By John Turnbull at Forthbank Stadium

University of Stirling were left frustrated with their end product on Saturday as they were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw with Bo’ness United.

The students took an early lead through a nicely worked Jason Jarvis goal before Ryan Stevenson levelled the game on 36 minutes.

Both sides had chances either side of half-time but Stirling enjoyed sustained control on the game in both periods, but in the end couldn’t grab the winner.

Head coach Chris Geddes said: “It was a good game, end-to-end, and there were lots of good opportunities.

“We’re disappointed because we had the majority of the ball in the second half but that doesn’t mean you’re going to win games; I think a draw was a fair result. Its another point in the Lowland League, and to get one point or three is really tough.

“The first half was pretty even, I thought, but the goal comes from us being slack, we had the ball in their final third. It’s disappointing because we think we could’ve stopped it but I wasn’t going to say they didn’t deserve a goal in the first half.

“I’m definitely disappointed (with our end product). They have players around the striker who all link well so to keep them quiet in the second half was good, but poor in the final third. We still need to get that sharpness back in front of goal.”

Match sharpness

The Uni might’ve lacked match sharpness in the end having only played one Lowland League match since December 11th, but the students were quick to dismiss that concern.

A fast tempo was set by both outfits with shots on both goals attempted within the first two minutes, but Jarvis’ effort was the first meaningful one.

Jamie Penker played an excellently weighted through ball in between the United defence, and Jarvis tucked it away calmly into the far corner.

Bo’ness were unlucky not to be level when the eventual goal scorer had a header crash off the bar minutes after the opening, but Stevenson was rewarded when he fired a shot through Fry’s legs to level the game.

Stirling defended well in the second half and limited the visitors to few chances of note, but couldn’t take one of their own, as the spoils were shared at Forthbank.

University of Stirling: Fry, Burrows, Hutchinson, Doan, Berry, Davidson, Jarvis (McArthur 70’), McGale, Stokes (McGill 80’), Penker, Rae (Kennedy 64’)

Bo’ness United: Trialist, McCormack, Stevenson, Skinner, Carstairs, Grant, Galbraith, Jacobs, Wilson, Macauley, Johnston