The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
McCracken sees benefits of long weekend for Peterhead
Captain: Postponed game may help Balmoor players in chase for promotion
Peterhead captain David McCracken believes the chance to rest last weekend may prove to be a blessing in disguise for his side.
The Blue Toon dropped down to second place in League 2 after their home game against Clyde was postponed due to a frozen pitch at Balmoor.
Montrose took advantage of the Blue Toon being idle by beating Berwick 3-0 to move top of the table but McCracken says the break will have helped his side.
He said: “The one positive from seeing our game go off was the fact having a free weekend allowed some of the lads who had injuries to recover.
“Willie Gibson, Aiden McIlduff and Scott Brown would all have missed the game but they are available for this weekend.
“The hallmark of any team’s success is consistency and we’ve been able to field a fairly settled team in recent weeks and it is no coincidence we’ve been winning games.
“We look settled and as long as we can keep changes to a minimum of one or two then we are confident we can stay among the challengers in the second half of the season.”
The trio will all return for the trip to Berwick Rangers today and McCracken is eager to see his side continue its winning run after picking up 15 points from a possible 18.
The central defender said: “It was frustrating to see our game against Clyde go off last weekend as we wanted to build on what was a great win at Stirling in midweek but the weather is one of those things which we can’t control.
“It had taken us until then to reach the top of the league and Montrose have been able to move back above us after beating
“Allowed some of the lads who had injuries to recover”
Berwick so we’re back chasing again.”
Berwick shocked the Blue Toon, winning 2-0 at Balmoor when the sides faced each other on September 30 and McCracken expects the game to be every bit as challenging for his side.
He said: “It will be tough but every game in this league is that way. It’s the old cliche but we are taking it one game at a time and focusing on being hard to beat and scoring goals.
“That has taken us up the table into the position we are in now and we’re looking to stay there.”
Berwick Rangers manager Robbie Horn has warned his side it must improve after its 3-0 defeat at Montrose last weekend.
Horn was disappointed in the early collapse at Links Park which ended any hope of getting something from the game and knows his side cannot afford a repeat against the Blue Toon.
He said: “It was 3-0 after less than half an hour and against a side who are top of the league we know that left us in an impossible position.
“It was a poor first half performance by us. The slow start cost us dearly and that is something we have to try and cut out of our game.
“Next up we have Peterhead at home and we have to hope we can get our act together for that one.”