The University of Stirling men’s football team were left frustrated by a disciplined Berwick Rangers side, losing 2-0 at Forthbank.

Goals in either half from Grant Nelson and Lewis Barr were enough to secure the victory, with Stirling wasting good opportunities throughout.

Head Coach Chris Geddes said: “We deserved to win, but fair play to Berwick. Sadly, we didn’t make their goalkeeper work hard enough. We got into good areas but didn’t use the ball well enough.”

Geddes made a number of changes from Wednesday’s victory against Cowdenbeath which nearly paid off after eight minutes. Jack Docherty found space in the box and his dragged shot was almost turned in by Ciaran McAninch.

Docherty was involved again five minutes later, firing a ball across the box for McAninch who produced a strong save from Calum Antell. The ball then fell for Thomas Vonk but he couldn’t connect well under pressure.

The Uni continued to push for an opener and came within inches of a goal through Jake Service. The centre-back retrieved the ball on the edge of the box and curled a strike towards goal, striking the bar to the relief of Antell in goal.

Despite the overwhelming pressure from Stirling, it was Berwick who took the lead into half-time.

A Blair Sneddon cross eventually found Nelson on the edge, who struck a powerful volley past Yan Gromov-Godik.

Stirling retook control of the match in the second half and missed a golden opportunity to equalise after 50 minutes. A perfect cross from James Stokes on the right found Vonk at the back post, but his close-range header flew wide.

Cameron McKinley and Ben Maciver-Redwood were introduced at the hour mark but neither managed to create space due to determined defending by Berwick.

This defending allowed the visitors to counter and double their lead with ten minutes to play. Jackson Mylchreest beat his man to drive into the left side of the box, squaring for Barr to tap in and secure Berwick the three points.

Stirling will have the opportunity to bounce back from defeat when they face Musselburgh Athletic in the Fourth Round of the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup on Wednesday at Forthbank.

The full match gallery can be viewed on the George Vekic Photography website.

University of Stirling: Gromov Godik, Lavery, Service, Jeanes (Moffett), Aslanoglu, Russell, De Zoeten (Heal 60), Docherty (Maciver-Redwood 60), McAninch, Stokes, Vonk (McKinley 60)