In Stirling Albions first competitive match of the season, they faced a 0-3 defeat to Raith Rovers at Forthbank in the Premier Sports Cup. A hattrick from Aiden Connolly featuring a 25-yard free kick gave the visitors all three points.
Alan Maybury fielded a team with seven new signings as he took charge of a new-look Stirling squad in his first competitive match in the Stirling hotseat.
Raith Rovers stole possession in the midfield and decided to have a chance at goal a minute into the game, a low ball was sent into the box with Raith Strikers waiting to pounce, but Gaston done well to get low and collect.
The Binos responded well as shortly after this, the ball found Ally Roy on the right side of the box, who then took a shot at goal volleying the ball goalward, but Dabrowski was there to parry the ball away from danger.
Raith would take the lead in the 17th minute as a quick run up the right-hand side by Lewis Stevenson allowed him to slot the ball into the box – mirroring the earlier chance – but this time, Aiden Connolly was there to slot the ball away.
Raith began to find their groove, as Lewis Stevenson tested Derek Gaston again. The ball looked destined for the top right-hand corner of the net, but Gaston done well to jump up and palm the ball over the crossbar and out for a corner.
Rovers capitalised again on the pressure they were exerting on the Stirling back-line in the 25th minute. Callum Smith swung the ball high toward the Binos back post where Aiden Connolly met it well and headed home for his second of the day.
Looking to get back into the game, Stirling mounted a counter-attack. Harley Ewen was found at the edge of the box where he swung at goal. Dabrowski reacted quickly, diving to his right and parried the ball away from danger.
It looked like Raith were destined to get a third, as a high floated ball into the Binos box was met by Callum Fordyce and headed powerfully toward goal, but Dale Hilson, who was in the right place at the right time, made a clever goal line clearance.
Derek Gaston was called into action again just on half time as the Raith attack linked up very well after dispossessing Erik Sula. Dylan Easton looked to curl the ball into the right side of the net, but the man in between the sticks reacted well, diving to block the shot as the half-time whistle was sounded.
Half-Time: 0-2
The second half failed to live up to the first, as the teams became deadlocked in a midfield stalemate, with chances for both sides few and far between and not resulting in anything.
The much sought after third goal would eventually come for the visitors on the 66th minute as Aiden Connolly earned himself a hat-trick. His free kick was struck with power from 25 yards out, rooting Gaston to the spot, bursting into the top right-hand corner.
Raith were consistent with their high press, probing the Stirling defence for a fourth but unable to break through and find the goal.
Both managers began to make several changes, giving as many players minutes as possible as the game tapered out.
It looked like Stirling might have gotten a consolation goal in the last minute of the game as Cameron McKinlay cleverly picked out Sam Featherstone out on the right wing, but his shot would go wide of the goal.
Stirling Albion: Gaston, McGeachie (Scott 79’), Sula, Denham, Carrick (McKinley 63’), Roy, Ewen, Wright, Waught, Hilson (Featherstone 76’), Crane
Unused Subs: Law, Reilly, Weir, Howe
Raith Rovers: Dabrowski, Freeman (Matthews 70’), Fordyce, Murray, Connolly (Mullin 79’), Smith (Hamilton 79’), Stanton (Montagu 79’), Brown, Byrne, Easton (Gibson 85’), Stevenson
Unused Subs: McNeil, Hannah, Nicholson
Attendance: 1,202
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