The University of Stirling Men’s football team were defeated 2-1 away to Tranent on a windy evening in the Lowland League.
Euan Bauld got on the end of a Higginbottom free kick to take the lead for the hosts. Jack Docherty equalised with his second touch off the bench before Lennon Walker grabbed the winner late on.
Head coach Chris Geddes said: “We came with a gameplan, obviously that changed when we got here because of the wind, the pitch was a bit soft. I thought first half we were excellent. Tranent had most of the ball, but we still had the two best chances in the first half.”
“It was a game of two halves. It’s one we should never have lost, but fair play to Tranent, they showed why they are at the top end of the table, because the punished us for our slack play.”
Tranent was comfortable on the ball at the start of the game, keeping possession well, but they struggled to break the students down.
Stirling certainly grew into the game and got their first big chance on the half-hour mark. James Stokes found himself with space to run into on the right flank. He had the beating of his man and cut the ball back to Finn Moffett, but his first-time shot rolled agonizingly wide.
Two minutes later, Moffett’s strike partner Cammy McKinley would go close. A lofted ball was trapped brilliantly by McKinley, who turned his man and drilled it towards goal. Kelby Mason was equal to it and did well to save with his leg.
Tranent came out for the second half much sharper and was instantly rewarded. An inviting free kick from the right got all the way to the back post, where Euan Bauld snuck in to put the hosts in front.
In hopes of leveling the score, Ciaran McAninch, known for his set-piece prowess, whistled a free kick wide right of the goal.
Stirling looked to the bench for inspiration, as the game looked to be getting away from them.
Jack Docherty answered the call. With his second touch of the ball, he struck it sweetly, into the bottom right corner, leaving Mason rooted to the spot.
Cammy McKinley almost replicated Dochety’s effort just past the hour mark, but failed to hit the target, after Ben Heal found the striker in a bit of space.
While Tranent continued to hold possession, chances were at a premium. Stirling’s defence continued to nullify any attacks into the box. Importantly they had kept in-form Cameron Ross at bay.
But in the 78th after a poor free kick from the students, they were hit on the counter. Substitute Lennon Walker carried the ball past his defender and poked the ball through Yan Gromov Godik’s legs and into the net.
The Uni tried to push forward for an equaliser but failed to create any late opportunities, as the hosts held on for the win.
This result drops Stirling Uni into 7th in the league. Next week they face Cumbernauld Colts, a chance to get back to winning ways.
University of Stirling: Gromov Godik, Lavery, Service, Aslanoglu, Heal (Morris 82), Scally (Docherty 58), McAninch, Russell (Woloszyn 88), Stokes, Moffett (Maciver-Redwood 45), McKinley (Manomey)