The University of Stirling men’s football team came away with a point in the Lowland League on Saturday, drawing 0-0 against Caledonian Braves at Alliance Park.
In what was a cagey 90 minutes, Abel Manomey went closest for Stirling in second-half stoppage time with both defences on top throughout.
Head Coach Chris Geddes said: “It was similar to Wednesday (vs Hartpury) in that we had a lot of the ball but didn’t win the game.
“I’m not going to stand here and say we deserved to win because we didn’t, but they didn’t either. Having spoken to Ricky at the end there I think we’ll both just take the point and move on.”
The hosts started the game brightly in possession, moving the ball at pace to disrupt the Uni’s structure. A low cross from the left called young Duncan Laird into action who cleared at the near post.
Whilst comfortable further up the pitch, the Braves looked vulnerable in possession at the back. Cameron McKinley won the ball and found space for a shot which fell into the path of Ben Maciver-Redwood, but his attempted chip was too high.
Maciver-Redwood then found space on the left wing, cutting into the box and attempting to flick around Bernie White in goal, but the American reacted quickly to tip the ball away.
Stirling continued to threaten by finding their two strikers. This time Laird chipped the ball into Maciver-Redwood, his shot was palmed out by White but only to McKinley, whose low strike was blocked off the line by Archie Graham.
Despite these attempts, it was the Braves who had the best chance of the half in stoppage time. An innocuous ball over the top saw Yan Gromov Godik charge out of his box to claim it, but it bounced over his head for Josh Gemmell to shoot wide of an empty net.
The second half began quietly with neither side creating space in attacking areas. This changed in the 70th minute when a Braves corner flashed past everyone in the box, leaving space for Greig Stewart to charge in at the back post and come within inches of tapping in.
It was then Stirling’s turn to prevent a goal on the line, with substitute Alex Jeanes in the right place to block Cammy Breadner’s shot to keep the scores level in the last ten minutes.
After a match of very few openings, the best opportunity for either side came in the final minute. Ciaran McAninch crossed deep to the back post for Abel Manomey who did brilliantly to volley on goal, but White was there to tip the shot onto the post and ensure a point for his team.
University of Stirling: Gromov Godik, Morris, Laird, Aslanoglu, Lavery, Russell, Scally, Malcolm, McAninch, McKinley, Maciver-Redwood.