TOUGH CUPTIE
Albion take onTranent Juniors
Stirling Albion take on Tranent Juniors in the third round of the Scottish Cup on Saturday with a place in the last 32 in January up for grabs.
It’s a big game for the Binos against Calum Elliot’s side, who are sitting second in the East of Scotland League Premier Division and have knocked out title rivals Penicuik Athletic and Lowland League Broomhill to reach this stage of the competition.
Stirling edged past Berwick Rangers in round two, winning 2-1 at Shielfield on October 23 thanks to a last-minute goal from Jordan McGregor but they have lost their last three matches.
Albion went down 2-1 to Edinburgh City at Forthbank on Saturday despite taking the lead through Dale Carrick. John Robertson equalised from the penalty spot after Ross McGeachie brought down Ouzy See and Innes Murray hit the winner after Ray Grant had been sent off with 15 minutes left.
Stirling were knocked out by Raith Rovers in last season’s Scottish Cup and fell to Clyde at this stage two years ago, and boss Kevin Rutkiewicz (below) is desperate to lead the team into the potentially lucrative fourth round. On Saturday’s defeat to Edinburgh City, the Binos boss said: “In my opinion, the best team lost. I thought we were excellent. Ray Grant was outstanding in the middle of the park – probably his best game in a Stirling jersey. Sean Heaver came in and gave us great energy and Dale Carrick responded magnificently to missing the penalty last week. “There were a lot of positives and we passed the ball well even when we went a man down. It’s a not a second yellow in my opinion because Ray has slipped and, even then, his two feet have stayed firmly on the ground and he completely gets the ball. In terms of the penalty, it looks clumsy and I thought it looked like a penalty although Ross is adamant it wasn’t.
“We had chances before going down to 10 men to be 3-1 up. I don’t mean gilt-edged chances, but we were in areas where we should have executed things better and didn’t. We have paid the ultimate price and I don’t think they tested Blair Currie very often. It was hard to be critical of the boys – we are just in one of those phases where not a lot is going for us.”
Looking ahead to the Scottish Cup clash, Rutkiewicz said: “We’ve had Tranent watched and they are a club who are strong and there is a lot of positivity about them. They are used to winning and will fancy their chances so we have got to be bang at it – we have to meet this game head on.
“It’s going to be a tough game but it’s one we can win and Calum Elliot will be saying the same to his boys. We have to use the pressure on us in a positive nature – it’s an opportunity for us to progress and we can’t let it become an anxiety.”
If Saturday’s game ends in a draw, the replay will take place at Foresters Park on Saturday, December 4, kickoff 3pm and the Binos’ League 2 game at Cowdenbeath will be postponed.
Numbers drawn on last Wednesday in the Stirling Albion Supporters Trust lottery were 9, 11, 13 and 25. There were no jackpot winners so the jackpot today (Wednesday) rises to £1670. Three lucky dip winners each received £20. They are M Baranowski, M Macleod, D Husband.