Craig P Stewart's review of League 2 so far

Position

W

D

L

GD

Points

Peterhead

1

10

6

0

+17

36

The Blue Toon have moved up a couple of gears recently and that may be ominous for the rest of the league who, with the exception of Queen’s Park, are still in the promotion hunt.

Seven wins and two draws in their last nine games and Rory McAllister scoring for fun was a good way for 2013 to end and 2014 to begin especially as the Balmoor men were in seventh place back in November.

Manager Jim McInally refused to panic saying everything would come good after injuries and suspensions cleared up.

Suspensions have dried up and so have most of the injuries and David Cox should return soon to add his shoulder to the wheel.

A successful replacement for defender Reece Donaldson, who has been recalled by Raith Rovers, could be key for Peterhead in getting over the finishing line.

Key Player – Rory McAllister – the original maverick striker can be unplayable on his day. McAllister can grab all sorts of goals when he is in the mood and manager McInally will be hoping that he is in the right mood for several months yet.

High – The 5-0 win over Queen’s Park at Hampden when everything clicked into place. The win also showed that Peterhead had shrugged off the disappointment of losing an injury time equaliser the week before to east Stirling. McAllister and his partner in crime, Andy Rodgers, were extremely good that day and both players found the net.

Low – a 2-0 win at Stirling Albion on the second week of the league season that saw McAllister missing for breaching club discipline earlier in the week and Rodgers sent off. The duo have made up for it since.

Position

W

D

L

GD

Points

Clyde

2

9

4

5

+2

31

The most improved team in League 2 are putting in a serious challenge for promotion for the first time since dropping into the league 3 years ago.

Manager Jim Duffy has persevered with a squad that fared for worse last season but he is seeing the benefit of his approach now.

David Marsh is commanding in defence, Stuart McColm and Scott Ferguson are dangerous in attack with Kieran MacDonald darting about in between them.

Key man – Stuart McColm – the left sided attacker is fulfilling the promise he first showed at Stranraer several years ago.

He can turn defence into attack quickly and if McColm remains at Clyde after the January Transfer Window, the play-offs should be clinched.

High – ending a horrible run of 11 straight defeats over 3 seasons by Queen’s Park with a 3-0 Broadwood success back in August. A 1-0 win over then leaders East Stirling in November sending Clyde top was another high for the Bully Wee.

Low – There is no disgrace in losing 3-1 at home to Peterhead however it still hurt the Broadwood club as it knocked them off the top and put the Blue Toon there.

Position

W

D

L

GD

Points

Annan Athletic

3

8

4

5

+6

28

Jim Chapman put together an eclectic mix of players to guide Dumbarton to the Third Division title in 2009 and he has adopted the same approach at Annan and you cannot rule him out doing it again with the Galabank squad.

An English Premiership youngster, a Carlisle youngster, a former Greenock Juniors player and a Morton legend were all recruited in the summer and have helped Annan be top 4 since September.

A good run in the Ramsdens Cup was ended live on BBC ALBA as Raith Rovers booked their Cup Final slot at Annan’s expense.

Key Man – David Hopkirk is currently out with a broken metatarsal but when he returns he will have a huge say in Annan’s season.

The former Hamilton Accies and Queen of the South player has many admirers for his attacking midfield skills, however Annan shrewdly tied him up recently on a longer deal.

High – The emergence of Kenny Mackay. Chapman took a chance on the rapid front man from Greenock Juniors and he has been rewarded with 9 goals.

Mackay scored late at Montrose on Boxing Day and then scored late against Elgin on Saturday to grab 6 points out of 6 for Annan.

Low – The knee injury to Peter Weatherson that has ended his season. The former long serving Morton player joined as a player/ coach last summer however it will be coaching only now after November’s injury that was incurred during a warm up.

Position

W

D

L

GD

Points

Albion Rovers

4

7

5

6

+4

26

Aside from Peterhead, Albion Rovers are the form team in League 2 just now. Manager James Ward, in his first job as a boss, enjoyed two wins in a row at the start of the season before stuttering through September, October and November.

However his side achieved national attention when they knocked Motherwell out of the William Hill Scottish Cup with that win setting their season alight.

Rovers have followed that historic success with 3 wins and draws against the top two in the table to move into fourth place. On this form they are serious contenders for the play-offs at least.

Key man – Mark McGuigan – the on-loan Partick Thistle player is excelling in a wide right attacking midfield role where he is creating danger non-stop.

Ward is hoping to secure his services for longer to aid his side’s push for promotion.

High – The Motherwell game that was played at the New Douglas Park home of Hamilton Accies. Garry Phillips’ injury time goal stunned Motherwell and gave great exposure to Rovers’ part-time heroes.

Low – Early season defeats at home from Montrose, Berwick Rangers and Peterhead saw Rovers move close to the foot of the table. They have recovered well and need to ensure Cliftonhill is a fortress for the rest of the season.

Position

W

D

L

GD

Points

East Stirlingshire

5

7

5

6

-1

26

John Coughlin’s side started the season in great form, winning their first 3 games and heading the table all the way to week 12.

It was a far turnaround from the side that had finished in bottom place in the last two seasons The addition of experience in the summer paid early dividends and got the Shire off to a flyer which is a great feat as no-one had mentioned them in the promotion stakes.

