Binos need to get back to winning ways
Stirling Albion face Ladbrokes League 2 leaders Montrose at Links Park tomorrow in need of a boost after a poor run of results.
Dave Mackay’s men have slipped out of the top four after winning just one of their last eight matches at home to Berwick Rangers on January 6.
Albion are a point behind fourth-placed Annan Athletic, albeit with two games in hand, but Elgin City are also in the play-off mix and Montrose, Peterhead and Stenhousemuir are on course to occupy the top three places as things stand.
Stirling badly need to recapture the form that saw them top the table from the second weekend of the season until the middle of November. Stewart Petrie’s Montrose side were 1-0 winners at Forthbank before Christmas but were beaten 3-1 by Clyde last weekend.
Midfielder Kevin Moon is the only January signing confirmed and he could make his debut at Links where Stirling won 3-1 on their last visit in September.
The 30 year-old former St Johnstone, Raith Rovers and Alloa Athletic player returned to Scotland in the autumn after a stint with ECU Joondalup in Western Australia.
He should help bolster the middle of the park and Binos boss Mackay is still hoping to add a goalkeeper, a defender, a winger to his squad in the coming days if possible.
Meanwhile, Stirling Albion this week announced two departures as the closure of the transfer window at midnight on Wednesday, January 31 moves closer.
Central defender Scott Davidson has been released from his contract after finding his opportunities limited this season – he hadn’t featured since the 5-3 defeat to Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale in the Scottish Cup at the end of October.
The 21 year-old came through the youth ranks at Forthbank and made his first-team debut against Ayr United at Somerset Park in April 2015. He went on to make a total of 35 appearances but only two of them came this season and he has now been allowed to move on.
The Binos also announced that a deal has been agreed with Hamilton Accies that will see George Stanger – son of Scotland rugby legend Tony - move to the SuperSeal Stadium. The 17 year-old will be loaned back to Stirling for the remainder of the season.
Stanger is a product of the Stirling Albion youth system, having spent more than four years at Forthbank and he impressed on his first-team debut against Clyde on November 11.
A regular in the SAFC U20 team, he can play in defence or midfield and has now been handed a chance to impress at a higher level with Martin Canning’s Premiership side.
The referee for tomorrow’s game at Montrose is Grant Irvine and kick-off is the usual 3pm. Admission is £13 for adults and £7 concessions.
Stirling Albion and Cowdenbeath have agreed to play their postponed fixture from December 9 this coming Wednesday (January 31) with a 7.45pm kick-off at Forthbank.
There will be a minute’s applause before the match to honour former chairman and owner Peter McKenzie, whose funeral is on Monday, Janaury 29.