Albiona goodbet torestore theirpride
Stirling Albion claimed a highly creditable draw at League Two champions Kelty Hearts last week, but with three games left and 10 points adrift of the play-off spots, their season is as good as over.
With only pride to play for, Stirling are 6/5 to beat 2/1 Elgin City at Forthbank. The draw is 23/10.
First scorers this week include Kieran Moore at 9/2 and Marc Laird at 12/1.
Both teams to score and a Stirling win is 7/2. Over 2.5 goals and a home win is 13/5. The hosts are 3/1 to win to nil and 2/1 to keep a clean sheet.
It’s 11/4 for Stirling to win half time and full time. Darren Young’s side are 12/5 to score in both halves and 6/1 to win both halves.
Albion are 6/5 to score two goals or more and 4/1 to net three or more against the Borough Briggs outfit.
In the Lowland League, Stirling University are in the capital to face Civil Service Strollers. The hosts are 4/6 favourites with the students 9/4 and the draw 18/5.
BY DAVID OGILVIE
Stirling Albion a i m to restore pride by beating bogey team Elgin City at Forthbank tomorrow.
Battle-scarred Binos have lost seven of the last nine meetings with Gavin Price’s side.
Now Stirling boss Darren Young is calling on his players to extend their unbeaten run to four games.
Young saw his side beaten 1-0 by the Moray men in his first game in charge just before Christmas and it ended 3-1 in Elgin’s favour at Borough Briggs in February.
Stirling go into the game on the back of a 1-1 draw away to leaders Kelty Hearts last weekend when Kieran Moore scored after just 60 seconds, only for Botti Biabi to equalise after eight minutes.
The play-offs are out of reach but Young wants his side to finish the season with a flourish.
Albion lie seventh in cinch League 2, two places and four points above Elgin, who need a point to secure their SPFL status and condemn Cowdenbeath to a play-off against Bonnyrigg Rose, Buckie Thistle or Fraserburgh.
Young said: “We played very well against Kelty last week and it continues the better run of results.
“We beat Stranraer in our last home game and are looking forward to getting back in front of the fans at Forthbank again.
“Obviously we can’t make the play-offs but we want to finish the season unbeaten in our remaining matches. We haven’t conceded many goals recently and hopefully we can score a few more.
“Kelty had a good spell for 20 minutes in the second half but we dug in.
“Overall, I was delighted with the performance and we had a couple of chances to win the game.
“We’ve not had good results in the two games against Elgin City since I came here – we had a lot of players missing the first time then it was a bit of a disaster up there, losing three goals and having Jordan Mcgregor sent off and Ray Grant injured.
“We have almost a full squad again now with the injuries clearing up and Dylan Mackin back from suspension.”
Meanwhile, Binos received a boost this week after experienced defender Paul Mclean returned to action after eight months on the sidelines. The former Brechin City player featured in the Premier Sports Cup ties against Cove Rangers, Inverness and Hearts back in July but ruptured his Achilles tendon in training ahead of the first league game of the season and underwent surgery followed by a lengthy rehab process.
Mclean’s presence at the back has been missed this season but he got a welcome run-out in a closed-door friendly with Alloa Athletic at the Indodrill Stadium on Tuesday night.
The match ended in a 1-1 draw, with winger Nathan Flanagan scoring for the Binos.
Numbers drawn on Wednesday in the Stirling Albion Supporters Trust lottery were 8, 10, 12 and 17. There were no jackpot winners so it rises on Wednesday, April 20 to £2700. Three lucky dip winners each receive £20.