Geddes hails Jarvis magic

CHRIS GEDDES reckons a “bit of magic” helped Stirling Uni reach the last 16 of the South Challenge Cup.

The students grabbed a last-gasp 3-2 win against Spartans – having played the last 35 minutes with 10 men after Alex Webb’s red card.

The game had gone into stoppage time at 2-2 when Jason Jarvis hit a superb 25-yard free-kick into the top corner for victory.

Geddes said: “We knew we needed a bit of magic and Jason just bent it past the keeper for one of the best goals I’ve seen.

“It was a really good day for Jason and a really good day for the team. The boys know he has that in his locker and we needed something like that to win the game.

“I’m delighted and really happy for the boys.

“Since I came here this is the youngest squad we’ve ever had with our keeper the oldest at 27 and we had eight under-20s in the squad today.

“Our keeper made a couple of good saves but we had to be gritty, we had to work our socks off and we had to have the little bit of magic at the end to get the result.

“We couldn’t believe it when the ref pulled the red card out for the last one Alex was done with. For our boys to come back from that against such a quality team, I’m really proud of them.”

Scott Maxwell put Spartans ahead on six minutes but Angus Mailer equalised 10 minutes later and Liam McMaster put Stirling ahead.

Michael Allan levelled for Spartans in the 70th minute before Jarvis popped up in the last moments to hit the winner.

Stirling have a Scottish Cup tie against Linlithgow Rose on Sunday – but first face a midweek game down south.

Geddes added: “We play in the British League and the boys have to travel into England to play other top university teams.”

Holders East Kilbride are also into the next round after beating Easthouses Lily 4-0 thanks to Ruari Paton’s double and goals from Paul Woods and Kieran McGrath.