Camelon Albion 0 Stirling 4

Stirling bounce back to kick start their league campaign

Stirling returned to winning ways, giving a much-needed boost to the squad after 3 straight defeats. The university side put on a brave display in the face of some underhand tactics by their opponents.

Return of a icon.

Stirling made a few changes to the previous week with Ross Chapman, Owen Smith and Mikey MacDougall all returning to starting berths. There was also a return for SUFC icon Chris Betreen who threw on the number 9 shirt one more time.

With the pitch provided by the home side looking more suited to a rugby game, Stirling had to be careful from the off to maintain possession as to not allow any mistakes on the tricky surface.

There were no signs of this though as Stirling pressed early on. Ryan Quinn was heavily involved as he escaped from under the girlfriend's thumb to drive through the heart of Camelon’s midfield time and again. Unfortunately the final ball couldn't quite beat a stubborn Camelon back five.

Undeterred by the student’s fine start, Camelon pinned their opponents back with a barrage of throw-ins and corners which were defended well by the men in white. Chapman pulled off a fine save to keep the scores level, diving across to his left to parry a shot from 18 yards.

Freshers has began his SUFC career well

This sparked Stirling into life and they took the lead with fresher Michael Tuohy getting his second of the season. After a driving run from Smith the ball made its way to Betreen. Unselfishly he spurned the shot a goal to leave Tuohy with an empty net to trickle the ball into. It’s been an impressive start to the fresher’s time in the 3^rd team and, with games, this will surely continue.

The remainder of the half was an even affair with Stirling perhaps on top through their better use of the ball. Betreen was unfortunate not to score as the Camelon number one made a couple of good stops. At the very end of the half he could have doubled the lead but the shot was skewed wide after intricate play down the 

right by MacDougall and Graeme Crawford.

The second half was more comfortable occasion for the away team as they doubled their lead early on in the second half. A whipped corner at the front post arrived at Ryan Mahoney’s feet in the box. He fired towards goal through a crowd of bodies and the dubious goals committee has ruled, inexplicably, in his favour as he broke his duck for the season.

Camelon were threatening through their slightly rotund, but pacey, striker and he slipped his strike-partner thorough on goal to give a glimmer of hope to the home side after going two goals down. The ball beat Chapman but went wide of the far post giving Stirling a major let-off. The shaky moments continued as a cross to the front post was misjudged by an off balance Mahoney, and the resultant header was clawed away by a surprised Chapman.

The nature of the game changed on the referee’s decision in the build-up to Stirling’s third goal. Smith caught the ball just before the touchline and the resultant play led to Betreen being in behind the Camelon defence. Typically he remained calm and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to keep his remarkable scoring record for the third team going.

Camelon lost their heads at this point and began to take it out on anyone who wasn't a member of the home side, the referee receiving he majority of the abuse. Every 50/50 became a chance to try and hurt a Stirling player as they couldn't accept their oppositions passing play.

Floored

Ryan McCue was to feel the brunt of the opponent’s frustration as he was struck off the ball in a cowardly act, seen by the home sideline but not punished by removing the player from the park. Returning to the ages of violence on the park is a poor reflection on the state of the game at this level and changes should be made to allow football to be the focus of everyone’s attention.

Stirling added a fourth near the end with the scrappiest goal of the season so far. A corner was returned into the area and, after getting stuck under substitute McLachlan’s feet, was scooped towards goal by Betreen and turned home by Crawford to get to seven for the season.

The game was played out with arguments between the Camelon side and the referee dominating proceedings and Stirling saw the game out to take a much needed three points. The clean sheet was a bonus for a side who have conceded too many goals recently and this will stand them in good stead for next week’s cup tie.

Stirling: Chapman, Crawford, Gillespie, Mahoney, McCue, Lynch (Rathore), Smith, Tuohy (Wells), Quinn, MacDougall (McLachlan), Betreen