"Drive for show, putt for dough" (aka cannay score for toffee)

We stroked the ball around and found loads of space in the middle of the pitch. But no matter how hard we tried we were unable to score. Half chances went a begging without the keeper being troubled and our defenders had to be on their toes for the odd attack that came their way.

Then came half time and it was decided to change to 4-3-3 in the hope that the extra man up front would be able to unpick their defense. How badly did that backfire!

Stirling came out with all guns blazing and pushed their defenders forward to overrun the grange midfield. Within the first 10 minutes of the second half they had taken the lead after a sustained period of pressure.

Worst still, a second goal came shortly afterwards. A ball fired into the circle was deflected into the goal at he back post. How much did we wish that we had been able to do that with one of our earlier chances!

We reverted to 4-4-2 and the extra man in midfield helped to quench the Stirling fires, however the damage had been done. Despite creating several more chances we still could not find a way to put the little round ball between the big white sticks.

There was loads of hard work but unfortunately we now have the privilege of being the only team Stirling had beaten this season.

Our habit of being able to compete with the best in the league but struggling against the weaker teams needs to be changed—hopefully before next season starts.