Parr-Gallagher brace helps students past gutsy Selkirk

Stirling University progressed to the third round of the King Cup with goals in each half from striker Emmot Parr-Gallagher - but the students were made to work hard against a very resolute Selkirk defence.

Stirling, currently sitting in second position in the Central Taxis Premier Division and having comfortably beaten Selkirk 6-0 in their earlier meeting, found that Euan Pritchard and Paul Hossack at the heart of the Selkirk back line were almost impregnable.

Stirling missed an early opportunity when a long throw-in from Creag Robertson allowed Richard Milne a shooting chance but he blasted the ball over the bar from eight yards. At the other end an overhead kick from Grant Gass was cleared off the goal-line by Jason Atkins with goalkeeper Kevin Walker beaten.

Stirling always looked to have the slight edge though and in the 30th minute they took the lead with a wonder goal. Abraham Keller, who had just been shown a yellow card for simulation, threaded a pass wide on the left to Danny Denholm. The former Edinburgh City player sprinted after the ball and his first time left footed cross with pace was met by the head of Parr-Gallagher who powered an unstoppable header past the flailing arms of the Selkirk custodian John Dodds.

Denholm himself then tried his luck with a 20 yard shot which brought out a good save from Dodds followed by efforts from Keller, Parr-Gallagher and Lee Nichol. The second half followed a similar pattern to the first with Stirling enjoying the majority of the possession and Dodds made a fantastic one-handed stop to deny Atkins. Then a Mark McCullagh shot was well held by the busy Selkirk goalkeeper. Parr-Gallagher shot wide after good work by Craig Mason then Dodds smothered a good effort from the lively Mason.

The game was put beyond Selkirk 15 minutes from the end when Lee Stephen was adjudged to have fouled Denholm in the corner of the penalty box. Parr-Gallagher collected his second goal of the afternoon when he slipped the spot kick behind Dodds.

Selkirk never gave up and Shaun Hardie tested Walker with a 30 yard shot which the keeper tipped over the crossbar, then Jamie Gibson had a shot well held before the same player hit the side netting from a good position. In the dying embers of the game Dodds injured his back in making another fantastic low save from Denholm.

Steve Burchill, the University head coach, said: "It was a solid performance without being spectacular and overall it was a comfortable win in which we could and should have scored more goals. To be fair to Selkirk they made it hard for us but generally I felt we had things under control."

The Selkirk manager, Paul Brownlee, said: "We did not create a lot of chances against a very good Stirling University team."

Stirling University: Walker, McCullagh, McKee, Atkins, Milne, Neilson (Mason 53), Keller (Corr 73), Robertson, Parr-Gallagher, Nichol, Denholm. Subs: Nixon, Arnold-Smith, Filler.

Selkirk: Dodds, Stephen, Ross McManus, Hossack, Pritchard, Gass, Ryan McManus, Sutherland, Gibson, Hardie, McKenzie.

Stirling University 2

Selkirk 0