BINOS SUFFER CAPITAL LOSS
Mackay bemoans thin squad as star loanee Morrison heads back to Hearts
Stirling Albion travel to Peterhead tomorrow aiming to end the Blue Toon’s six-match winning run in Ladbrokes League 2.
Dave Mackay’s men moved back into the top four with a 2-0 home victory over Berwick Rangers last weekend while Jim McInally’s side took their tally to 20 goals in four matches with a 4-1 success at Stenhousemuir and are just a point behind leaders Montrose with two games in hand.
The Binos won 4-2 at Peterhead back in August but were beaten 1-0 at Forthbank in a midweek fixture in early December when Rory McAllister got the only goal - the top scorer of the SPFL era has netted an incredible 19 times in his last 12 games.
It was confirmed on Wednesday that Stirling will head to the North East without loan duo Callumn Morrison and Mark Foden, who have now returned to their parent clubs.
Hearts winger Morrison has been a huge influence on the team this season and scored nine goals before the end of September as Albion topped the table. He netted his 10th in the 2-1 win at Edinburgh Stirling Albion grabbed a much-needed win last week, but face a huge task this week when they go north to face in-form Peterhead.
McBookie.com make the Blue Toon side 1/9 to win League Two, with Albion 33/1.
And on Saturday, Stirling are huge outsiders at 13/2 to win at Peterhead, who are 4/9 favourites. The draw is 18/5.
Albion can certainly take hope from their previous trip north when they stunned City in early November, with his last appearance coming at Ochilview on January 2.
His loan was due to expire on January 15 but Morrison has been recalled early due to the ankle injury he picked up against Stenhousemuir, although he will miss the Tynecastle club’s winterbreak training camp in Spain to continue his recovery.
Mackay had been desperate to keep the 18 year-old, who is a product of the Stirling Albion youth system, but Hearts have brought back several of their loan players from various SPFL clubs.
Manager Craig Levein told the Hearts website: “We’ve brought some of our loan players back to the club so we can assess them and see how they’ve progressed. It may be that a few of them go back out on loan later in the month but we’ll make that call in due course.”
It seems likely Morrison has played his last game for Stirling and may now get his chance in the capital, with a loan move to a club in a higher division another possibility.
Ross County keeper Foden made his debut in the 3-1 Betfred Cup win over Forfar Athletic at Station Park in July and went on to make five their hosts with a 4-2 win and they have only lost once in their last four visits to Balmoor.
Stirling to win and both teams to score is 21/1. A 1-0 away win is 25/1 and a 2-0 victory is a huge 50/1.
In the Lowland League, Stirling University welcome Cumbernauld Colts to the Falkirk Stadium this week.
McBookie.com make the students evens, with Colts 7/5 outsiders and the draw 19/5. appearances. The 21 year-old’s last outing was the Scottish Cup defeat to Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale in October and Cammy Binnie has established himself as the No 1 after briefly being left out the team earlier in the campaign.
Mackay is working hard to add new faces to his squad and another goalkeeper will now be a priority with youngster Ronan Fallens not yet ready to challenge for a firstteam place.
Meanwhile, defender Lee Hamilton (below) is set to sign a contract extension after impressing since returning to Stirling from Berwick Rangers in the summer. The 22 year-old was originally handed a short-term deal after leaving Shielfield but has been one of the team’s most consistent performers and his versatility across the defence makes him a valuable member of the squad.
Looking ahead to tomorrow’s game at Balmoor, Mackay said: “Peterhead are on a great run so it’s obviously a very difficult game but there is no need to fear anyone.
“We won up there the last time and beating Berwick at the weekend has given us a bit of confidence.
“In terms of the squad, we need another goalkeeper now with Mark going back to Ross County and hopefully we can bring in two or three other players.
“It’s disappointing Callumn is returning to Hearts because he has been outstanding for us but we were expecting that news.
“Lee Hamilton deserves a new contract and that is almost sorted. He is not a player I knew before the summer but he has come in and done extremely well.”