Lanarkshire United 1 vs 1 Stirling Albion 2010 Reds

Veo Link https://app.veo.co/matches/20260815-untitled-recording-2026-08-15_12-25-07-v12309cc/

Lanarkshire Utd 1 - Albion 1 (6:5 pens)

Reds started their competitive season with the league cup on Saturday. Faced with a tough group, our opening fixture couldn’t have been much more difficult with a visit to last season’s league champs Lanarkshire Utd (formerly Larkhall). With 5 new players bedding in it was going to be a good test of our readiness for the season.

The boys were excellent in the main in a hard fought 1-1 draw. Both teams had spells with Lanarkshire starting the first 15-20mins strongly before we grabbed the opener. A great spin and volleyed finished from Dan 20yrds out. This galvanised the lads and we were on top for the next 20mins – Logan had a header from 3yrds pushed onto the bar which we all thought was in, before the ref inexplicably didn’t award a penalty when Emmanuel was brought down in box by last man after a great through ball from Logan. The ref instead calling it back for the foul on Logan after he played pass.

Larkhall came back into it strongly in the last 5minutes of the half, 2 great saves from Cammy looked set to send us into halftime 1-0 up – however Larkhall got the equaliser from a corner with a good header on the stroke of halftime.

Second half playing with the breeze behind us we probably had the better of the openings – Emmanuel breaking free twice down the left, and then Dan and Lennox denied from inside the penalty spot with some last ditch defending. Lanarkshire with their quality continued to have some good passages of play as well.

Despite this game finished 1-1 and went to pens for the extra point. Unfortunately we went down 6-5 in pens – a little disappointed not to get more from the game but it was a well contested match by both teams across the 90mins.

MOTM – a few strong displays, Cammy with a couple of excellent saves and very composed. A couple of our competitive debutants were very good: Lennox injected some composure on the ball and good delivery, and Logan with an energetic display in midfield going both directions – however first award of the season goes to Ross, terrific display at the back, interceptions galore and a calmness that helped us get the ball down and play better after a slower start.