MATCH PREVIEW: Stirling Albion v Forfar Athletic

Stirling Albion and Forfar Athletic go into Saturday’s clash at Forthbank Stadium with contrasting recent records.

The ‘Binos’ have won their last six league games in an amazing run which has lifted them into fifth position in the league table with a now more than outside chance of a play-off spot, while the ‘Loons’ record over the same period reads three draws and three defeats.

Despite not however winning in their last seven fixtures, Gary Bollan’s troops still have a slender one point lead at the top of the Ladbrokes League 2 as we enter the penultimate month of the campaign.

There were also positives to take from last Saturday’s 3-2 demise against Berwick.   The players gave their all for the cause while visiting goalkeeper Sean Brennan had the game of his life for the visitors.    However as has happened all to often in recent times, defensive frailties cost the Station Park outfit dearly by the final whistle.

Both managers have suspension problems to deal with for this Saturday’s contest.

Forthbank boss Dave MacKay goes into the contest minus Ross McGeachie and Sean Dickson while Gary Bollan has to do without the services of Jamie Bain.

Gary will no doubt be giving consideration to shuffling his pack for the game and it was interesting that none of last Saturday’s bench were given a run out in the Development fixture in midweek.

Albion have yet to ‘lower’ the Athies colours, this season.   Forfar won 4-1 at Station Park in September, before recording a 3-0 victory at Forthbank in early November when the home side were very much in managerial transitional stage.   Stirling however counted themselves unlucky to only pick up a point from the January confrontation in the ‘toonie.’

Hopefully a few die hard ‘Loons’ supporters will make the just over 120 round trip to the central belt on Saturday to give the players their backing as we all attempt in a ‘team’ effort to get the season back on track, especially with two local derbies on the horizon in successive weeks.

Experienced whistler Mat Northcroft is the man in the middle on Saturday, the third time this campaign he has refereed a ‘Loons’ fixture.