Selkirk 1

Stirling University 2

David Knox at Yarrow Park

ASK anyone, and they'll tell you football is a results game.

But occasionally, very occasionally, you’ll find a manager who is content in defeat.

Last Wednesday’s end of season fare was something to savour for fans of both teams.

Shelley Kerr’s Stirling students demonstrated why they will finish runners-up in the Lowland League by grinding out the win.

But it was Garry O’Connor’s young, makeshift Selkirk who provided most of the excitement.

Without the club’s four former internationalists, O’Connor, Garry Kenneth, Davie Robertson and Bayan Fenwick, through injury and two experienced defenders, Jamie Pyper and Scott Ritchie, who are seeing out the season with a Swedish league club, the player/manager was forced to field a team of youngsters and trialists.

But they more than matched the League’s second best team.

O’Connor told the Border Telegraph: “We were beaten but it feels like a victory.

“The manner we went about it, especially in the second half, was great – we won every challenge, we won every header and we picked up every second ball.

“We hit the bar and the post and on another night we could easily be sitting here with a comfortable win.

“A lot of these young players didn’t know how to play as part of a team – they’re good footballers but they are now learning positions from the likes of myself and Robbo (player/coach Davie Robertson) and things are starting to take shape.”

Despite Stirling arriving at Yarrow Park with almost a full-strength squad it was the home side who looked the most confident and assured in the opening half hour.

Ross King headed a Murray Christie cross a foot wide, and both Phil Addison and King forced excellent reaction saves from keeper Tim Hughes.

Stirling’s top scorer Chris Geddes had fired a warning shot, which flew a ball’s width over the bar, just after the quarter hour.

And he took full advantage of a rare lapse in concentration from Selkirk’s defence to chip Jamie Newman for the opener on 34 minutes.

Only a fantastic one-handed save from Newman prevented Lewis Bonnar doubling the lead three minutes later.

Selkirk drew level on 40 minutes as Addison danced past a challenge to slot the ball beyond Hughes.

There was still time for another goal before the break.

In the third minute of added time Bonnar nodded home Paul McAfftery’s cross-goal header at the back post to retake the lead.

Whatever words of wisdom O’Connor relayed at half time seemed to work as Selkirk’s youngsters dominated the second half.

The improving Kerr Scott was denied by a goal-line clearance three minutes after the restart.

Michael Collin blasted over from 12 yards and a James Harley effort deflected round the post.

Uni keeper Hughes denied the energetic Christie with a spectacular save as the home team pushed for the equaliser.

And on 80 minutes the former Hearts fullback struck the inside of the post after a fantastic counter attack involving Addison and King.

With home players pushed forward Stirling almost sealed victory on the break with Newman making a great save to keep a Geddes shot out.

Trialist Michael McInally also cleared Rory McEwan’s effort off the line.

But it was Selkirk who were mainly on top with Kerr Scott curling a corner against the bar with Hughes beaten.

In the four minutes of added time Addison, Harley and Kerr Scott all had shots blocked in front of goal.

O’Connor added: “We are trying to develop these young boys to play at this standard and it is working.

“What we are doing here will help these boys for the future.”

Selkirk. J Newman, M Samson, R Scott, J Harley, C McDiarmid, S Guiney (M McInally 46), R King, M Collin, M Christie, J Easson (K Scott 30) & P Addison.