Stirling boss has sunny outlook despite sweltering Hamilton opening defeat
Forthbank was bathed in the summer sunshine for Stirling Albion's competitive opener on Saturday... and boss Alan Maybury insists the outlook for his side is still bright despite defeat.
The Binos fell to a 2-0 loss against Hamilton Accies in a tight Premier Sports Cup Group E contest, with Hamilton pulling away in the second half due to an excellent Connor Smith strike followed up by a Russell McLean own goal.
Despite the expectations before kick-off - with Hamilton expected to be among the favourites to bounce straight back up to the Championship - Stirling were very much in the game until and even beyond Smith's opener.
Maybury bemoaned some key opportunities that went begging for his side in potentially securing a result, but praised his players' commitment in blazing hot conditions.
The Irishman said: 'I think there was nothing in the game, to be honest.
'It's really hard against a full-time team, with the sticky pitch and the weather, but we did a lot of good things that we've been working on.
'We had the best chance of the first half with Ross Cunningham and it's a different game if that's goes in and I felt they got their goal out of nothing.
'We had a great chance with [Dale] Carrick as well with the diving header so going forward we created enough in the game, it's just tainted a little for me because I think the goals are preventable on our side.
'If we want to be better than last year, then they are the sort of areas we have to improve on.'
The group stage action continued last night, with Stirling making a visit to familiar foes in Dumbarton for a contest that could act as an early litmus test for their ambitions in League Two.
The Stirling squad was still stretched slightly for the Hamilton match, with striker Ryan Shanley serving a suspension for a sending-off in the competition for Falkirk last season, while Dale Hilson picked up a knock in a training match.
But Maybury admits his squad looks much healthier at this stage than it did 12 months ago - and they will be gunning for full points at the Rock.
'We're setting up to try and win every game in this section; it's really difficult because we're the fifth seed in this group with Dunfermline and Hearts as well as Hamilton who have just come down from the Championship so it's a tough section', the Stirling boss added.
'The plan is for us to give a good account of ourselves, for us to do what we want to do, that was the messaging before today, making sure we use the ball under pressure well, to have the structure we've worked on both with and without the ball.
'We want to go there and win the game.
'We played them in the Stirlingshire Cup, albeit with reduced time, and did well there but they have strengthened and are further along with their pre-season - as are we.
'It will be a good test to see where we're at, working on those structures and organisations which were good today and where I'm hoping for another improvement on Tuesday.'
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