FLYINGSTART FOR ALBION
Rutkiewicz’s men dump Championship side Ayr
Bannockburn Amateurs and Braehead shared the spoils on a sunny afternoon made for football.
Jack Ogilvie signalled his intent for the season with an early shot but it was Braehead who took the lead after what looked like unlucky defending.
The Braehead keeper was in fine form, saving from Mark Taylor, Jack Ogilvie and Declan Wood – but it was Taylor who equalised in 35 minutes.
A communication mishap gave the visitors the lead in 55 minutes but Darren Walker equalised and completed the scoring 10 minutes later.
Special mention goes to Adam Young whose spectacular one-handed save denied the visitors a win in the final seconds.
All in all a good workout for both local teams with Burn reflecting on their goals to chances ratio. Bannockburn chair Derek Robertson thanks the committee for all their hard work making sure the club does all in its power to meet the grassroots football Covid-19 guidelines.
On Saturday, Burn are at home in a friendly against Milton AFC.
Stirling Albion made an impressive start to their pre-season schedule with a 2-0 win over Ayr United at a sun-kissed Somerset Park on Saturday.
It was the first time the Binos had taken to the field since they were thrashed 7-1 by Cove Rangers at Forthbank in March – and there was much to admire about the display against Mark Kerr’s Championship side.
Ross Mcgeachie, Jordan Mcgregor, Paul Mclean and Kyle Banner started in defence, with Cammy Binnie in goal. Scott Roberts, David Wilson, Jack Leitch and Dom Docherty were in the middle of the park, with Sean Heaver and Declan Byrne playing up front.
Both goals came in the second half of the closed-door game.
Summer signing Leitch
– the former Peterhead midfielder – headed in the opening goal from a Wilson cross five minutes after the interval following a short corner routine.
Ayr had their chances but
Kevin Rutkiewicz’s men were well organised throughout and sealed the win towards the end in bizarre fashion.
Ross Love’s attempted pass-back from around 40 yards out near the left touchline sailed over the head of keeper Ellis Hare-reid and into the net.
Rutkiewicz said: “Ayr had us stretched in the first 20 minutes but we grew into the game and in the second half we got our goal from Jack Leitch then there was the own goal for the second. It’s good for Jack to get a goal so early – it was a fantastic ball from David Wilson and a great header.
“We rode our luck at times but it was a very good performance and it gives everyone a boost.
“The new boys can see the quality we have at the club and we’ve come through it without any injuries, apart from trialist Ryan Sinnamon who unfortunately rolled his ankle.”
Binos boss Rutkiewicz will line up further friendlies before the Betfred Cup Group D opener against Dick Campbell’s Arbroath at Forthbank on Tuesday, October 6.