The University of Stirling Men’s firsts secured all three points against Hearts B at Ainslie Park.
A McAninch penalty in the 21st minute of the game was the decider, as the students battled hard for the win, reducing the Wee Jambos to only their second loss this season.
Head coach Chris Geddes said: “It was unbelievable. And we deserved it, the amount of saves their keeper had to make, Yan didn’t have many to make. We were outstanding tonight.”
“It’s really tough to win in the Lowland league. Especially with the quality of sides in the league so to win three in a row against Hearts, Bo’ness, and Albion Rovers, two teams that are above us in the league. It’s great. Considering we’re winning on Wednesdays as well.”
Hearts looked strong in the opening stages. Bobby McLuckie especially looked lively for the home team, testing Yan Gromov Godik early after the students lost the ball in the midfield.
He got his second chance after playing a give-and-go with Mackenzie Kirk a couple of minutes later, but again, Uni keeper Gromov Godik was equal to it.
But Stirling did well to survive that early pressure and started to settle into the game.
Despite a lack of chances, the visitors were awarded a penalty after a Uni player looked to be held back during a corner.
Ciaran McAninch made no mistake and rifled his penalty into the top left corner. His fourth goal in the league this season.
The Uni midfielder almost got his brace five minutes later. Standing over a free kick just outside the box, he whipped the ball towards the top corner. To Lewis McFarlane’s relief in the Hearts goal, it clipped the post and went out.
Jake Service looked destined to score at the back post after another great set-piece delivery from McAninch, but somehow from five yards out, the ball sailed over the bar.
And from then, Stirling continued to produce the better chances even in the second half.
Ben Heal’s fantastic box-to-box run on the right flank, led to a through ball to Cammy McKinley whose shot was well saved by McFarlane.
In the 60th minute, McLuckie had his own chance from a free kick. His drilled effort deflected off Shea Scally and forced Gromov Godik into a big save.
Hearts kept possession well but rarely troubled the Stirling backline, who held their shape well and got important interceptions and tackles in the midfield to disrupt the home side’s flow.
As the minutes ticked on, Hearts continued to push.
McLuckie’s curled effort after cutting in from the left went just over the bar.
The Stirling box was a chaotic frenzy a minute later as Hearts had several chances in the box to find the equaliser. But again, the students defended valiantly, blocking, and throwing their bodies in the way.
Uni survived the late pressure and saw the game out from there, securing a massive win in the Lowland league. They have now won their last three games in the league.
Next up for the team is a doubleheader on Wednesday against Durham in BUCS, as well as a Lowland League game against the Civil Service Strollers later that evening.
University of Stirling: Gromov Godik, Service, Aslanoglu, Lavery, Heal, Scally (Morris 86), McAninch, Russell, McKinley (Moffat 86), Maciver-Redwood (Docherty 78), Stokes (De Zoeten 86)