University of Stirling 4 Cowdenbeath 2

Lowland League Cup, first round

It certainly wasn’t a beautiful Sunday for Calum Elliot’s side as they crashed out of the Lowland League Cup to the students for a second successive season as defender Andy Rodden was sent off for the third time this season.

Things had started brightly enough for the Blue Brazil and Lucas Berry was denied in just three minutes as keeper Yan Gromov Godik blocked his shot with his leg at the expense of a corner.

However, a minute later Cowden opened the scoring when Aiden McLaughlin fired a curling shot in to the far corner of the net.

The early pressure on the home goal continued a minute later when a Josh Jack shot was cleared off the line by a defender.

Then at the other end Uni had their first shot of goal in the sixth minute when a curling shot from the edge of the box by Ben Maciver-Redwood took a defection past the post.

Soon after Luke Morris saw a 20-yard shot saved by Craig Hepburn as the home side worked their way back into the game.

With 15 minutes gone Josh Jack sent an angled shot just over the bar but it was the home side who got back on level terms after 24 minutes when Jake Service headed home at the back post following a corner from Ciaran McAninch.

Then three minutes later McAninch sent a glancing header into the Cowden net but his effort was ruled offside.

Seven minutes from the break Alex Jeanes had the ball in the visitors net once more but it was another “goal” ruled out by referee Sean Murdoch as the ball had went out of play before being crossed to him.

Then as the first half drew to a close Hepburn blocked an effort from McAninch.

The second half was only six minutes old when an unmarked Ben Heal fired past Hepburn to put the students ahead.

Then a minute later Andy Rodden was sent off for a challenge on Heal at the halfway line.

Stirling took advantage of the visitors being a man down and went further ahead in 58 minutes when Maciver-Redwood fired home from eight yards and four minutes later Cameron McKinley slotted home a fourth.

Cowden boss Calum Elliot then made five changes to the side and in 69 minutes a long clearance from keeper Hepburn was caught by the strong wind going just past the home goal.

The Blue Brazil did eventually pull a goal back with 15 minutes to go when Ewan MacPherson got on the end of a cross from brother Greg to reduce the deficit.

Then with seven minutes remaining a long range shot from Jamie Docherty was parried by the University keeper.

The Students were then reduced to ten men in 87 minutes when Ben Wolloszyn was sent off for a second booking following a foul on MacPherson.

University of Stirling: Gromov Godik, Lavery, Service, Jeanes, Morris, Scally (Torregiani 67), Russell (Docherty 67), McAninch, Maciver-Redwood (Wolloszyn 69), McKinley (Vonk 69), Heal. Subs not used – Moffet, De Zoeten, Aslanoglu.

Cowdenbeath: Hepburn, G MacPherson, Rodden, Jordan (Donald 65), McNab, Berry (Tait 65), M McDonald, McLaughlin (A MacDonald 65), Healy (E MacPherson 65), Jack (Butterworth 65), Docherty. Subs not used – Blair, Chalmers.

Referee: Sean Murdoch

Attendance: 150