Stirling Albion 3 Falkirk 1 (after penalties)

Neighbours takle it to penalties before the home side won the bragging rights and the tie New Stirling boss John O`Neill celebrated a dream start to his tenure as his side claimed a 3-1 penalty shootout triumph over Falkirk after their Alba Cup game ended - even after extra time - goalless. The fan-owned club secured their first competitive win under the new regime. The result was a tough one for opposite number Steven Pressley to take after he had seen his visiting side dominate the encounter but found Albion keeper Scott Christie in superb form. It was Falkirk who certainly started on the front foot in what was a high-profile season-opener between the two First Division sides. Stirling`s Christie was certainly the busier of the two keepers during the first half, saving well from Mark Stewart and Jack Compton among others while the former also hit a post. Opposite number Robert Olejnik was, though, also required to tip a couple of efforts over the bar. Falkirk again forced the issue after the break with Christie called into action on several occasions as the visitors tried but failed to find the crucial breakthrough. The encounter petered out in the latter stages and, after 30 extra goalless minutes, it was left for Christie to steal the headlines from the spot with three penalty saves to Olejnik`s two. The scorers and the men guilty of missing are shown below.  Stirling Albion Falkirk Stewart Devine - scored Mark Millar - missed Derek Colquhoun - scored Carl Finnigan - missed Andy Gibson  - missed Burton O'Brien - scored Scott Buist - missed Mark Stewart - missed Ross Forsyth - scored Stirling win 3-1 Stirling Albion: Christie, Corrigan, Allison, Buist , Forsyth, Gibson, Aitken (Devine 65), Kane, Robertson, Taggart (Colquhoun 78), Mullen (Borris 106)Subs Not Used: Reidford, McDonaldBooked: Gibson Falkirk: Olejnik, Marr, Scobbie, McLean, Twaddle, Millar, O'Brien, Higginbotham (Khalis 102), Flynn (McLeish 100), Compton (Finnigan 74), StewartSubs Not Used: Barclay, MitchellBooked: Millar, Scobbie, Marr. Attendance: 1,542 Referee: J McKendrick Editor Ger Harley (ger@scottishfitba net)Admin Team (admin@scottishfitba net)This is Scottish-Fitba Net

Source: FOOTYMAD