BINOS TARGET PLAY-OFF SPOT
Stirling Albion boss Dave Mackay called Saturday a perfect day as they beat Berwick Rangers 1-0 and results elsewhere went in their favour.
Annan’s defeat at Clyde and Elgin’s draw with Montrose mean the Binos are up to fifth in the Ladbrokes League 2 table and within four points of the play-offs with four games left.
A top-four finish remains an outside bet but seven wins in eight games have transformed Stirling’s season.
When they lost 3-2 at Berwick on December 6 they were a point off the bottom and dropped to the foot after losing to Edinburgh City four days later.
Albion welcome bottom club Cowdenbeath to Forthbank on Saturday, with Gary Locke’s men having lost just twice in seven games since being beaten 2-0 by the Binos at Central Park on March 4.
Mackay said: “They were great results for us at the weekend and it gives us the chance to shoot for two teams rather than just Elgin.
“It’s a long shot that we will get there but while there’s a chance we will give it everything we have got. We might have to win our last four games but, with the run we have been on, there’s no reason why we can’t do that.
“We had a blip against Forfar last week but the players reacted in the right way on Saturday. We had conceded five goals in the two previous games so it was good to get a clean sheet again.
“Cowdenbeath are fighting for their lives at the bottom of the table but they came to our place and turned us over a few months ago so we know it’s going to be a difficult game.”
Darren Smith’s 11th goal of the season made the difference at Shielfield, with Chris Smith saving a penalty from Greg Rutherford just before the break.
Mackay added: “We had the better chances and deservedly went in ahead. It could possibly have been two if the keeper hadn’t pulled off a wonderful save from Callum Morrison.
“Berwick could have gone in level totally against the run of play with the penalty and in the second half they had more pressure but I can’t remember them ever opening us up.”
Albion have conceded 10 penalties this season but five of them have been saved ,four by Chris Smith and one by Cammy Binnie.
Mackay said: “It’s a decent record we have for saving them but I’m not too happy we have given so many away.
“You always know you have a chance when you have Chris in goal. It wasn’t a great penalty but he has guessed the right way and made sure he got the ball away to safety.”
The Binos boss also had praise for matchwinner Darren Smith, who has netted five goals in his last five games: “Darren has done very well. He is a good player at this level and probably should be scoring more goals, as he has recently.
“He makes good runs and sometimes with a bit more composure he would be a prolific scorer but he is doing that at the minute and long may it continue.
“We have played him up top in a two and also out wide and he works hard for the team. He does a good job defensively, whatever side he is on, and you know he will put a shift in.”
Mackay confirmed that midfielders Willie Robertson and Jack McCue are set to miss the rest of the season due to injury but Calvin Colquhoun is close to a return.
Ross Smith is unlikely to be fit to face Cowdenbeath and fellow central defender Frazer Wright needs to see a specialist due to a knee problem. However, back-up keeper Cammy Binnie, who picked up a knock in a recent U20 game, is expected to return to the squad.
Albion defender Kyle Banner scored the only goal as the Scottish Schools beat their Irish counterparts 1-0 in the U18 Centenary Shield on Thursday. The 17 year-old captained the team and was joined in the starting XI by Strling teammates Ronan Fallens and George Stanger in a match played at Renfrew Juniors.
With the run we’re on, there’s no reason why we can’t do that