Stirling Albion will aim to do what no-one else has managed in cinch League 2 this season and defeat champions Kelty Hearts at New Central Park tomorrow.
Kevin Thomson’s side clinched the title with a 1-0 win over Stenhousemuir a fortnight ago and drew 1-1 with Edinburgh City at Ainslie Park last weekend.
The SPFL newcomers have won 13 and drawn three of their 16 home league games, with Stirling one of the few teams to have denied them full points in a 1-1 draw at the end of October.
Joe Cardle opened the scoring that day but Daniel Scally equalised for the Binos a few minutes later.
The former Lowland League club also knocked St Johnstone out of the Scottish Cup and their only home defeat in any competition this season was 1-0 to Dundee United in the group stage of the Premier Sports Cup way back on July 9. Kelty, who will receive the League 2 trophy after their match against Forfar on April 23, won both meetings at Forthbank with ease – 3-1 in August and 3-0 in January – but have been less free-scoring in recent weeks.
Stirling return to Fife after drawing 0-0 with bottom club Cowdenbeath on Saturday but manager Darren Young should have more options this weekend. Akeel Francis will be available again after illness and Nathan Flanagan should also be back. Ray Grant and Jordan McGregor were also expected to train this week and could come into contention for a place in the squad.
Young said: “We’re looking forward to the Kelty game and we’ll go there confident after keeping clean sheets in the last two games.
“We lacked a cutting edge at Cowdenbeath but we looked very comfortable at the back and Blair Currie didn’t have much to do.
“The players were adamant that Jack Leitch’s header had crossed the line but obviously it wasn’t given and it feels like we haven’t had many breaks this season.
“I’m sure Kelty will want to finish the season on a high and it will be a difficult game but there is no reason why we can’t go there and win if we defend the way we have recently and create a bit more. The clean sheets help build confidence and we are getting players back from injury.
“There’s still an outside chance of making the play-offs and we want to win every game between now and the end of the season if we can.”
The Kelty match is one of four remaining fixtures for Stirling Albion. They are at home to Elgin City on April 16, away to Albion Rovers on April 23 and at home to Edinburgh City on April 30.
