped up and in trademark fashion, stroked it into the bottom left corner to give the away side a comfortable lead.

Stirling took their lead for granted in the second half as a barrage of chances were missed at one end, while defending became slack at the other. Crawford was gaining success down the right with a series of bursts forward but Stirling failed to capitalise on numerous 4 v 3’s and 3 v 2’s as Drumpellier looked for a way back into the game. McLean had switched wings with Lynch and it was from the right that he was to have his moment of the match. After some great build up play released Betreen down the left, he squared the ball perfectly on a plate for McLean 5 yards out. Unfortunately the whole of the goal wasn't a big enough target and the ball clipped the outside of the post and wide, with McLean claiming a very suspect ‘bobble’.



Similar Expression after the 'bobble'



Thistle were to capitalise as they got a goal back soon after. A slide rule pass in between Crawford and Flanagan left the left winger in on goal. From a tight angle he rifled a shot past Harkness into the very top right hand corner and gave a lifeline to the division 1 side. However as the game became even further stretched it was Stirling who looked the more likely to score. Ryan Quinn replaced Lynch as Stirling looked to put the game out of sight.

They were to do so with 2 minutes of the match remaining as Will Barker got his second of the game. Cutting inside from the left, using pent up frustration at the earlier missed chances, he struck a powerful, swerving effort that beat the keeper all ends up. Stirling saw the game out and while the home side never really looked like creating a clear cut chance and getting an equaliser, the students will be disappointed the game was out of sight earlier.

Overall a performance which shows the attacking intent that has been lacking over previous games, albeit without the finishing to match. Stirling move through to the last 16 of a competition they have a great chance of winning if they can make it past their next opponents Stenhousemuir who are third in the premier division, two leagues above Stirling. The league will have to play second fiddle once again for now.

Man of the Match: Will Barker

Stirling: Harkness, Crawford, Cooper, Flanagan, Brodie, Lynch (Quinn), Barker, Boyle, McLean, McCall, Betreen                   Subs: Chapman, Mahoney,