Selkirk 0

East Stirlingshire 3

David Knox at Yarrow Park

PUNDIT Alan Hanson may have had a point when he predicted ‘you can’t win anything with kids’.

The infamous prediction about Manchester United was quickly dispelled by Alex Ferguson’s class of 92.

But Ian Fergus’ teenagers aren’t fairing quite so well after being thrown into the Lowland League cauldron.

No fewer than nine of Selkirk’s 16-strong squad on Saturday have yet to reach their 20s with five of them still at school.

And the age and experience of East Stirlingshire proved heavily influential as they eased towards the three points.

Manager Fergus told us: “It’s a very difficult period for the club with so many senior players missing.

“Our two centre halves today were 16 and 18 years old.

“I can’t fault any of the young players as they are giving it their all week in, week out, and they will get better and better for this experience.

“With the players we have just now we will be a really good team in two or three years but we get judged on where we are just now.

“In all honesty Stirlingshire could have had one or two more today and we couldn’t have complained.”

Selkirk almost grabbed a sensational first minute opener as Sean McKirdy raced onto Daryl Healy’s flick-on but the effort was scrambled clear in front of goal.

And just three minutes later Paul Sludden showed great composure to slot a shot beyond Gregor Amos.

Selkirk had strong claims for a penalty after a hand ball offence in front of goal, almost directly from the restart.

But it was Shire who began to command possession with Jamie McCormack and Derek Ure tormenting the home full backs.

And Amos was forced into two magnificent saves, firstly with an outstretched hand to deny Liam Allison and then, moments later, to block an angled Andy Rogers effort.

Youngsters Jordan Keenan and Andrew Fleming did well in central defence to keep tab on the lively Sludden and Rodgers.

Their graft was almost rewarded as Dale Baxter cut in from the left to curl a shot just wide of Jamie Barclay’s far post.

But just before the interval Shire doubled their advantage, as Rodgers wrong-footed Amos with a sneaky freekick from the edge of the area.

The second-half was all a bit pedestrian with Selkirk struggling to create any clear chances.

Sludden had hit the outside of the post before he added the third with a delicate chip on the hour.

Amos made a couple of good saves as the visitors continued to press.

Fleming somehow managed to deflect a Sludden drive round the post in the closing stages, and Ciaren Chalmers also cleared a late effort off the line.

Selkirk. G Amos, R Sclater, R Donaldson, A Flemming, J Keenan, D Healy, C Chalmers, P Addison (R King 64), C Helm (G Brown 75), D Baxter (J Hopkinson 36) & S McKirdy