Match Report

A dead rubber stalemate brought the Stirlingshire Cup group stage to a close at Ochilview, with Stirling Albion edging Dumbarton 7-6 on penalties.

Boss Frank McKeown rang the changes with Kai Kirkpatrick, Leighton McIntosh, Aedan Gilfedder, Connor Campbell, Scott Honeyman, U20s graduates Brandon Muir and Derin Marshall and two new trialists coming into the starting XI.

That left just Ali Omar and Ryan Blair standing from the side which had started against Stenhousemuir.

Early chances at both ends suggested that an end-to-end encounter could be on the cards, with Binos defender Ally Graham nodding wide from a corner – before Brandon Muir surged to the byline but found no takers for his inviting cross.

Scott Honeyman then charged into the area before picking out Aedan Gilfedder with a deep cross, but the U20s standout struck his effort into the ground before the danger was cleared.

Those opening 10 minutes were as good as it got however, with both sides using the match as little more than an open-door training session for the remainder of the first-half.

A triple change at half-time saw Ali Omar, Ryan Blair and Derin Marshall rested, with Kristian Webster, Jon Dunbar and a trialist taking their place.

That led to a lively opening to the half, with Webster seeing an effort from Sons trialist number 11’s corner ricochet wide of Robert Duffy’s goal.

Duffy then comfortably held a Kai Kirkpatrick daisycutter, before the former Kelty Hearts man saw a low cross cut out after working his way into a good position.

The slickest move of the game then saw strike-partners Leighton McIntosh and Scott Honeyman combine – but a sliding Lee Hamilton denied Honeyman the opportunity for a shot at goal, as Sons were once again frustrated in front of goal.

That sent the game to penalties, with Connor Campbell and Brandon Muir both denied by Binos keeper Duffy.

Austin Laird wasn’t deterred by the premature full-time whistle of the referee with the Binos still to take their final penalty, as the youngster drilled home a winner.

Stirling Albion 0

Dumbarton 0

Stirling Albion win the game 7-6 on penalties