Stirling Albion in cold storage

Jan 8 2010 by Donald Morton, Stirling Observer Friday

STIRLING Albion’s season remains in winter’s grip after this weekend’s Active Nation Scottish Cup-fourth round tie away to Albion Rovers was postponed yesterday (Thurs-day) due to a frozen and snow-bound pitch.

The sides will now try again on Tuesday night but, with no sign of a thaw, there seems little chance of play at Cliftonhill next week. If that is the case, the tie will be rescheduled for Monday January 18, with any replay or postponed game being held for two days later.

It has been a frustrating period for the Binos, who, like most other clubs, have struggled to find suitable training facilities. Allan Moore’s men haven’t played since the 2-2 draw with Dumbarton on December 15 and their next league game is at home to Peterhead on January 16, weather permitting of course.

It’s the longest break the club have endured since the severe winter of 1981/82, when Stirling played on December 5 and then didn’t manage another match until January 20. As yet, no new dates have been confirmed for the outstanding Division Two meetings with Stenhousemuir at home and Brechin and Alloa away.

Summit

League leaders Cowdenbeath would have had the chance to increase their lead at the summit to five points when they faced struggling Arbroath at Central Park in a rearranged game tomorrow, as both sides are out of the Scottish Cup - the Blue Brazil beaten at Alloa in a replay - but that match has also been postponed.

Stirling’s cup opponents Albion Rovers haven’t seen action since a 1-1 draw at home to Elgin City on December 12. Paul Martin’s men are currently fifth in Division Three, three points behind Forfar in the race for the play-offs but they have lost just once in eight home league games, conceding only four goals in the process.

Rovers, who have never met the Binos in the Scottish Cup, have already knocked out Elgin City and Lossiemouth to reach this stage but went down 5-3 when Albion last visited Coatbridge for a Third Division game en route to promotion in April 2004.

Midfielder Chris Aitken, set to seal a return to Forthbank on loan from Ayr United, will be unavailable for the Scottish Cup tie when it is eventually played as he was listed as a substitute for Ayr against Deveronvale in the previous round. SFA rules state that simply being listed in the 16 rules out playing for another team in the same season’s competition.

Meanwhile, central defender Greig McDonald could return to full training at the end of February as he continues to recover from a serious knee injury.

The former East Fife player sustained ligament damage in a bounce game soon after signing in the summer but has an outside chance of making his Albion debut before the end of the current campaign.

Assistant manager John O’Neill said: “Greig is making good progress and is working hard in the gym. With a bit of luck he will be able to take part in training with the rest of the lads towards the end of February or the beginning of March but we are not going to put any pressure on him.

Bonus

“His attitude has been fantastic – I think he has been to almost all of our games and has been involved as much as he can. It would be a bonus if we got him back this season but it is important not to rush things.”

Ironically, McDonald’s last appearance for East Fife came against Stirling in a 2-0 Albion victory at Forthbank on March 28 last year, before a different injury saw his campaign end with a tally of 24 league appearances and five goals. The way things are going with the weather, McDonald might be fit before Albion are next able to take the field!