Red hot Binos raring to go

Feb 11 2009 by Donald Morton, Stirling Observer Wednesday

STIRLING Albion are hoping the freezing winter weather relents to allow this Saturday’s crunch match against Peterhead to go ahead at Forthbank.

The in-form Binos haven’t played at home since beating Ayr United 2-0 on January 17 and are desperate for the game to proceed for both football and financial reasons before they head to take on leaders Raith on February 21.

Allan Moore’s men didn’t play at the weekend because opponents East Fife were due at Aberdeen on Scottish Cup duty, although the tie fell victim to the snow in the North East.

Albion don’t want to lose the momentum built up by five straight victories, the latest of which was 2-1 at Brechin on January 31 and propelled the club into the play-off places for the first time this season.

Brechin regained third spot after ending their barren streak at Stranraer on Saturday but Albion are fourth, a point ahead of Peterhead, whose home match with Arbroath on Saturday was another casualty of the conditions.

Assistant boss John O’Neill and Ross Forsyth are both suspended for the Peterhead match and winger Nathan Taggart remains sidelined with a back problem. On-loan Dundee United midfielder Ryan McCord is in line for his first start and O’Neill says the players are raring to go against the Blue Toon.

He said: “When you are winning you want the games coming thick and fast so it’s disappointing we didn’t have a game on Saturday.

“The lads had the weekend off and they deserved it but we are hoping the Peterhead match is on. There is always one part of the pitch that doesn’t really get the sun so hopefully the temperature will rise by the end of the week.

“The boys are full of confidence and we want to keep the run going. Allan Moore was in at training on Thursday night showing off his Manager of the Month award but he was the first to say it was all down to the hard work of the players.”

November defeats to Alloa and Arbroath left Stirling loitering at the wrong end of the table but an incredible run of 18 points from 21 – that began with victory at East Fife in December – has transformed the club’s campaign.

O’Neill added: “I don’t think there is one reason in particular for the improvement. Once we got a couple of wins, the confidence really started to build and that is important.

“David McKenna and Martin Grehan have both had goalscoring runs of late but the whole Albion team has picked up in the last few weeks.

“The spirit in the group is fantastic and the fitness of the players is excellent. They have worked so hard to get into the top four and I think we just need to try and keep winning games and see where it takes us.”

It’s a big weekend at the business end of the Second Division, with Brechin at home to Raith, East Fife hosting Ayr and Albion squaring up to Peterhead - but O’Neill insists Albion must focus solely on their own game.

He said: “I don’t think we should be worrying too much about other results at the moment. Let’s just see if we can keep the run going.

“We have had two draws against Peterhead this season but could have won both games,” added O’Neill of the 0-0 draw at Forthbank and the 1-1 stalemate at a snow-bound Balmoor in November. “But they are a good side and they beat East Fife 3-0 in their last game.”

Meanwhile, Stirling Albion have a new physio after Andy Myles left the club to take up a post at Partick Thistle. Louise Wilson, who has been taking care of the Youth players this season as well as helping with the first team on training nights, will be in the dug-out on Saturday.