University of Stirling 2
Bo’ness United 2
The University of Stirling took on Bo’ness United on Saturday 14 December in the Lowland League. With just one point between the teams it was all to play for, but the uni could only take a single point from the visitors as the gap remains the same.
The students were on top form at Forthbank Stadium, with the opening minutes of the game filled with chances from both sides.
Jay Burns got the first chance of the afternoon as he received the ball in the box and brought it down to get the shot away but it was caught by the Bo’ness goalkeeper.
Bo’ness also had an early chance as they managed to get the ball to the edge of the box to direct it towards goal but it just went wide.
The uni couldn’t break down the visitors’ defence as they did great to get the ball into the final third but struggled to get it into the box.
Finn Moffett came close on the 13th minute as he got a shot away from the edge of the box but it inched wide.
Two minutes later Jack Hodge had a huge chance as he came one-on-one with the keeper and tried to toe-poke the ball into the net but the keeper stuck out his leg to block the shot as it went over the keeper and the Bo’ness defender had to clear the ball from the line.
A minute later the home-side managed to finally open the scoring, after getting a free kick on the edge of the box Moffett stepped up to take it and fired it into the back of the net after sending the keeper the wrong way.
More huge missed chances followed as Thomas Vonk found great space to get a shot away inside the box but it drifted wide and three minutes later Moffett hit the inside of the post as the students struggled to find a second but remained dominant in the game.
However, nine minutes before half time the visitors managed to break down the uni defence as they found space in the box to get a shot away whilst uni goalkeeper, Bobby Fasano Barton, was on the ground. Lewis Blane jumped on the line to try to head the ball away but it just drifted over him as Bo’ness got their equaliser.
The second half started great for the students as 11 minutes in they got the lead again, after a scramble in the box from a uni corner sees the Bo’ness keeper make a save but Vonk picked up on the rebound and got the ball into the back of the net from a tight angle.
Both sides were fierce in the second half, as the uni did well to keep their lead and also continued to create some incredible chances.
It wasn’t to be though, as Bo’ness got their second equaliser on the 74th minute after a firing ball landed in the back of the net.
University of Stirling Head Coach, Chris Geddes, said after the match: “It was a good game for the neutral but I think some of the chances and opportunities that we had will make us disappointed not to get the win.
“But it is four games unbeaten and this league is tough.
“We could’ve went above them and you always want to try and move up the league, but they are a quality team as well and they have got players that can hurt us and they showed us that today.
“We take a point, but we are disappointed not to get the three points.”
University of Stirling FC take on Celtic B away from home on Friday 20 December.
Featured Image Credit: Anya Diggines