Match report
| Season | Date | Round | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 U16 | 5th September 11:00am | League Round 11 | SSC Polo Ground Pitch 3 |
Stirling United 4
Strathalbyn Strikers White 0
Match report
Earlier in the season, Stirling United and Strathalbyn drew 3-3 so this rematch was expected to be another tense affair. The sun was out, and for once the wind stayed away from the open expanses of the Strathalbyn polo grounds, making for perfect conditions for a game of football.
Unlike last week, Stirling started the game strongly and were clearly switched on for the contest. Controlling the ball well with many connecting passes allowed them to press into the Strath half, but stout defence prevented any real chances. In fact the best chance of the early going saw the ever dangerous Kalan Brooks break forward for Strath but his shot just went wide.
In the 14th minute, a perfectly delivered corner from Araby Phelan saw the ball fall for Ky Henry to chest it into the goal, giving Stirling the lead. Shortly after, a corner from Nik Smith provided another opportunity but this time Strath were able to hold it out.
Stirling continued to string together lovely passages of play, with Phelan having a chance which went over the top, as did a free kick chance from Henry. At half time the 1-0 lead held by Stirling kept Strath in the game but didn’t reflect the dominance that Stirling had shown in the first period.
As the second half progressed, the tension grew for both sides. Emily Bouchereau had a great chance after a strong run but her shot bounced off the near post. Phelan had another opportunity that was well saved by the keeper. However with only one goal separating the sides, up the other end, the presence of Brooks meant the Stirling defence needed to be constantly alert for a quick ball forward. Brooks had a great chance to equalise and was only denied by a great block from Stirling keeper Ryan Stevens.
After a prolonged period of pressure from Stirling, the Strath defence was finally broken when Henry scored his second after a cross found him open straight in front. This seemed to ease the tension in the Stirling side and they continued to press, and a late penalty saw Bouchereau score her first for the season, immediately followed by a cheeky chip from Henry Monaghan from long range that saw Stirling take the win 4-0, a fair result given the control Stirling had throughout the contest. This was certainly a game where you could confidently say all played well in a great all round team effort.
