Dunblane Thistle 1 Stirling 4

Sensational scenes at Dunblane High School
as Stirling are promoted.

Stirling breaks out of Division 2 with a comfortable win

Stirling produced an identical scoreline from the previous Wednesday to secure the three points they needed for promotion. On a tricky pitch and a flyaway football on show, the students did well to come from a goal down to put four goals away; although it could have been more.

Stirling took the decision to play into the wind for the first half, and it seemed to backfire as Dunblane made most of the early running. The long ball game plan of the home side was causing problems as the ball swirled in the wind and got caught in the sun, leaving the defence struggling to remain composed.

The home side took advantage of Stirling’s complacent start to take the lead. A flighted free-kick was headed back across goal and with runners not being tracked everywhere, one of many free Dunblane players headed home.

This sparked the young students into life and they began to keep possession which they should have done from the start. The ball was being spread across the back four with Ryan Mahoney and Ryan Blair being left with time on the ball due to the 4-4-1-1 formation Dunblane employed



Connor Wells started after an impressive performance in mid-week and, alongside player of the year Will Barker, looked relaxed in possession while winning tackles in the middle of the park.



Man of the Match
celebrates in typical
fashion.



It was from down the left wing that Stirling found an equaliser and it was Matty McLaughlin who got it. Ryan Quinn slipped him into the penalty area and after a neat Zidane swivel away from the sliding defender and, despite being off balance; he managed to lift the ball over the oncoming keeper for a deserved leveller.

Stirling made it 2-1 shortly after with one of the goals of the season. A tremendous passing move that went side to side across the park twice, as every player touched the ball, ended with a delightful through ball from the versatile Stevie Boyle into McLaughlin who slotted home first time.

Stirling took control from this point on and apart from a couple of concentration lapses in defence, they were under no real threat of conceding again. Jamie McLean replaced Ryan Lynch who was injured after a challenge with Dunblane keeper.

Quinn was having a tremendous first half and threatened a goal after cutting inside, but he fired his shot over the bar. Chris Betreen could have added to the lead just before halftime but Dunblane keeper Graeme Lavery spread himself well to block and keep the lead down to one.

Stirling came out after half-time and killed the game off within the first 5 minutes. Graeme Crawford cut inside from the right and flicked a ball in behind which Betreen finished in typical fashion, across the keeper, to all but seal the points.

Crawford could have scored a minute later after bursting through the middle of the defence, but he dragged his shot wide. Although Betreen could have got to the ‘cross’ had he been on his toes!

Stirling were completely dominant in possession, keeping the ball instead of playing the long pass forward they had resorted to at times after the Christmas break. Wells and Barker were orchestrating the play from the middle as the students cruised towards promotion.



Player of the year celebrates
with his best mate. And Cammy.



They added a fourth with Barker getting his 12^th of the campaign. Jamie McLean got the better of the full-back repeatedly in the second half, and on this occasion dinked a lovely ball up to the back post to Quinn who was pushed in the back as he went to nod home. Barker stepped up and scored in his usual spot to add to a fully-deserved scoreline.

Mikey MacDougall replaced Wells and Cooper came on for Quinn as Stirling relaxed with the three goal cushion.

The moment of the match arrived after tremendous play by man of the match McLaughlin. A flying run down the left touchline evaded two lunges before squaring to Cooper who first-time flicked inside to Betreen. Setting his self well 8 yards out he somehow defied his usual striking instinct and shinned the ball wide in what would was an unfortunate end to a great piece of build-up.

Stirling had a few more half chances, including a McLaughlin free-kick which is still rising, but the game fizzled out with Stirling by for the better side.

The students can look forward to plying their trade in Division 1 next year but they will be hopeful that it will be as Division 2 champions. With three games to go it is in their hands and all is to play for, three big performances will bring home the trophy.

Man of the Match: Matty McLaughlin

Stirling: Harkness, Crawford, Blair, Mahoney, Boyle, Lynch (McLean), Barker, Wells (MacDougall), Quinn (Cooper), McLaughlin, Betreen          Subs: Chapman