Flockhart's hand firmly on King Cup

Spartans were presented with the King Cup to add to their other three trophies this season after an Omar Kader double secured a 2-1 victory over Stirling University at the Falkirk Stadium last night.

Spartans co-manager Mike Lawson, who admitted to being very apprehensive before the game, beamed: "I am delighted that we have won the cup, it was a really close game and it's great that we came out winners. I thought I was going to struggle to get a team out on the park as we have been struggling a bit with injuries.

"When we got the ball down and started playing football we were in control and managed to get our noses in front. The hard season told on us and near the end we were running on empty. In the second half, they had the best of the play but we managed to get a second goal.

"When Stirling started playing good football and getting balls into the box we were getting nervous, and, as it proved, they got a goal back.

"Although Omar will take the credit for the two goals, Chris Flockhart saved us from going into extra-time with a terrific save in injury time. It wasn't our best performance, but it was a gritty performance. We are very lucky to be in the position that we are in and we will now concentrate on our League Cup semi-final this coming weekend."

Stirling had a few chances in the opening 20 minutes but Flockhart was equal to the efforts from Abraham Keller. On the half-hour mark, Kader opened his account when he got on the end of a long ball and as keeper Kevin Walker came out to narrow the angle, Kader played a delicate little chip over the top of his head and into the back of the net. Chris Townsley had a chance to double Spartans' lead just before the interval but his effort from close-range went just wide.

Keller caused Spartans problems all night with his perfectly- placed crosses into the box and Mark McCullaugh got on the end of one but his glancing header went narrowly wide.

Spartans then doubled their lead, against the run of play, when a free-kick floated into the box fell at the feet of Kader who smashed the ball into the net from the edge of the box leaving Walker with no chance.

Keller continued playing in great crosses and with a few minutes remaining he picked out McCullaugh and this time his powerful header beat Flockhart.

The Spartans keeper then produced a fantastic save from Chris McKee when he got to a powerful header as it looked net-bound but somehow got a hand to it to push the ball away.

Goal hero Kader said: "It was an excellent game, Stirling are a really good team and we expected a hard game and that is what we got.

"I was delighted with my goals. With the first, I just seen the keeper coming off his line and I knew I was only going to get one chance and I put it over this head.

"The second was a goal I would normally score, the ball just fell at my feet and I just smashed it into the net. We have had a shortage of players in the last few weeks and its been a hard run for us. Chris kept us in the game with some of his saves and we were delighted when extra-time was averted."

After the game, Stirling coach Ian Ross said: "I thought in the second half we were excellent and really put Spartans under pressure.

"I couldn't ask for any more from the lads in the second half as we they were superb. Keller played in some great balls but we only scored once and that's what matters. We could have had a second but the keeper somehow got his hand to the ball when it looked net-bound, and that save won them the cup."

Stirling University: Walker, McCullaugh, McKee, Atkins, Drummond, Neilson, Pearson, Mason, Keller, Nichol, Corr. Subs: Parr-Gallagher, Pentland, Denholm, Dalrymple, Filler .

Spartans: Flockhart, O'Donnell, Hoskins, Townsley, Sivewright, Malin, Kader, Manson, Archibald, Henretty, Beesley. Subs: McLeod, Fowlie, Smith, Finnie, McGarrie.