By Anya Diggines
University of Stirling 1
Linlithgow Rose 3
The University of Stirling have suffered a third defeat in a row after a tough game at home against Linlithgow Rose.
It was an even game in the opening ten minutes with both teams struggling to make a break.
Linlithgow Rose had the first shot on target in the 11th minute with a header towards goal, but Adam Buttigieg made a comfortable save.
A free kick to Linlithgow floated into the box but the uni headed it over the bar for a corner.
The corner was sent into the front post, but it was headed away by Lewis Blane.
The students had their first go at goal with a pass out to the wing from Thomas Vonk finding Jack Hodge who passed it into Jay Burns in the box, laying it off to Carter Jenkins as he took a touch then a shot at goal, but it was picked up by the Linlithgow keeper.
The uni got the scoring underway in the 25th minute, as Hodge crossed the ball in to find Nathan Tallen, who chested it down and fired into the bottom left corner.
Linlithgow retaliated but their shot was sent well over the crossbar.
Linlithgow tried again after receiving the ball in the box and turning to get away from the uni defence, but it was fired right at the keeper.
Linlithgow got the equaliser before long, just after the half hour mark, they managed to score from close range as the ball floated past three defenders to end up in the bottom left corner of the goal.
The students were determined as Hodge’s long ball from a free kick found Jake Service on the edge of the box who headed it into the box, but the uni couldn’t make anything of it.
On the break, Linlithgow found Buttigieg off his line, so the ball was rocketed towards goal, but Buttigieg managed to stick a leg out to block the shot.
Burns next had an excellent run and cut in to the box but his ball skimmed the roof of the net.
Vonk almost made it two with a sensational shot from the edge of the box, but it was fired off the post as the uni seemed so close.
It was Linlithgow that took the lead though, in the 54th minute as a corner from was punched away by Buttigieg, but it finds a player at the edge of the box who fired the ball into the back of the net.
Linlithgow kept pressing in the box, but Buttigieg makes a series of fantastic saves to keep the uni in the game.
The students were awarded a free kick and Hodge’s kick was sent right into the hands of the keeper as the uni struggled to make it even.
Linlithgow had an excellent chance in the closing five minutes of the game as the uni look tired, but the shot just drifted over the bar.
A uni corner in the last seconds of the game hoped to be their chance but it was cleared, landing back at the feet of Hodge who crossed it in again, but the Linlithgow defence cleared it.
94 minutes on the clock and Linlithgow weren’t done as they made it 3-1, with Buttigieg punching the ball away as it was picked up again by Linlithgow who slotted it into the bottom left corner, before the full-time whistle went.
Speaking on the defeat, University of Stirling Head Coach, Chris Geddes, said: “Linlithgow deserved to win, they were the better team on the whole.
“We scored a good goal and then they got a good goal, and in the second half we started the better team I think and the next thing they score.
“I don’t think we did enough in the forward area, apart from Thomas’ shot that hit the post in the second half, we didn’t do enough to deserve another goal.
“Linlithgow have good players, and you can’t beat good players all the time.”
University of Stirling return to Lowland League action on October 16, at home against Caledonian Braves.
Featured Image Credit: George Vekic