Uni side are the Star turn against Dalbeattie

Stirling Uni ............... 3 Dalbeattie Star ......... 1

Stirling University put in a professional display as they saw off Dalbeattie Star in their final home Lowland League game of the season.

Andrew Gillen set the students on their way before Jack Steele’s equaliser made the match a brief contest. Substitute Dan Fitzpatrick scored a controversial second to give the students a half-time lead before Rory McEwan rounded off the victory.

The University took the lead with the first real effort of the game.

It was one to forget for Star keeper Euan Drysdale, as he failed to punch away a seemingly straightforward header from Gillen, instead only slicing his effort which looped into the back of the net.

The equaliser came when keeper Tim Hughes, in for injured No 1 Ryan Marshall, could only parry a shot straight to Jack Steele, who had the easiest of tap-ins to bring the visitors level.

In 26 minutes came the controversial moment which proved a turning point in the match.

The students’ right-back Calum Burns played a long ball over the top for substitute Fitzpatrick who had come on for injured goal-scorer Gillen.

He appeared to bring the ball down with his arm before firing past Drysdale, leaving the visitors incensed.

But their pleas were ignored by officials who allowed the goal to stand.

Stirling capitalised on their good fortune by adding a third less than two minutes into the second half.

Again the keeper should have done better with the effort, parrying a shot straight to midfielder McEwan who knocked the ball home .