Stirling came away from Glasgow with nothing as their opponents proved their quality with a two goal win. In truth the win was deserved for a team who won promotion on the day and, with two 10-0 wins and a 9-0 victory during the season, it was fitting they moved up a division.
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| Influential early on |
Stirling arrived late to the game leaving themselves with virtually no time for a warm-up. However, in spite of this, they began well thriving on having no pressure to win and passing the ball around freely. Stirling threatened first down their right hand side as James Brodie left the left-back trailing as he drove down the wing and into the box, but his cutback couldn’t find Stirling feet and it was cleared. Brodie was involved minutes later as his cross come shot whistled past the post as Stirling threatened to break through.
The visitor’s best chance of the match arrived on the 15 minute mark as a raking ball from skipper Jono Cooper left Chris Betreen in behind the defence. Shrugging off the covering defender, Betreen got a shot away which the keeper got down well to block as the pressure seemed to be getting to the Glasgow players.
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| Solid between the sticks |
However this let-off seemed to spur the home side on as they held onto the majority of possession for the rest of the game. Stirling held firm against the threat with Ryan Mahoney commanding as ever alongside Cooper denying the dangerous strike-force any clear cut chances. Kieran McCulloch gaining a rare start looked composed in goal as he saw a couple of shots drift past his post. McCulloch was called into action with half time approaching as a scramble in the box led to a reaction stop which thumped the post and rebounded into his arms.
Stirling came out after the break with renewed vigour and created more opportunities than in the last half hour of the first and Will Barker had a long range effort which kept the keeper on his toes to see it over. Barker and his midfield partner Stevie Boyle were performing admirably against a side who drift from the positions regularly leaving them difficult to mark and track runners.
Stirling were unable to hold out against the soon to be league winners as they made the breakthrough on the hour. A whipped delivery from the right was deflected and the Glasgow striker fairly won the challenge with McCulloch to bundle home and settle Glasgow nerves. With Stirling visibly disappointed, Glasgow took the opportunity to double their lead 5 minutes later. After what looked a stonewall penalty after a challenge from Graeme Crawford, the referee inexplicably awarded a corner. However Glasgow’s protestations were short lived as from the resultant delivery Ryan Quinn lost his marker and the ball was bulleted home at the back post.
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| Denied a goal in his final BUCS appearance |
Stirling did respond well in the final part of the game and almost gave themselves hope with 25 minutes to go. After Crawford was fouled, the free-kick was taken quickly into Betreen whose shot was deflected and the Glasgow keeper pulled off a tremendous save to get back across and tip wide. Boakye and Flanagan came on as Stirling went to a 3-4-3 to try and get a goal back with Cooper moving up front. However their efforts were futile as the remainder of the game passed without incident and Glasgow were crowned champions.
It was a just result for Glasgow and Stirling had to concede that they were the better side over the season. A third place finish for Stirling is not what they wanted although they can take heart from their performances against tough opposition into their quest for Saturday silverware.
Special mention must go to Ryan Mahoney, Jono Cooper, Chris Betreen and James Brodie who were paying in their final BUCS Wednesday games and their efforts will be hugely missed by the remaining players next season. The events after the game saw them off in tremendous style even if no-one can remember much.
Man of the Match: Curtis Wilson (couldn’t remember who got it but think it was the Wizzleman)
Stirling: McCulloch, Crawford (Flanagan), Cooper, Mahoney, Wilson, Brodie, Barker, Boyle, Lynch (Boakye), MacDougall, Betreen Subs: Chapman, Quinn
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