Rovers pay the price for a poor half
Douglas Smith League Cup CAMBUSBARRON ROVERS ................... 2 MILNGAVIE WANDERERS ...................... 5
A poor second half performance cost the Rovers dearly and the visitors ran out comfortable winners of this league cup tie.
Milngavie started well and went in front after 10 minutes with a shot from outside the box which deflected past Steven Fotheringham in the Rovers goal.
Jamie Bone equalised when he controlled a poor kick by the visitors’ keeper and ran in to fire the ball into the net.
Three minutes later Mark Flynn turned the defender and shot home from eight yards to give Rovers a lead which should have been extended in the 31st minute but Darren Morgan had a penalty kick saved by the Wanderers keeper.
A minute later Jamie Bone was through but shot over the bar then just before half-time he headed inches past the post.
In the second half the home side couldn’t get going and Milngavie dominated for a spell forcing a good save from Steven Fotheringham in the Rovers’goal but a crazy five minute spell saw the visitors score three goals to completely turn the game around
Darren Morgan had a good effort in the 60th minute but his shot was saved at the bottom of the post.
Milngavie scored their fifth when their forward beat three in the box to set up their striker to complete the scoring and confirm their place in the next round.
Next Saturday sees Rovers back at home again to Dalziel with a 2pm kick-off at Mill Road Park.
STIRLING COUNTY ................. 20 GALA RFC ................................ 24
With the season nearing a close, County are running out of games in order to forge an exit strategy from the National 1 relegation zone.
The weekend’s visitors were Gala. With the reverse fixture in the Borders last November resulting in a 55-17 schooling for the men from Bridgehaugh revenge was in their sights, but under no illusion that it would be a difficult task.
The match started well for County, winning their initial kick off and sustaining good pressure on the Gala defence. Clever positional play put County in Gala’s 22 as they took advantage of the Border men’s misfiring lineout. However, all the County pressure failed to develop into points as basic errors haunted the County attack.
Gala had one trip into the County 22 – and on the 11th minute a forward pass was all that stopped the Gala winger crossing the line. This initiated a period of Gala pressure on the County defence, and on the 21st minute, Gala got the first score of the game. A well worked try in the corner. Try Converted. 0-7 to Gala.
County responded well. Again winning their kick off, they applied pressure on the Gala defence. A dominant carry from JC Brough gained valuable yards and recycled well. The next phase found Cameron Murphy who offloaded to Adam Shaw. On the 24th minute, Adam showed exceptional balance and fast feet to travel 30 metres through the Gala defence and over the line. The try was converted by Jonny Hope to level at 7-7.
Gala responded quickly with a try on the 27th minute. The conversion was missed to leave the score at 7-12.
County’s dominance in the set piece was paying off with a stolen lineout, finding 10, Jonny Hope. He spotted winger Ben Yarrow on a stampeding inside line. Ben carried for 20 metres into the Gala half, finding captain Mikey Heron on his inside shoulder. Mikey crossed the line for County’s second try, which was converted by Jonny Hope to make it 14-12 to County.
But Gala had the final say of the half. A rare error with County’s lineout caused the ball to be knocked on inside the County 22. A strong Gala scrum provided the platform for pressure on the County try line which resulted in a try on the 38th minute. The try was again converted to leave County trailing 14-19 at the break.
The second half proved frustrating, from a County point of view. A lot of pressure with limited reward.
Stand-off Jonny Hope converted two penalties but this was countered by a Gala try in the 50th minute. County’s work rate and passion was second to no one but the final ball was always coming up short as they slid to a narrow 20-24 defeat.
The Stirling County 2nd XV played their final game of the season at Bridgehaugh on Saturday against Glasgow Accies 2nd XV. The match finished 4340 to County. The 2nd XV finish the season third in the Tennent’s Men’s West Reserve League, Division 1.