Despite having struggled offensively so far this season, this was set to be a close battle against a Pyros side, who finally ditched their whipping boys tag with memorable first ever College League win against the Sunderland Kings.

However the personnel problems that have constantly hampered the Renfrewshire outfit since their first ever competitive game showed no signs of abating following last weeks victory with only 13 Paisley players kitted up for this afternoon’s match – and not all of them fully fit.

For the Clansmen, they were looking to bounce back from last week's three point loss against Lancaster and were threatening the Paisley goal line on their opening drive.

But a tough stand off from the visitors forced Andrew McGiver to try his luck with his first field goal attempt only to send the ball wide left of the uprights.

However McGiver was more successful on the next Stirling series at the end of the first quarter, when he comfortably split the uprights for a 3-0 lead.

The Clansmen stepped up the pressure at the start of the second period, when Richard Mandille blasted through a hole in the Paisley rear guard to take the home side to the 21 yard line.

Then on the next play Luke Summers found a gap on the far side sprinting for the opening touchdown.

With the lack of reserves in the Pyro’s sidelines, there appeared to be some hesitation in their offensive play, but there was no holding back on their defensive strategy and during the next Stirling drive, they put a spanner in their works when Quarterback Ian Smith was picked off by Tal Peer inside the Clansmen half.

Unfortunately the Pyros failed to capitalise on their good fortune and just failed to carry on the drive when Peer failed to grab a fourth down pass.

Stirling continued to gain major yardage thanks to power runs from Mandille, but they appeared to run out of steam deep in the Pyros territory. And with seconds remaining, they had to settle for another McGiver field goal attempt, which finished wide left.

Despite their lack of numbers the Pyros continued to display what has become their traditional never say die attitude on the field, fighting for every ball.

But tiredness was soon starting to kick in to the Paisley players when Mandille broke free to cross the goal line for another score for the Clansmen.

Stirling were now in full control during the final quarter, with Mandille exposing a gap in the Pyros defense, but was stopped short of the endzone.

But on the next play, the weight and bulk of Lineman Walter Evens was took much for the Pyros to handle, promptly burst through for another six points, which was followed by another successful conversion attempt from McGiver.

As the minutes of the game ticked away, the Pyros, now battling for pride, continued to battle hard to take something form the game.

But with less than two minutes remaining, the home side increased their lead, when Receiver Graeme Taylor, who had not been having one of his most productive afternoons got his hands on the ball when it mattered, latching on to a short Ian Smith pass for the final touchdown.