University of Stirling 0
Caledonian Braves 2
The University of Stirling have had their Scottish Cup dreams quashed after a hard battle in the first round against Caledonian Braves.
The competition returned to Forthbank Stadium, as the uni hoped to progress further than they did in the 2022/23 season, where they reached the fourth round.
It all looked even in the opening ten minutes, as Jack Hodge fired a ball into the box, but he couldn’t find anyone as it went out for a goal kick.
The Braves had their chances too as they took a shot from inside the box, but it was scuffed and the uni managed to clear the danger.
The boys were desperate to get the scoring underway as a long ball to Thomas Vonk was driven into the box, passed back to Hodge, who crossed it into the box and the ball was headed down to the feet of the Captain, Ben Heal, who took a shot, but it skimmed over the bar.
An unbelievable miss still denied the uni the first goal of the afternoon, as Hodge’s pass found Euan Walker and he took a shot, but it hit the post.
Adam Buttigieg made an easy save as a Braves free kick was sent straight towards him.
It took until the half hour mark for a goal to come for the Braves as a cross into the box saw the ball land perfectly to get a shot away and it drifted past the uni defence into the back of the net.
Shortly after and the Braves could have had their second with an effort from outside the box that looked like it was heading straight for goal, but it just went wide.
There was nearly an equaliser after a bit of a mix up between the Braves defender and keeper and the ball almost ricocheted in.
There were another couple of chances for the uni before the halftime whistle, but the boys were going down the tunnel, disappointed not to be heading into the second half on an even scoreline.
The task at hand was made even more difficult after the opposition doubled their lead in the 47th minute.
Vonk fancied his chances with a powerful shot towards goal, but it was saved by Braves keeper, Bernard White.
Alex Jeanes managed to keep the scoreline at 2-0 with an excellent block, as the Braves couldn’t get their third.
Substitution Abel Manomey managed to find Hodge at the edge of the box, and he fired it towards goal, but it was over the bar as the uni couldn’t get the finish away.
Liam Trotter got the ball from a freekick, and he volleyed it towards goal, but it smashed off the defence.
With the minutes ticking down, the students couldn’t find the goal, and all too soon the final whistle went, as the disappointment filled the stadium.
Speaking to University of Stirling Head Coach, Chris Geddes, after full time, he said: “We had chances to put them behind and we didn’t.
“For the most part it was a 50/50 game and whoever takes their chances goes ahead and wins the game and Braves done that.
“For us, the manner of the goals we lost, it is really disappointing. It’s the Scottish Cup and it’s where you can dream.
“It’s on me, I didn’t get my message across well enough in the lead up to the game and what I’ve tried to coach over the past few weeks didn’t work.
“It is what it is, we build, and we stick to it for our game on Wednesday.”
University of Stirling get their BUCS Premier North campaign underway away to Newcastle University on Wednesday October 2 at 1pm, before a 7:45pm kick off at home that evening against Tranent in the Lowland League.