Stirling Albion 0 - 0 Falkirk: Stirling victorious in cup shoot-out

Published on Friday 23 July 2010 23:38

KEEPER Scott Christie was Stirling's hero, producing three penalty saves in this amazing shoot-out victory against Falkirk at Forthbank.

After the team were locked together without a goal to show following extra time, goalkeeper had brilliant stops from Mark Miller, Carl Finnigan and Mark Stewart to put Binos through 3-1.

Stirling's penalty scorers were Stewart Devine, Derek Colquhoun and captain Ross Forsyth while Burton O'Brien converted for Falkirk who paid the penalty for missing a barrowload of chances.

Stirling had new signings Martyn Corrigan, Brian Allison, Scott Buist, John Kane, Ryan Borris and Callum Reidford while Falkirk included summer recruits Jason Marr, Kallum Higginbotham, Mark Miller and Frenchman Mehdi Khalis.

The afternoon marked a historic occasion for Stirling, playing their first competitive game since their bold group of fans bought the club from Peter McKenzie. It was also John O'Neill's first game in charge of Stirling since he took over the managerial reins from Allan Moore, who is now manager of Morton.

Falkirk came agonisingly close to opening the scoring after just five minutes when Miller's header was cleared off the line by Andrew Gibson courtesy of a spectacular overhead kick.

Falkirk were clearly in the mood to grab the game by the scruff of the neck and they pushed forward in determined fashion. It was largely one-way traffic with Stirling's defending resolutely although they were under threat again when Mark Stewart got his head to the ball but his effort was comfortably mopped up by Stirling goalkeeper Scott Christie.

Falkirk sub Carl Finnigan could only shake his head in disbelief when Christie denied the visitors again in extra-time with a superb fingertip save and there was further dismay as Stewart screwed his effort past the post.

Stirling: Christie, Corrigan, Forsyth, Allison, Buist, Kane, Gibson, Aitken (Devine 65), Mullen (Borris 106), Robertson, Taggart (Colquhoun 78). Subs not used: McDonald, Reidford..

Falkirk: Olejnik, Marr, Twaddle, McLean, Scobbie, O'Brien, Higginbotham (Khalis 104), Miller, Stewart, Flynn, (McLeish 101), Compton (Finnigan 75). Subs not used- Mitchell, Barclay.