Stirling 8 Edinburgh 4’s 0

Dominant win over title rivals

Coming off the back of a disappointing defeat at the weekend, Stirling faced a tough test against a team that came down from the league above last year. The home side never gave the visitors a sniff in an over-powering display that sees them sit atop the table with six points out of six.

Stirling wasted no time in taking the lead after the awarded an indirect free kick due to a passback. After encroachment on the first effort, Darren Dalrymple fired home at the near post to give Stirling the perfect start.

Loan move to France paying off

Stirling were spraying the ball around well, rarely putting the ball in the air as Edinburgh struggled to get into the game. The movement from Dalrymple and his strike partner John McCallum was excellent, giving an option at all times for the ball carrier.

Stirling’s two central midfielders, Stevie Boyle and fresher Craig Fergusson, were battling brilliantly against their counterparts, nicking the ball back crucially time and again to set up counter attacks. It was Fergusson who was to double Stirling’s lead with a wonderfully executed chip from the edge of the area, leaving the keeper stranded and Stirling two goals up.

Not satisfied with the lead Stirling continued to press forward against a shell-shocked visiting side and made it three when Ryan Lynch got on the score sheet. A wonderfully crafted ball from Owen Smith was bravely won at the near post by McCallum, giving Lynch the simple task of tapping home with the goalkeeper stranded.

The goal of the game arrived after half an hour as Dalrymple added a second to his collection. After patient possession the ball was switched to Graeme Crawford at right back. Ferguson made an intelligent run in-between the defence and picked up the pass in behind. Whipping the ball across the box first time, Dalrymple was unmarked at the back post and slotted past an increasingly dejected Edinburgh number one.

Quiet day for McCulloch

Kieran McCulloch made his first start of the season in goal but was rarely tested, but for a few wayward shots from distance. Stirling were to make it five before half-time as Crawford scored from the spot after a dubious call by the referee; giving a penalty for shirt tugging which could have went either way.

Determined not to concede and also send a message out to their league 4A opponents, Stirling continued to work hard to maintain their high standard of performance. Goal number six arrived five minutes into the second half as Crawford got his second. A cleared corner was returned out to Ryan McCue and his ball was inch perfect, and Crawford could hardly miss due to the quality of delivery.

With their opponents down and out Stirling made some change with Ian Bailey and Michael Tuohy replacing Smith and Boyle respectively. Tuohy picked up where the skipper had left off, picking up the ball and keeping it efficiently in what was an impressive debut in Stirling green.

Stirling were putting on a fine display and could have added more to their lead if it wasn't for some last second decisions going astray. McCallum got the goal his play deserved as the scoreboard clicked over to seven with half an hour to go. Great play down the left ended with Dalrymple’s square ball finding his strike partner who caressed the ball home with his left foot.

Debut 'goal' for Gemmell

Peter Gemmell was next to make his debut and nearly scored with his first touch as he couldn't quite squeeze a strike away from a tight angle. The only real moment of danger for Stirling arrived when a nice turn inside the area left McCulloch exposed but the striker fired into the side netting.

Stirling’s final goal of the day was debateable to say the least. Great running from Gemmell left him through on goal. After avoiding the defender’s challenge, he rounded the goalkeeper only to be tripped as he looked to finish. The ball was cleared more than a yard from the line but the goal was given; more to save the capital side’s defender from a red card than a genuine error by the referee.

Stirling saw the game out to a close, still pushing forward but unable to add to their massive margin of victory. The final whistle went with a clean sheet intact, which was more than deserved by the central defensive pairing of Fraser Gillespie and Marc Redmond; who formed a solid pairing despite it being their first game together.

The home side more than deserved their win and a few more goals could have rewarded the number of fine performances produced by the men in green. With the capital outfit expected to be Stirling’s main title contenders, a rethink may have to happen as Stirling have a superb chance of achieving promotion that has just eluded them over the past few years.

Man of the match: Darren Dalrymple/John McCallum

Stirling: McCulloch, Crawford, Gillespie, Redmond, McCue, Lynch (Gemmell), Boyle (Tuohy), Fergusson, Smith (Bailey), McCallum, Dalrymple                      Subs: Chapman, MacDougall