By John Turnbull at Forthbank Stadium
University of Stirling were luckless on Wednesday night as they fell to a 2-1 defeat to Civil Service Strollers.
Despite dominating the majority of the contest, the students were undone by two second half
penalties, both tucked away by Ross Young.
The University fought back and were rewarded when Joel Taylor’s header narrowly crossed the line, but couldn’t grab another to square the game.
Head coach Chris Geddes said: “We were definitely the better team. Apart from the first 10 minutes of the second half, we completely dominated the game.
“The performance was excellent from the boys, considering the injuries and COVID issues.
“I have no problems with the first penalty, but the second one, Robbie McGale’s hand was by his side. He’s not stopping a goal; he’s not putting his hand out to stop the ball.
“Then we should have had a penalty in the last minute, from the corner when the boy handled it.
“We need to get back to basics because everyone knows we are conceding goals, but for us we’re not playing that bad. The shape was good and we still got chances. Our luck isn’t in right now and we aren’t winning games.”
Both sides struggled to create any chances of note in the first half but the students would’ve been happier heading into the break.
The University defended coherently and limited the visitors to virtually nothing in front of goal, before they were offered two excellent chances.
On 52 minutes, Matthew Burrows was punished for leaning into the attacker and Young made no
mistake from the spot to break the deadlock.
Then only seven minutes later, Robbie McGale was deemed to have handled the ball despite his arm being clearly by his side. Young hit the net again with the penalty.
Taylor gave the hosts a route back into the game on 77 minutes, when McGale’s cross was headed
back across the goal and nodded in.
Despite their hard work the students faced more misfortune, as they were cruelly denied a penalty on 90 minutes as the ball struck the arm of the Civil defender.
The students travel to play St Andrews United on Saturday in the The East of Scotland Qualifying Cup. Geddes added: “It’s a big cup tie. It’s a cup final for them, going up against a Lowland League team. They will think we are down in confidence but our boys will still be up for it and will be going there to try and win the game, especially after the performance tonight.”
University of Stirling: Fry, Burrows, Taylor, McGale, Downie, Doan, Davidson (Thompson 75), McArthur (Docherty 63), Rae, Stokes, Kennedy (McGill 63)
Civil Service Strollers: Whyte, Irving, Valentine, McConnell, Moffat, Duffy, Fairley, Young, Cole, Makovora, Kosakov