Whitehill Welfare FC vs East Stirlingshire

Report

Shire bounced back from the disappointment of an opening day defeat with a comprehensive victory over Whitehill Welfare at Ferguson Park just four days after the setback at Ochilview at the hands of BSC Glasgow.

Coach John Sludden made three changes to the side for the second Lowland League game of the season – but that was at least partly down to a lack of availability due to work and travel problems rather than a reaction to the defeat the previous weekend.

Shire got off to a positive start and twice early on Paul Sludden had scoring chances but was denied by good saves from the home keeper.

But the team did find the back of the net after 15 minutes when Kelbie, making his competitive debut for the club after his summer move from Linlithgow Rose, wriggled clear of the defence to shoot home from inside the box.

The visiting fans were no doubt relieved by the promising start and they have to wait just six more minutes for the second goal – a great move initiated by Andy Rodgers’ crossfield pass and finished by a great first-time shot from Sludden.

Not long after that Drew Ramsay’s left-wing cross found Kelbie unmarked at the back post but his header was well-saved by the Welfare keeper before Sludden fizzed a long-range free-kick just over the home crossbar.

In the second half Kelbie dragged a shot wide of the post from the edge of the box and Allison hit the post with an effort from the six yard line as Shire continued to press in the search for more goals.

Ramsay came closest to getting the next goal with a near-post header from a Sludden corner on the left but his effort shaved the outside of the post and went wide of the target.

After 63 minutes Allison flicked a huge clearance from keeper Jamie Barclay on to Sludden and he hurdled a despairing Whitehill Welfare defender’s challenge before racing into the box and finishing with a curling shot low into the net to make it 3-0.

Two minutes later Shire made it 4-0. Allison won the ball in a tussle on the halfway line and then raced from their to the edge of the penalty area when he let fly with a powerful, low shot which flew past the keeper

Shire never stopped looking for goals – Rodgers tried an ambitious long-range chip which ended up on the roof of the net and then he hit a ferocious drive that went just wide of the post.

Late on Rodgers’ hitch-kick finish would have made a spectacular goal but he was denied by the outstretched arm of the Whitehill Welfare keeper. Then Kelbie tried to curl one in at the top corner but the home keeper’s heroics continued as Shire maintained their forward momentum.

In the closing minutes two great crosses from Ramsay set up chances but Sludden stabbed the first one wide of the near post and then the two-goal striker’s second effort flew wide after Keblie’s initial goal attempt.

East Stirlingshire: 1. Barclay, 2. MacGregor, 3. Ramsay, 4. Grant, 5. Greene, 6. Brisbane, 7. Rodgers, 8. D. Ure (Captain), 9. Kelbie, 10. Sludden, 11. Allison. subs – 12. Faulds (for Brisbane 56 mins), 14. White (for Ure 85 mins), 15. Peddie (not used), 16. Trialist (Connor Hogg) (not used), 17. Trialist (Iain Ure) (Sub gk – not used), 18. Trialist (Chris McLaughlin) (not used), 19. Trialist (Aiden McKeown) (not used)

Ht 2-0 Ft 4-0

East Stirlingshire Scorers: Kevin Kelbie (16 mins), Paul Sludden (22 mins), Paul Sludden (63 mins), Liam Allison (66 mins)

East Stirlingshire Bookings: Del Ure, Connor Greene

Crowd: c.150

Referee: Peter Stuart

Assistants: David Doig, Daniel Silva