WE ARE IN A GOOD PLACE
Rutkiewicz wants to continue fine form
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Stirling Albion host Cowdenbeath at Forthbank tomorrow as they look to continue their good run of recent form.
The Binos have picked up three wins and a draw in their last four matches and were unfortunate not to take full points in Friday’s 2-2 draw with Edinburgh City in the capital.
Cowdenbeath have won just one of their seven matches in cinch League 2 – at home to Elgin City last month – but drew 1-1 with Forfar Athletic last weekend.
Stirling are sitting third in the table, two points behind Annan Athletic and four adrift of leaders Kelty Hearts as the first quarter of the campaign draws to a close. The Binos’ final match in the first phase of the season is away to Elgin City on Saturday, October 2.
Albion have no game on October 9 after being knocked out of the SPFL Trust Trophy by Montrose three weeks ago and host Stranraer on October 16. Stirling go to Berwick Rangers in the second round of the Scottish Cup on October 23 and travel to New Central Park to face Kelty a week later.
Rutkiewicz was frustrated to drop two points against Edinburgh City but admits he was pleased with the performance in the Friday night fixture.
He said: “On reflection, we have played well and we created a lot of chances – we looked a threat and should have scored more goals. The first goal was a great team goal and a thing of beauty really with Jack Leitch finishing it. It has to be up there with one of the best goals we’ve scored in my time here with the quality of the finish and four or five players involved in the move.
“My frustration after the game was not with the players but just feeling we didn’t get our just rewards. Their keeper had some good saves but most of them I’d expect him to make and we probably weren’t clinical enough. The boys were adamant that Dylan Mackin’s header was over the line but I don’t know and it wasn’t given obviously.
“The boys were really disappointed not to win the game but that’s three wins and a draw since we suffered the back-to-back defeats so we are in a good place.”
Stirling won both meetings with Cowdenbeath last season – 1-0 at Forthbank in December and 5-1 at Central Park in April – but Rutkiewicz is taking nothing for granted this weekend.
He said: “Cowdenbeath have some experienced players and I think they have been very unlucky at times this season. I think they have a stronger squad than last year and it will be a hard game.
“With the exception of the Kelty game, we have done well at home and it’s important we take the initiative – the onus is on us to bring our A-game, move the ball quickly and not get dragged into a scrap. If we win, it would take us to 16 points and that’s a good total even before we play Elgin.”
Central defender Paul McLean remains a long-term absentee but winger Nathan Flanagan returned to the squad last weekend and no new injuries were reported after the Edinburgh game.
•Numbers drawn on Wednesday in the Stirling Albion Supporters Trust lottery were 3, 5, 6 and 27. There were no jackpot winners so it rises on Wednesday, September 29 to £1,270. Three lucky dip winners each receive £20 – A McGregor (Pocklington), J McGregor (Bridge of Allan), A Tait (Stirling).