We have just updated the website following the summer break. Here are the first four match reports from the stadium, as published in the Stirling Observer.
Bo’ness United 2 – 3 University of Stirling
Saturday 27 July, 2024
University of Stirling enjoyed a winning start to the new Lowland League season with an impressive 3-2 win over Bo’ness United.
Goals from Ben Woloszyn and Finn Moffett gave the students a 2-0 half-time lead over last year’s third-place finishers – before the home side levelled the score with goals on 74 and 80 minutes. But Stirling’s Nathan Tallen rescued the three points – with a dramatic winner on the 90th minute.
The victory was all the more impressive given the wholesale changes the University’s manager Chris Geddes had to make over the summer, due to students graduating from the high-performance football programme. Eleven new players were in the matchday squad – with only seven remaining from the 2023/24 season.
Geddes said: “I’m feeling happy after that. To come away to Bo’ness – who finished third in the year last year – and to win 3-2 with a brand new squad is a great feeling. At the end of the match, we had six players from last year’s under 20s on the pitch and two of them – Sam [Martin, who set up the winner] and Nathan – won us the game. They were excellent.
“It was a test for us today – but we were clinical.”
It was a well balanced start to the match at Newtown Park in Bo’ness – but the University soon began to dominate the match. On 19 minutes, the students opened the scoring after excellent play from a trio of midfielders. Jack Hodge played a superb ball in behind the Bo’ness defence, with Euan Walker cutting inside and teeing up Woloszyn for the finish.
Moffett doubled the lead on 31 minutes with a great individual effort, after Stirling played out from the back.
After half-time, Bo’ness threw more players forward and they started to enjoy more possession, winning second balls. Kieran Mitchell scored a fantastic goal – smashing the ball into the top corner – to pull a goal back for Bo’ness on 74 minutes, before debutant Lewis Duffy converted a Tom Grant corner to equalise with just 10 minutes to go.
The young Stirling team didn’t allow their heads to drop – and showed a good spirit to continue fighting in both defence and attack. With just minutes to go, defender Carter Jenkins showed great energy to break on the left before playing the ball inside to Sam Martin, who pulled it back to forward Nathan Tallen – who slotted home the winner from the middle of the box.
Geddes added: “This was just game one of a minimum 54 matches for us this season – we are not going to get carried away and are looking ahead to Wednesday night now.”
The University play Arniston Rangers tonight [Wednesday 31 July] in the second round of the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup.
University of Stirling: Buttigieg, Aslanoglu, Service, Jenkins, Burns (Laird, 67), Walker (Blane, 83), Woloszyn (Martin, 79), Heal, Hodge, McCafferty (Malcolm, 67), Moffett (Tallen, 79)
University of Stirling 0 – 1 Gretna 2008
Saturday 3 August, 2024
University of Stirling were unable to maintain their winning start to the season – losing 1-0 to Gretna 2008 in the Lowland League on Saturday.
The students were confident going into the home match against the Black and Whites following impressive wins against Bo’ness United in the league and an extra time victory against Arniston Rangers in the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup.
But their winning start to the season came to an end against an energetic Gretna – who put Stirling under pressure from kick-off. The visitors took the lead on 22 minutes after Dean Brotherston evaded his marker and headed in from a powerful cross.
Stirling failed to have a shot on goal in the first half – but came into the game in the second. They had chances to level the score, with the best coming with just five minutes left on the clock – but a good block from Gretna’s defence denined the equaliser.
University of Stirling Head Coach Chris Geddes said: “It was a disappointing match, given the start we have made to the season.
“Obviously, we went to extra time against Arniston on Wednesday night and that might have taken a bit out of the team – but I don’t look for excuses and Gretna deserved their win today. Their players were more at it, they had more energy, more hunger.
“We will now focus on Wednesday night’s match against Cowdenbeath.”
The University return to Lowland League action at Forthbank tonight [Wednesday 7 August], taking on the Blue Brazil. Kick-off is 7.45pm and it’s pay on the gate.
University of Stirling: Buttigieg, Aslanoglu, Service (Blane, 70), Jenkins, Burns (Brisbane, 75), Walker (Blane, 70), Woloszyn (Martin, 54), Heal, Hodge, McCafferty (Manomey, 54), Moffett
University of Stirling 1 – 1 Cowdenbeath
Wednesday 7 August, 2024
University of Stirling battled back from a goal down to secure a draw against Cowdenbeath in the Lowland League on Wednesday evening.
The home side went behind after just five minutes – when Blue Brazil debutant Rhys Walker got on the end of a ball over the top, before slotting low past Stirling goalkeeper Adam Buttigieg.
Both sides had opportunities to score the second of the match with Stirling midfielder Sam Martin testing the goalkeeper after 12 minutes, and Cowdenbeath also coming close with an effort hitting the bar on 18 minutes.
It was an outstanding effort from the University’s Finn Moffett that levelled the scoreline after 30 minutes. The forward broke through the midfield and unleashed a shot from outside the box into the top corner, evading the diving Cowdenbeath goalkeeper.
Cowdenbeath hit the post with a ferocious freekick early in the second half, just before Stirling substitute Abel Manomey had his own chance to score – firing a low shot just past the opposition’s goal.
There were opportunities for both sides to win as the clock ticked towards 90, but neither could hit the net.
University of Stirling Head Coach Chris Geddes was pleased with the draw, following last Saturday’s defeat to Gretna 2008.
He said: “We’re all happy to get a point, given our loss at the weekend. We bounced back well against a good team and showed so much more energy, intensity and quality.
“We had opportunities to win it too – but I’m not going to argue with a draw; it was a fair result.”
The University travel to East Kilbride in the league tomorrow [Saturday 10 August].
Buttigieg, Blane, Service, Aslanoglu, Jenkins, Heal, Hodge, Burns (Malcolm, 84), Martin (Woloszyn, 84), Tallen (Manomey, 68), Moffett (McCafferty, 84)
East Kilbride 7 – 0 University of Stirling
Saturday 10 August, 2024
University of Stirling Head Coach Chris Geddes reflected on a disappointing afternoon after his side shipped seven goals in the Lowland League against champions East Kilbride.
Geddes’ young squad lost the first goal after just 12 minutes and were four down without reply at half-time on Saturday. The hosts scored three second half goals at K-Park to seal the 7-0 win.
Geddes is now picking his team up ahead of two more away matches – a South Challenge Cup game against Glasgow United on Saturday [17 August] and Berwick Rangers on Tuesday [20 August].
He said: “There wasn’t much in the match in the first 24 minutes or so, despite us being one down – but then we lost silly goals, giving the ball away too cheaply, not working hard enough off the ball, and individually getting beat because they have got very good football players.
“We are obviously playing the champions; the favourites for the league this season – and it was always going to be a really tough test. I take the blame for it – it’s me that sets the team up, does the plan – and I got things wrong on Saturday.
“We now have to prepare for our next matches – Glasgow United will give guys an opportunity to get a game, and then Berwick away is a big one for us as well.”
East Kilbride’s goals came from Cam Elliott (hat-trick), Tiwi Daramola (two), John Robertson and Steven Boyd. Isa Aslanoglu missed an opportunity to grab a consolation for the students, missing a penalty on 63 minutes.
After four matches, the University is 13th in the 18-team Lowland League, with one win, one draw and two losses.
University of Stirling: Buttigieg, Jenkins, Service (Malcolm, 45), Aslanoglu, Heal, Hodge, McCafferty (Walker, 45), Martin (Blane, 45), Burns, Woloszyn (Brisbane, 45), Moffett (Tallen, 74)