Match report

Match report

Stirling hosted Woodside Warriors U13 Red for the midday game at Bradwood park.

From the get-go Stirling took it to the visitors, attacking hard to create a corner in the opening minute. This was executed beautifully, finding a team-mate in the six-yard box. This was denied by a desperate Woodside defender who blocked the shot, but the ball bobbled too long in the danger zone and was deftly pushed into the net to give Stirling the early lead. After this the game sea sawed, with both teams searching in attack and defending well to deny a clean shot at either end. If anything, Stirling was creating more sustained pressure, but although they looked dangerous on several occasions the Warriors routinely denied them time to prevent the home side from delivering a clean blow. The deadlock was only broken when a Woodside clearance hit a team-mates hand and the ref awarded a free kick 20 yards out. Here the Stirling midfielder showed his ball-striking ability to guide a powerful kick into the top corner of the net and extend his side’s lead. Again, the game entered a stalemate with neither side able to capitalise on their opportunities. And again the home-side was could only goal after a deflection resulted in another hand ball in the area. Again, this was finished with class and precision with the ball driven low, hard and with margin for error. And so, Stirling entered the break with a commanding lead, despite the game appearing to be a relatively equal affair.

When the teams strode out for the second half, Woodside looked like a team possessed. All 11 on the pitch took it to their opponents, pressing hard at the ball carrier right across the park. This sustained pressure gained Woodside valuable ball and turned the tide on numerous promising raids from their hosts.  Before long, the Warriors’ efforts were rewarded when their left wing capitilsed on one of many beautiful passing exchanges through the midfield and wing forwards. A powerful run and immaculate finish had Woodside on the scorecard and for a moment this threatened to swing the momentum. But an almost comical goal to Stirling arrested the flow when a high, long shot saw the ball deflected off the crossbar, onto the goal keepers head and eventually over the goal-line – when things aren’t going your way, they can really not go your way – This one took a bit of wind out of Woodside’s sails. But they dug deep and worked for one another. In the end, Stirling scored a couple of goals in the dying minutes, and although they deserved the win, the margin did not reflect what was a tight and enthralling encounter.