Stirling managed to take a draw back from Aberdeen which has always been a difficult place to go, having never won in the Granite City under Tommy Craig’s tutelage. With exams causing this game to be postponed in December, Stirling had to wait to try and avenge their disappointing 3-0 defeat to Edinburgh 4’s. Knocking the students down a peg after a 100% start to league business, it reminded the table toppers that they were not promoted already and still have to earn their place in the league above.
Stirling welcomed Will Barker, Stevie Clark and Kevin Hughes into the starting 11 as they looked to take a result which would keep them firmly in the 4A driving seat. The performance on display deserved more than just a point and had it not been for some abject refereeing, the scoreline could have been a whole lot different.
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Playing into a strong wind in the first half, Stirling were controlling the game with Barker and Michael Tuohy in the centre of the park always available and switching flanks time and again. Both fullbacks, Ryan McCue and Graeme Crawford, were seeing a lot of the ball but couldn’t quite find the correct ball to trouble the Aberdeen defence; Crawford particularly guilty of trying the difficult pass when the better option was to find feet.
Stirling created two quick chances to take the lead midway through the first period. After neat built build up play down the right, Clark’s pass got Crawford to the by-line but his cross was blocked by the covering defender. Minutes later a pinpoint through ball released Hughes in behind but the number 9 was ruled offside despite being in his own half and behind a Robert Gordon defender.
This was a sign of thing to come from a referee who seems to aspire to the Willie Collum style of refereeing, i.e. extremely biased. Stirling continued to battle on however with RGU failing to threaten the centre half pairing of Tom Flanagan and Stevie Boyle. The skipper playing in one of his many positions was rarely troubled as he and his Mancunian colleague steadied the ship.
In fact with such a strong wind Stirling did well to limit the home side to one long range effort which Kieran McCulloch got down smartly to block and gather at the second attempt. The half time whistle arrived with only a chance for Crawford any other point of note in the first period. Tuohy’s whipped free-kick arrived at Crawford on the stretch and the goalkeeper managed to strike the ball off the fullback and the ball rebounded over the bar from 3 yards.
Stirling came out from the break content at their endeavour in the first half and looked to sustain the pressure of the first half and improve their quality in the final third. With their two central midfielders dominating, the away team were retaining the ball superbly and were forcing their opponents to sit deep in their own half for the majority of the game; this further by a formation change to 4-4-1-1 by the home team.
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They were to get their reward for their efforts around the sixty minute mark. Hughes and strike partner Mikey MacDougall were combining well and this reaped benefits with the opening goal. Hughes’ flick on from a long goal kick released MacDougall and he remained calm to toe poke past the on-rushing goalkeeper. Having struggled for goals, MacDougall’s work ethic is finally being rewarded in the goal scoring stakes.
This sparked the beginning of a downward turn in the away side’s fortune however. Hughes received the ball into feet and adeptly knocked the ball past his marker inside the box. His legs were crudely taken away but the referee saw fit to play on but Hughes was not booked; you can draw your own conclusions from the lack of a card being dished out.
Minutes later Barker was fouled in the centre of the field but the man in the middle played on and RGU gained a free kick of their own. The long ball forward held up in the wind and the ball was controlled by the home sides forward. After a miscued shot from the left the ball was scrambled home from 6 yards to bring the sides level.
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Stirling were trying their best to fight the injustice they were feeling as even the home sides players were find the decisions laughable. Corner, free-kick and throw-ins were continually awarded against the travelling side, decisions which weren’t even debatable.
However Stirling remained the most potent side and had their chances to sneak a result from right under the referee’s nose. Barker had a long range strike which flew a yard wide of the top corner with the goalkeeper looking on nervously.
Stirling’s top scorer last season nearly grabbed the winner after bursting from midfield to arrive in the area. His touch and shot across the keeper was blocked superbly with the keeper’s trailing hand as it looked like being one of those days.
The away side had one final chance to get the extra two points they deserved. Crawford found Hughes inside the right-hand side of the area to which the striker took one touch away from his defender and struck early with his left foot. The ball was curling into the bottom corner but the goalkeeper managed to tip the ball round the post in what was a terrific save by the Robert Gordon number 1.
Stirling can be satisfied with the performance they put in after more than a month without any training or games. The point keeps them top of the league and promotion in their own hands, which they have got to capitalise on. Circumstances prevented all three points going Stirling’s way but a draw isn’t the worst result to take away from Aberdeenshire.
Stirling: McCulloch, Crawford, Flanagan, Boyle, McCue, Clark, Barker, Tuohy (Bailey), Quinn, MacDougall, Hughes Subs: Wells, Gillespie
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