GIVE IT ONE FINAL PUSH Club finds its way into final
Jason Inman was one of nine winners for Forth Valley Orienteers as they qualified for the final of the Compass Sport Cup, the premier club competition for UK teams which FVO have won the cup three times since 2015.
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Stirling Albion boss Darren Young admits he won’t give up on a play-off spot until it’s mathematically impossible.
The Binos are aiming to make it three straight wins when they welcome Annan Athletic to Forthbank tomorrow.
It’s the first of three successive home games for Darren Young’s side, who welcome Albion Rovers on Tuesday before hosting Stranraer next weekend.
Stirling go into this weekend’s match on the back of victories over Cowdenbeath and Forfar Athletic, having won just one of their 17 games in cinch League Two before the recent revival.
In-form Annan are sitting second in the table and look certainties for a play-off spot – they have beaten the Binos 3-1 and 3-2 this season but Albion were unlucky to only draw 0-0 at Galabank in January, when they found home goalkeeper Greg Fleming in inspired form.
The play-offs look a long shot – Stirling are 11 points behind fourth-placed Edinburgh City with a game in hand – but Binos boss Young hasn’t given up hope of a late push.
He said: “That fourth spot is still something we are aiming for – we have the game in hand and Edinburgh drew with Stenhousemuir so that narrows the gap a little.
“There’s eight games to go and plenty of points to play for.
“I thought the players were tremendous against Forfar – I couldn’t have asked any more from them. We were excellent in the first half and should have scored more than one goal.
“We maybe tired a wee bit in the second half and Forfar had more of the ball but the players worked so hard and it was great to get the clean sheet.
“I’m pleased that Akeel Francis got his first goal for the club but all of the players deserve credit for the shift they put in – we had a hard week with three games and the lads are buzzing to have got the win against Forfar after beating
Cowdenbeath in midweek.”
Meanwhile Tuesday’s match against Albion Rovers is a rearranged fixture after the original match was postponed last month as the Forthbank pitch was unplayable.
Stirling won 2-1 when the sides met at the end of August but lost 1-0 at Cliftonhill in November on a day when Dale Carrick missed a penalty.
Brian Reid’s team are sitting second from bottom in the table but earned an important point in a 0-0 draw with leaders Kelty Hearts in Coatbridge on Wednesday – it was a match Rovers should have won after creating several good chances.
Numbers drawn on Wednesday in the Stirling Albion Supporters Trust lottery were 1, 6, 10 and 28.
There were no jackpot winners so it rises on Wednesday to £2550.
Three lucky dip winners each receive £20.
League Two