Match report

Match report

For the final game, Stirling United and Rangers met for the third time this season. Traditionally these games have been tight affairs, with tenacious defence from Rangers providing stiff resistance to Stirling United’s open style of play. In the previous match, it was Rangers who came away with the points, so Stirling were keen to turn the tables this time around.

Stirling started the better, and attacked from the outset. The firmer surface and dry conditions suited their style and allowed them to string passes together and keep control of the play. Rangers remained a danger on the counter attack when they got an opportunity ensuring Stirling’s back line needed to remain alert.

Ky Henry opened the scoring inside ten minutes with a perfectly timed run through the defence and his powerful shot found the back of the net to give Stirling confidence. Rangers repelled attack after attack, and despite a number of corners and shots being taken, Stirling could not extend the lead.

When Rangers had a corner of their own, they threatened to tie up the game but a great save from keeper Lachlan Stein held them out.

In the second half, with Stirling now having the slight downhill advantage, the play was predominantly in their attack. Captain Toby Leigh finished off a lovely play to extend the lead to 2, and when Araby Phelan controlled the ball superbly and cut back onto his trusty left foot to find the goals again just three minutes later Stirling had the game in their keeping. A fourth and final goal from the boot of Henry Monaghan saw Stirling finish the season on a high.