Albion beginning to look the part
Pre-season momentum building
Stirling Albion continue their pre-season preparations with a friendly match against East Kilbride at K-Park tonight (Wednesday) at 7.45pm.
Dave Mackay’s men are on their travels again on Saturday when they play Stranraer at Stair Park as they gear up for a Betfred Cup tie against Dundee at Forthbank on July 14.
Tonight’s opponents were pipped to the Lowland League title by Spartans on the final day of the season and boss Billy Stark then left to take a job with the Scottish FA.
His replacement is former Albion Rovers manager Brian Kerr, who will be hoping to lead the ambitious club into the SPFL.
The Binos beat another Lowland League side on Saturday, notching up a 2-0 victory over Dalbeattie Star on a baking hot afternoon at Islecroft Stadium where Stirling won 5-0 in a Scottish Cup tie in September 2012.
Defender Ross McGeachie scored an early goal and U20 midfielder Justin Watson netted the clincher shortly after half-time. In a game played on a difficult pitch, Albion were without captain Willie Robertson due to work commitments while Darren Smith and Darren Barr were sidelined.
There was even an outing for Binos boss Mackay – the former St Johnstone skipper got the boots back on as a substitute in the closing stages but isn’t planning to make it a habit!
He said: “Everyone came through the Dalbeattie game pretty much OK but Peter MacDonald had to come off because he had pretty bad blisters with the pitch being so dry.
“It was a good fitness exercise for us but it wasn’t a surface for playing good football on.
“In terms of the trialists who featured against Airdrie last midweek, Jacob (Borg) who scored the goal has got an offer from Ireland and I don’t think we would be able to compete with that. If we were to sign him he would have to come in as probably our highest earner and we’d have to pay accommodation so it wouldn’t have been a good fit anyway.
“Jason Marr had his brother’s wedding on Saturday so he wasn’t able to play at Dalbeattie but I think we are going to have another look at him. He did well at Airdrie but I wouldn’t want to judge him on one game.
“There are also some of our U20 players who are close to the first-team squad. Reg McLaren did well against Airdrie last week and Justin Watson scored at Dalbeattie. There are others who have also done well and could at least push for a place on the first team bench.”