Stirling 1 Braehead 4

Poor first half costs students dear

Stirling’s title hopes were dented after a terrible first half performance allowed Braehead to take 3 points and move above the students in the table. With Braehead’s pitch unplayable the tie was moved to Airthrey and it was the beginning of nightmare for Stirling’s players.

After a disappointing result the previous Saturday, Stirling were desperate to make amends but got off to the worst possible start; conceding after just 20 seconds. After Graeme Crawford’s pass was misplaced, the Braehead left midfielder drove from his own half through the centre and his shot clipped Ryan Mahoney. Making a rare mistake, by getting his angles wrong, Ross Harkness allowed the shot to trickle into bottom corner and Stirling were behind.

The students were to concede a second after 15 minutes which was exactly what they deserved for the poor start. After the ball was cleared Crawford and Tom Flanagan were slow to push out, leaving the striker onside, and the clipped ball back into the area was finished off comfortably.

Stirling were in disarray at their inability to complete more than two passes before surrendering possession. In a rare Stirling foray into the Braehead half, Will Barker managed to release Chris Betreen in behind. However the usually prolific frontman was forced wide and the resultant shot went into the side netting.

This should have spurred the students on but it was Braehead who were to grab a third before the break. A shot across Harkness from the home side’s left was spilled and the striker gleefully tapped home to further dent Stirling spirits.

The university side were determined to restore some pride on a day when they were not playing to any sort of acceptable standard, and this was achieved to some extent by a more competitive second half.

Needing to attack considerably more than the first half showing, Stirling’s fullbacks were pushing further forward and the centre mid pairing of Barker and Stevie Boyle were exerting more of an influence in the second period.

Betreen and Scott Tully were struggling to hold the ball up against a physical defence and, as a result, the home side were still ineffectual in attack even with the build-up improving.

Mikey MacDougall and Euan McCall, on either flank, were struggling to apply their ability into the game as Stirling were snuffed out by a team who ran away with the division below last season and, at times, it was clear to see why.

Stirling brought on Ryan Quinn, Ghazi with around half an hour to go as they looked for a bit of invention that they hadn’t found already. Jamie McLean also joined the action in place of Barker who went down awkwardly after a corner and had to be withdrawn.

It was one of the substitutes, Quinn, who was to get a consolation with ten to go rising to nod home from a corner to give Stirling some hope. Ghazi almost added another with an audacious overhead kick which was palmed away by the relatively untroubled Braehead goalkeeper.

However the away side were to have the final say as they increased the scoreline with a fourth in the final minute. After Stirling pressure a quick counter left the defence exposed and the ball was slotted past Harkness, into his bottom left hand corner to round off a miserable day for the men in green.

Stirling will have to escape this slump in form that has seen them fail to turn up for 3 successive games, if they have intentions of silverware this season. Harsh words may be needed to make the students snap out of Christmas holiday mode, they still seem to be in, and back to the form which saw them sit top of the league not too long ago.

Man of the Match: Ryan Mahoney

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

Stirling couldn’t retain the ball as Braehead continually pressed forward putting pressure on an unusually nervous backline. Stirling left back James Brodie was caught off the ball and after a brief spell of handbags, the ladies dusted themselves down and the game continued with no cards being issued.