Stirling University see off Eyemouth United

Nov 6 2009 by Donald Morton, Stirling Observer Friday

Central Taxis East of Scotland First Division

STIRLING UNIVERSITY 5

EYEMOUTH UNITED 2

STIRLING kept pace with the league leaders with another free-scoring performance at home.

Swiss striker Abraham Keller earned the match ball with a clinical hat-trick while captain Graham Anderson and midfielder Lee Nichol also hit the back of the net.

In front of their home support, the students have notched up 17 goals in just three outings, helping them to stay just a point behind table toppers Vale of Leithen.

Keller's own eye for goal has seen the first year history student score 14 goals in all competitions, including hat-tricks in the league, cup and university competitions.

Coach Stevie Burchill made only one change to the side which won 2-0 last week at home to Ormiston. Into the starting line-up came left wing back Joe Dingwall, replacing Craig McLeish who picked up an injury in training.

The students mustered up just one goal in the opening 45, but it still proved to be an incident-packed half.

Defender Jason Atkins was forced off early in the first half after a nasty head collision as he sought to clear his lines. On came former Southend United centre-half Ricky Byrne, and the defence were busy soon after, aided by good goalkeeping from Sam Filler to keep Eyemouth at bay.

Regaining composure, the students settled into the game and on the half hour mark, Keller opened his account for the day with a solid strike from the edge of the box.

After a spirited opening to the second half, fast-footed midfielder Jason Bolam drew the Eyemouth keeper out of his area, round him with ease and played in Keller for his and Stirling's second.

But the Berwickshire club halved the deficit, catching the students napping straight from the restart. It proved a momentary lapse as Keller sealed his hat-trick in style on 60 minutes with a now trademark free-kick.

Appearing to tire, Eyemouth lost their discipline and were reduced to 10 men. Now firmly in the driving seat, Anderson led by example, pouncing on a goalmouth scramble for goal number four and then Nichol gave Keller a run for his money with an equally impressive dead ball finish.

Not even a late penalty, conceded by a clumsy Richard Milne challenge on the edge of the box, could take the shine off another strong home showing.

Coach Stevie Burchill said: “Abraham Keller is on a great run of form and hopefully he can keep it going in the months ahead. He scored one of two great free-kicks on the day.

“They were quite a physical team, but we stood up to that, kept our discipline and were clinical with our finishing. We showed a bit of extra quality and that was the difference.

Stirling: Filler, McCullagh, Dingwall, Milne, Atkins (Byrne), Anderson, Bolam, Topp, Arnold-Smith (Mason), Nichol, Keller (Dewar). Unused subs: Pentland, McCulloch.

Next up for the students is a trip to Netherdale tomorrow (Saturday) to take on Gala Fairydean, kick-off 2pm.