The University of Stirling first football side continued their winning start to the East of Scotland premier division with a comfortable three goal victory over Lothian Thistle.
Despite a dreary first-half, the student side showed why they are league champions after the break, with prolific striker Chris Geddes bagging a brace in a matter of minutes before Welsh front man Craig Mason chipped in with a late goal to seal the win.
It could have been much more than just the two goals for Geddes however, as the man who finished last season as resounding top scorer at the club uncharacteristically passed up on several opportunities before eventually opening his tally.
The first of these chances came when Jack Nixon received the ball in the right side of Lothian Thistle’s final third. After cutting into the box, the defender then let loose a tempting low cross that found Geddes in the centre of the six yard area. With the goalkeeper stranded, the goal looked a certainty, but the striker smashed the ball over from a matter of yards under pressure from the opposition defence.
Minutes later Geddes had a chance to redeem himself, but again the acclaimed forward failed to convert when faced with a one on one scenario he is so commonly known to capitalise upon.
It was a different story after the break however, as the University side regained possession and began to move the ball with intent. Soon enough, the team’s control turned into a one goal lead, with Geddes beating Lothian number one Kevin Swain to the ball before forcing it in to an empty net with a lofted effort.
Within no time Geddes was appeasing previous sins again. The striker had barely finished celebrating when he was presented with another golden one on one situation, and this time he had no hindrance in putting the chance away, rounding the dismayed Kevin Swain before knocking the ball into a gaping goal once more.
By this time the result was in the bag for the University side, but they continued to look dangerous, and Paul Sludden and Liam Corr both came close to extending the lead.
It was striker Craig Mason who would eventually add the third however, with double goal hero Chris Geddes this time turning his hand to wing play. After receiving the ball down the right line, Geddes drove inwards before playing a menacing low ball to the back post. With the frantic clearance attempts of the Lothian defence failing in all their efforts, Mason was neatly placed to smash the ball in from no more than a few feet out.
With the third goal securing the three points, there was little more attacking play in the remainder of the match, and the University left the Gannochy Sports Centre with another well earned win.
Stirling Uni: Walker, Drummond, Atkins, McKee, Nixon, Corr, Robertson, Dale, Sludden, Geddes, Burns
Lothain Thistle: Swain, McDiarmid, McNaughton, Wilkes, Costello, Hawkins, Anderson, McColl, Ali, Elliot, Dignan
