Match report

Match report

After a frosty night, the teams were greeted with brilliant sunshine for this round 9 game. It was back to the future for Stirling United with the re-introduction of Heathfield High School as a home venue after a couple of years break. Rangers started well, providing plenty of defensive resistance and have a couple of fast break opportunities themselves. As the game settled, Ky Henry was displaying his usual dash from right back, and provided the first real opportunity for Stirling when he passed to Araby Phelan after lovely run down the sideline, with Phelan setting up Charlie Rollings whose shot went just wide. Shortly after, left back Nik Smith made a run of his own, only to see his shot go over the crossbar. The first goal of the game came courtesy of a quick release from Calan McCormick in the Stirling goal, with some brilliant passing from Akash Ghimire and Henry Monaghan ending with Phelan slotting it past the Rangers keeper.

Rangers continued to defend stoutly, but most of the attacking was being done by Stirling, with another Phelan shot drawing a fabulous save from the keeper, and Rollings shot deflecting off the post to allow the defence to clear. With just the one goal in the first half, the game promised to be tight, and for the first 20 minutes of the second Rangers continued to hold Stirling at bay. 

With less than 15 minutes remaining, Toby Leigh, switched from defence to attack received a great through ball and extended the lead for Stirling. A minute later, Stirling received a free kick alongside the centre circle, and McCormick, released from goal for the second half, sensed the Rangers keeper off his line and looped the ball over the top and just under the crossbar to score a brilliant long range goal.

Rangers continued to play with determination, and their continued pressure forced a handball in the Stirling penalty area, which was taken comfortably by Marcus Neill. A final goal from Phelan after a lovely touch on from Teale Gates rounded out the scoring.