FALKIRK 0 SHIRE 1

And they say the Stirlingshire Cup doesn't matter. It certainly did to the band of Shire supporters who cheered their team on to a well-deserved victory over SPL Falkirk at Westfield.

Marc McKenzie was the Shire hero, scoring the only goal of the match after 17 minutes, but the entire team performed with credit against a young, phyisically fit Falkirk side , five of whom had played in the Premier League.

Boss Gordon Wylde was forced to restructure his defence given the absence of Carl Thywissen and Stephen Oates. Right-back, Paul Doyle came inside to partner David King in the heart of defence with Gordon Moffat chosen to fill the full-back berth.

Paul McBride was a surprise inclusion in the centre of midfield ahead of Gary Kelly, while Graeme McLaren was selected to partner Joe Savage up front.

The SPL side rested their top stars ahead of their glamour friendly with Ajax, but of the starting eleven Robert Olejneik, Patrick Cregg, Liam Craig, Tam Scobbie and Graham Barrett will be regulars in their squad for the coming campaign.

This was Shire's first public outing of the season- the only time the team had played together previously was the first half of a bounce game with Clyde two weeks ago.

But the new look Shire clicked from the start and, just two minutes into the game, Derek Ure cracked in a shot which went narrowly over the bar.

Darren Hill was brought into action for the first time after nine minutes to make a routine save from Barrett and then produced a better stop to deny Mark Stewart.

Shire took the lead after 17 minutes when Scotland under-19 captain Tam Scobbie hit a poor pass back to his keeper. McKenzie was first to react, latched onto the loose ball and slotted it calmly past the exposed Oljenik.

The Firs Parkers rode their luck a bit. After 20 minutes Barratt hit the bar with a long-range effort and Craig hit a shot from Stewart's cross over the bar when it seemed easier to score.

McLaren responded with a good effort for the visitors, although Hill did well to stop the Bairns' Moffat with a great diving block. After 39 minutes a Kevin McBride corner was headed goalwards by Savage and cleared off the line by Scott Arfield.

The second half's first real chance should have brought Falkirk an equaliser. After 52 minutes Hill blocked Stewart's shot and Barratt, somehow, shot wide of an empty net. A minute Later Andrew Brand drew applause from the visiting fans wth a decent long-range effort.

Shire should have made it 2-0 on 56 minutes after Oljenik failed to hold McKenzie's effort, but McLaren hit the rebound straight at the keeper.  Then, on 61 minutes, substitute Paul Brownlie was clean through with only Oljenik to beat but the Austrian under-21 international made a fine save.

After 74 minutes McLaren was given a free header from a pinpoint McKenzie cross but sent it badly wide with the goal at his mercy.  Kevin Struthers came on for a late cameo and almost scored with a great 20 yarder.

But the final moments saw the Bairns go close twice. First Hill produced a great save from Arfield then Moffat fired over the bar from inside the six yard box.

Falkirk : Oljenik, Mitchell, Gibb, Cregg, Allison(Nichol 62), Scobbie, Arfield, Craig, Barrett, Stewart(Churchill 79), Moffat.

Shire : Hill, Moffat, K. McBride, Doyle, King, P. McBride(Kelly 46), McKenzie, Brand, Savage(Brownlie 58), McLaren(Struthers 74), Ure.

Refereee : Craig Charleston.

Attendance : 926.

Sponsors' Man of the Match : Marc McKenzie.

 

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