Stirling students slip up in cup semi-final

May 22 2009

STIRLING UNIVERSITY 1

PRESTON ATHLETIC 3

STIRLING bowed out of their third cup semi final of the season on Saturday when they lost to Preston Athletic in the East of Scotland League Cup on Saturday, writes Calum Forbes.

The students started the game positively, moving the ball quickly and testing the visitors’ defence. However despite this, Preston hit the woodwork on two early occasions.

The opening goal ironically came shortly after this, when, on 23 minutes, Stirling’s Craig Glass fed Calum Forbes and he showed great composure to thread the ball past the keeper.

Michael Jolley’s side could not hold the lead for long however and the away side hit back with two goals on 32 and 39 minutes to go into the break 2-1 up.

The university made changes at the interval with Samuel French replacing Neil Shave and Jason Atkins replacing Richard Milne.

The match could have gone level on 65 minutes when Joe Dingwall bombed forward and fired narrowly over.

With Stirling pushing for the equaliser that would have seen the game go to extra-time, the visitors grabbed the decisive goal three minutes from time.

Stirling keeper Thomas McCulloch pulled off an excellent save with his feet only to see the rebound fall straight to Preston’s Stuart Miller who headed home from close range.

Stirling University: McCulloch, Glass, Milne (Atkins 46), Robertson, Dingwall, Bolam (Mooney 71), G. Anderson, McKee, Shave (French 46), Nichol, Forbes. Unused subs: Topp, Jolley.

GRETNA 2008 3

STIRLING UNIVERSITY 3

A GOAL deep into stoppage time ended Stirling University’s promotion campaign on Monday at Raydale Park.

Stirling and Gretna both needed three points to take the promotion race to the last weekend, and when Lee Nichol netted to make it 3-2 in the 94th minute, it looked like the students had made it.

But Gretna went straight up the park to equalise to dash both teams’ hopes – and the draw ensures that Civil Service Strollers along with champions Tynecastle – will be playing their football in the East of Scotland Premier Division next season.

After five minutes a scramble inside the area led to Stirling’s Jason Atkins head into his own net.

The students had still not recovered when, 15 minutes later, they went two down as Gretna’s Daniel Carmichael rounded Thomas McCulloch before rolling the ball into the empty net.

Stirling pressure resulted in a life-line goal on 35 minutes when Dingwall cross found Calum Forbes who headed home.

Despite the high tempo of the opening stages of the second half, there were no genuine chances.

Stirling kept pressing however and they equalised with 20 minutes to go. A clipped ball over the top was controlled by the excellent Lee Nichol and he centred for Forbes who squeezed the ball home at the near post.

McCulloch saw a couple of long range shots fly over and then, with only seven minutes remaining, substitute Jason Bolam produced a superb long range lob that landed on the roof of the net.

Just as it appeared the game would end at 2-2, the students thought they had grabbed a sensational winner. The clock had hit 94 minutes when Nichol pounced on a loose ball inside the area to slam the ball home off the post.

Incredibly though, Gretna grabbed a devastating third to end both side’s promotion hopes.

Stirling University: McCulloch, Glass, Atkins (Milne 88), Robertson, Dingwall (Mooney 78), Nichol, G. Anderson, Black (Bolam 67), McKee, French, Forbes. Unused subs: Topp, Shave, Jolley.