STIRLING boss Shelley Kerr believes her forward force of Chris Geddes and Paul Sludden can find the net against any team in the Lowland League.

Former Forfar man Geddes scored two while ex-Stenhousemuir striker Sludden added the University’s third as Gala were severely punished for their defensive errors.

Kerr was delighted with her side’s three points at a venue she described as “tough”.

She added: “I am sure teams will come here and drop points.

“We knew where Gala posed us a threat but we have quality up front in Chris Geddes and Paul Sludden who can score against any teams in the league.

“The Lowland League is full of quality teams and it is going to be a tough season.” Stirling were superb in the opening stages and threatened to run away with the game when Geddes scored with a clinical lob over Mark Wilson.

But Gala showed plenty spirit throughout this game against their much fancied opponents, and newly installed captain Jamie Gibson led from the front, scoring the equaliser on ten minutes with a bullet header from Ross Aitchison’s cross.

Yet, Geddes restored Stirling’s lead on 13 minutes when he reacted quickest to Andrew Gillen’s shot which cannoned back off Gala’s crossbar.

Sludden should have finished the game when he went clean through following a Colin Galbraith mistake but a decent stop from Wilson meant Gala went into the break just one goal down.

Sludden did not make the same mistake twice just ten minutes after half time as he smashed the ball beyond Wilson from 14 yards.

Gala substitute Stuart Noble almost pulled one back after shaking off his marker George Leigh, only to hit the side netting from an acute angle. Galbraith hit the post with a header from a Dean McColm corner but Sean Guiney’s straight red card for a high tackle on Gillen ended any Gala chances of a comeback.

Gala boss Stevie Noble said: “For the first 20 minutes, Stirling were excellent.

“We managed to get an equaliser but were punished for two mistakes for the second and third goals. I can’t fault the guys for effort and we had some nice passages of passing. I am still looking to bring in two or three new players, and when we do that will be the squad finished for the season.” Gala Fairydean Rovers: M. Wilson, L. Stephen, D. Thomson (R. Grant 75), C. Galbraith, S. Guiney, D. Bonnar, D. McColm, D. Burdett (B. Miller 64), J. Gibson, C. Jardine (S. Noble 53), R. Aitchison.