Below-par students make cup progress

Oct 24 2008 by Donald Morton, Stirling Observer Friday

Craigroyston3

Stirling University5

FOLLOWING a less than convincing victory over fellow First Division side Craigroyston, Stirling University are through to the quarter finals of the SFA South Regional Cup.

Despite never hitting top gear, Stirling scored four times with no reply in the first half and in the end this was enough to win the tie, writes Calum Forbes.

They were, however, quick out of the blocks, as Jason Bolam worked his way into the box before being barged to the floor. Calum Forbes converted from the spot to give Stirling the lead inside two minutes.

Craigroyston proceeded to dominate the first half hour. Thomas McCulloch pulled off a great save and also saw a blistering long range shot hit his bar.

Against the run of play, the students scored a second goal after 25 minutes. Chris McKee whipped in a vicious corner and Richard Milne rose to bullet a header towards goal. The ball was blocked on the line but Stuart Mooney was on hand to net his fifth goal of the season.

If there was a period where Stirling grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck then it was the last 15 minutes of the first half.

First, Mooney drove at the Craigroyston defence before driving the ball across goal to find his strike partner Bolam who made it 3-0.

Then Forbes fed Mooney who rounded the keeper before cutting the ball back for Mark McCullagh. The right-back showed great composure to blast into the top corner for his first goal for the club.

Mooney almost made it five before half time but his effort cracked the Craigroysten crossbar.

At half time Ryan Topp replaced Lee Nicholl and John Collins came on for Milne.

Within five minutes of the restart, Craigroysten won and converted a penalty. Then McCulloch parried a shot on to his post as the students seemed shell-shocked.

The Stirling midfield struggled to retain the ball, but nevertheless it was the away side who perhaps should have added to the goal tally as the hard-working McKee came close.

Craigroyston scored a second after 70 minutes to make it 4-2 as Stirling looked a shadow of the side that has performed well for most of the season.

A plus point for manager Michael Jolley will be the performance of Mooney who was a constant menace to the Craigroysten defence and it was he who was set up substitute Euan Black to neatly convert from just inside the area on 80 minutes.

A debatable decision saw the referee award Craigroysten another penalty four minutes from time as the game finished 5-3 to the university.

The students have set their standards this season but this latest performance fell short. Nevertheless, they are through to the next round and remain unbeaten in the East of Scotland League.

Tomorrow (Saturday) the students have a massive game away to Tynecastle in the semi-finals of the Alex Jack Cup.

Stirling University: McCulloch, McCullagh, N. Anderson, Milne (Collins 46), Robertson, Nicholl (Topp 46), Anderson, Forbes, McKee, Mooney, Bolam (Black 62). Unused subs: Glass, McFayden.