The second leg of the Semi-Final Play-Offs for a place in League One next season resume this weekend with East Fife hosting a Clyde side they trail by one goal and Stirling visiting an Annan team they beat 3-1 on Wednesday night.
Both ties are in the balance and we asked Albion Rovers manager James Ward to give us a rundown on the strengths of the four teams who will battle it out for a place in next week’s two legged Play-Off Final.
Ward has 12 games of experience against the League 2 sides this season and also watched the Fifers in depth as part of the preparation he undertook ahead of his Rovers’ side drawing 1-1 with Rangers in their William Hill Scottish Cup Quarter Final.
EAST FIFE (0) CLYDE (1)
East Fife FC
I went to Bayview as part of our preparations for facing Rangers and East Fife played really well that day. They were very unlucky to lose 1-0 to a late penalty.
Gary Fisher really impressed in that game however I suppose their season was summed up by the fact that he landed awkwardly and suffered a really bad elbow injury. That impacted on the game as up until then he and East Fife had been giving Rangers problems.
He missed the first leg against Clyde with injury and looks set to miss the second leg as well. If he does that will be a blow to East Fife.
Against Rangers they put on a well disciplined and very organised performance although I am only too aware of how teams can raise their game for one off performances. It is sometimes easier to do that than play in what may be classed as less glamorous affairs week in and week out.
They have experience in their team with guys like Stephen Hughes and Liam Buchanan in their ranks and have a former international player in Gary Naysmith managing them.
He will be determined to have them in good shape for Saturday’s game as he will not want to endure relegation so early into his management career.
The second leg will be a really tight and competitive game and it would be no surprise if the game goes to extra time and perhaps penalties.
Clyde FC
We played at Broadwood 2 weeks ago with quite a weakened team due to injury and lost 4-0. We had beaten them twice at our place this season and drew the other game at Broadwood 2-2 after we let a two goal lead slip but they were too strong in the last game.
Without doubt their manager Jim Duffy makes them a much better team than they look on paper. They have a small squad and it probably does not have the fourth best squad of players in this league in it but Jim adds great value in the way he organises them and instils a hard working spirit.
Throughout the season there were a couple of times when they had a bad result and you would think that would be the start of a slip down the table but it never happened. They reacted well to set backs and have grown together as a team.
Clyde are strong in defence however their main strength probably lies in attack where Scott Ferguson is very dangerous as he drives at your defence all the time and Stef McCluskey never stands still. They are a dangerous team with the ball and whilst they have a good number of youngsters they have good experience with players like John Sweeney and Michael Daly who have played lots of games.
They are not only experienced but they are competitors who have a physical presence.
That presence is helped by the boys at the back with Brain McQueen and David Marsh with Ryan Frances being an able deputy when called on.
Behind them Jamie Barclay is one of the best goalkeepers at this level. He played well in the first meeting and will need to play well again in this one.
ANNAN ATHLETIC (1) STIRLING ALBION (3)
Annan Athletic FC
Annan did really well to put in a sustained challenge against a good Peterhead side before finishing second to them in the table. One of the reasons their season was so good was their performance in the second half of the campaign.
They won 11 games from 15 from Boxing Day until late March and that allowed them to keep pace with Peterhead as well as stretch away from the pack of six or seven clubs that were also after a Play-Off place.
That run gave them great momentum and put them into a second place that they held onto with little competition. They have probably exceeded expectations in finishing there but they will be determined to build on it.
Their strength is in attack where Kenny MacKay has had a great first season since stepping up from Greenock Juniors. He has terrific pace and that is often underrated in football and he links up well with Josh Todd who came on board from Carlisle United.
Todd offers more of a problem by dropping into areas that defenders do not really want to go into and allow other players such like David Hopkirk to benefit from. David is a real goal threat and his fitness and form is coming back after a lengthy time out.
Those three players will be a real problem for Stirling and this tie is far from over.
Stirling Albion FC
The job Greig McDonald has done in the last 10 weeks has been exceptional. Their points tally in the last quarter of the season is exceptional and those 18 points helped ensure a Play-Off place whilst the rest of us were still taking points off each other.
They have a lot of momentum and that could work in their favour especially after a great first leg. Their mind-set at the moment must be good after 6 wins and a draw in their last 7 games. Their players and manager deserve a lot of credit for that run at what is called the business end of the season.
Jordan White does really well for him up front. He is a really good finisher and a real handful for defenders all game. Not only does he do well in his role he is very good at bringing his team-mates into play.
We beat them just before Christmas however they defeated us in the three other games. If they start like they did on Wednesday night I can see Stirling getting through.
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