Stirling's cup goal rush runneth over against Thistle

Stirling UNIVERSITY were, quite simply, the better side from start to finish and lifted the Alex Jack Cup with a comprehensive 8-0 scoreline which truly reflected the gap between the two teams.

Lothian's task was not made any easier when Ean Grieve was sent off after only 15 minutes for an over-zealous tackle on Stirling's Liam Corr then their goalkeeper, Kevin Swain, did not appear for the second half and was taken to hospital with a suspected broken arm.

However, these two incidents had little bearing on the outcome of this final with Stirling more accurate with their passing, better running off the ball, clinical finishing and, very importantly, they were better disciplined.

Stirling opened the scoring in the 14th minute when a Corr corner was headed back into the danger area where Jason Atkins nodded the ball in from close range. In the following minute Grieve saw red and Craig Hume was also cautioned for making remarks to the referee, Paul Hanlon. Michael Pentland scored two in just four minutes before Corr made it four.

In the second half, Corr set up Craig Mason to side-foot the ball behind Young then Stirling substitute Abraham Keller scored two goals in four minutes with two accurate shots before the last goal was chested over the line by Creag Robertson.

Stirling's head coach Raleigh Gowrie said: "The outcome of the game was heavily influenced by the early sending off and the massive playing surface. We managed to pass the ball well and opened up Lothian Thistle and the result speaks for itself." Fraser Ogilvie, the disappointed Lothian joint manager, said: "We were very nervous at the start and gave away a silly goal from a corner kick then had a player sent off which totally killed us. The one thing we did not want was to play for most of the game with only ten men.

"I'm in shock because not for one minute did I envisage that result. There are no words to describe it and this will test the character of our players."

Stirling University: Filler, McCullagh, Robertson, Atkins, Drummond, Scott, Pentland (Dalrymple, 76), Mason (Keller, 59), Parr-Gallagher, Nichol, Corr (Denholm, 59). Subs: Walker, Neilson.

Lothian Thistle: Swain (Butler, 46), Wallace (Dignan, 46), D. McAleavy, Young, McDiarmid, C. McAleavy, Kelly, Patterson, Hume, Grieve, Stewart. Sub: McDonagh.

Lothian Thistle 0

Stirling University 8