The University of Stirling men’s first team were left rueing missed opportunities in a 2-0 home defeat to Civil Service Strollers in the Lowland League.
Goals for Tom Findlay and Ross Clarke were enough for Strollers to edge past a much-changed Uni side, after the team’s trip to Durham in the BUCS league earlier in the day.
Head Coach Chris Geddes said: “I’m really disappointed, to be honest. I thought we were excellent in the second half and had a lot of opportunities and on another day we might’ve gone on to win it.”
The visitors took the lead after 13 minutes with the game’s first real chance. Neat play on the edge of the box saw the ball set nicely for Findlay, who fired into the top right corner.
Chances for the Uni were at a premium with counter-attacks proving their biggest threat in the first half. James Stokes broke well from a Strollers corner but his shot was blocked.
Strollers should’ve doubled their lead before the break through Innes Lawson. Harry Girdwood did excellently down the right side, finding Lawson with a low cross but his shot was straight at Yan Gromov Godik from close range.
Stirling gained control of the game in the second half and had numerous opportunities to equalise. A pinpoint corner from James Malcolm found Jack Docherty, who headed over the Uni’s first good chance.
Docherty was involved again when Finn Moffett played him in behind, he found Sam Martin in the box who saw two shots saved by Eliasz Zalewski.
Martin had the Uni’s best opportunity just three minutes later. Substitute Ben-Craig Hislop crossed deep from the right, finding Martin in space but his volley flew agonisingly over the bar.
The visitors would punish these missed chances two minutes later as Ross Clarke tucked home a rebounded shot to double Strollers’ lead.
The Uni piled on the pressure for the remaining 10 minutes but could not create another opening. They will look to bounce back on Saturday when they host Gretna FC 2008 at Forthbank.
University of Stirling: Gromov Godik, Morris (Martin 66), Jeanes, Service, Walker (Laird 66), Scally, Malcolm (De Zoeten 77), Docherty (Manomey 77), Moffett, Stokes, Torregiani (Hislop 58).