3pm 30 November 2013
South of Scotland Region Challenge Cup, Second Round
University of Stirling 4 Tynecastle 1 (att 61)
My first visit to a member of the new Scottish Lowland League, although Stirling University's Lowland League matches are played at Stirling Albion's stadium, leaving the pitch at the Gannochy Sports Centre for regular use by their reserves.
Cup matches, however, aren't bound by the same ground grading rules that dictate that Lowland League spectators need a stand and can't be more than a couple of hundred yards from a toilet or a tea bar, so this was a rare chance to see a first team game at Gannochy. It's a large sports ground, with the main pitch railed off inside a running track.
Tynecastle had twice been beaten by the University's second team in the East of Scotland League matches in recent weeks, yet they'd knocked the first team out of another cup in their last match. But there was to be no repeat cup upset in this game, as Stirling raced into a 3-0 lead by half time.
Tynecastle played some neat football, but were a definite second best against the students. They gave themselves a hope by pulling a goal back in the second half, but the home side then upped their game to score a fourth.
The tie ended on a sour note. An brief altercation between a visiting player and some home supporters earned Tynecastle a yellow card, but worse was to follow moments later when a brawl involving just about every player, with a couple of supporters attempting to join the fray, saw the visitors collect two red cards.
By the time the officials had restored order the 90 minutes were up, and the referee wisely blew for time just as the game restarted.
South of Scotland Region Challenge Cup, Second Round
University of Stirling 4 Tynecastle 1 (att 61)
My first visit to a member of the new Scottish Lowland League, although Stirling University's Lowland League matches are played at Stirling Albion's stadium, leaving the pitch at the Gannochy Sports Centre for regular use by their reserves.
Cup matches, however, aren't bound by the same ground grading rules that dictate that Lowland League spectators need a stand and can't be more than a couple of hundred yards from a toilet or a tea bar, so this was a rare chance to see a first team game at Gannochy. It's a large sports ground, with the main pitch railed off inside a running track.
Tynecastle had twice been beaten by the University's second team in the East of Scotland League matches in recent weeks, yet they'd knocked the first team out of another cup in their last match. But there was to be no repeat cup upset in this game, as Stirling raced into a 3-0 lead by half time.
Tynecastle played some neat football, but were a definite second best against the students. They gave themselves a hope by pulling a goal back in the second half, but the home side then upped their game to score a fourth.
The tie ended on a sour note. An brief altercation between a visiting player and some home supporters earned Tynecastle a yellow card, but worse was to follow moments later when a brawl involving just about every player, with a couple of supporters attempting to join the fray, saw the visitors collect two red cards.
By the time the officials had restored order the 90 minutes were up, and the referee wisely blew for time just as the game restarted.
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