Things have slowed down recently with only one win in 8 games however the Shire remain in the play-off chase.

Key Man – Kevin Turner. The Shire skipper shone in poorer teams over the past two seasons where his strength in attacking areas hurt opposing sides. This season Turner has not been at the forefront of things at his club despite a better overall campaign from his team.

Hopefully the second half of the season will see Turner turn back to his best.

High – The movement from last to first on the opening day of the season with a 3-1 win at Queen’s Park and staying there. Also a 2-1 win at Annan in October that denied the Galabank side going top was pleasing for Coughlin’s side.

Low – Losing a poor goal against Clyde at Ochilview that knocked the Shire from top spot to fourth place in one move.

Position

W

D

L

GD

Points

Stirling Albion

6

7

4

7

+1

25

An experienced Stirling Albion squad have been inconsistent this season and have moved from second place to sixth recently. A two game winning start was followed by only one win in seven games with a five game unbeaten run then seen from late October to early December.

Two defeats and a draw were next and manager Greig McDonald needs his side to string 3 or 4 wins together to get into the top four and stay winning to keep themselves there until the end of the season.

Key man – Sandy Cunningham – the little buzz bomb of a striker is making a great impression in his first full season with 5 goals so far.

Cunningham has the ability to change games as a substitute and he should be using his talents to get into the Forthbank starting XI and staying there.

High – The 2-0 win over Peterhead in week 2 of the League 2 campaign gave Stirling six points from six. It also marked the only time this season that they have won two games in a row.

Low – Came straight afterwards as the following Saturday, East Stirling with a similar perfect record, came and won 3-1 at Forthbank. The Shire went on to top the table for 3 months whereas Stirling have still to get there this season.

Position

W

D

L

GD

Points

Montrose

7

6

5

5

-2

23

Another of the sides in League 2 that are great unpredictables as they have been as high as third and as low as eighth. Their current run of one win in 7 games has seen Montrose drop off the play-off chase, however they have beaten Peterhead, Clyde and Albion Rovers this season so the talent is at Links Park.

The Gable Endies are another side that have managed to win two games in a row once and that needs to improve if promotion is to be available at the end of the season.

Key Man – Bryan Deasley – the on-loan Forfar front man has scored 8 times this season for Stuart Garden’s side. He has benefitted from getting a regular game at Montrose and with his loan deal up within days, keeping him at Montrose must be a priority for Garden.

High – A 3-0 away win at Clyde in September where a superb second half performance saw Montrose hit all 3 goals without reply.

They need days like that more often to move to the serious end of the table.

Low – The 2-1 home defeat from Queen’s Park where the Siders led early, however Montrose equalised in the last minute. Unfortunately they switched off straight away and Queen’s went up the park and grabbed an injury time winner with their 2-1 success being their only win in the league this season.

Position

W

D

L

GD

Points

Berwick Rangers

8

6

4

8

+4

22

Berwick are widely regarded as one of the best footballing team in League 2, however that approach has seen them fill in places two to nine in the League 2 table as results have not always matched performances.

Early form was good with wins over Annan and then Albion Rovers having Ian Little’s side sitting second and in line to meet last season’s play-off place if not better. However one win in their next ten games saw Berwick arrive in second bottom place.

The Shielfield side need to improve their away form as they have lost 5 times on the road which is a figure second only to bottom side Queen’s Park.

A 2-1 William Hill Scottish Cup win over Peterhead shows the talent in the Berwick squad and they need to use that more often. Playing nice football is great but Berwick need to more clinical if they are to extend their season in the play-offs.

Key player – Scott Dalziel – the striker hit a hat-trick on the day that manager Little said he was looking to bring more fire power on board.

Dalziel could be the answer to Berwick’s goalscoring problems if he can become a more consistent goal-grabber.

High – First day of the season Ramsdens Cup success over Livingston with a 3-2 extra time win claiming a second round visit to Ibrox.

Low – Away defeats in early December at Stirling Albion and Elgin. Berwick played well in both games but failed to take their chances and defensively they gave away bad goals as well. That is a poor combination for any team that wants to climb the table.

Position

W

D

L

GD

Points

Elgin City

9

5

5

8

-2

20

Injuries have hampered Elgin this season, however Ross Jack’s side have still to decide whether they should be promotion candidates or not.

Encouraging signs such as a 7 game unbeaten run was followed by 3 defeats in a row. A draw at Montrose where a 3-1 lead was sacrificed late on was followed by wins over Queen’s Park and Berwick however Elgin were soon losing again as East Stirling and Annan struck late to beat them.

If Elgin can start getting wins against the teams in the middle to the top of the table they can still make the play-offs however it will be tight for them.

Key player – Dennis Wyness – the veteran striker is leading the line well for Elgin again this season and his promptings are developing Shane Sutherland and Craig Gunn as well as earning great reviews from manager Jack.

If the trio can up their strike rate they will climb the table.

High – A 4-0 win over Stirling Albion back in September where Gunn grabbed a double and Sutherland was also on target showed what Stirling are capable of.

Low – Losing 1-0 to East Stirling just before Christmas. Elgin went into the game on the back of two wins and would have climbed the table further with another 3 point success.

Sutherland missed a penalty and other chances were passed up and the Shire hit them with a late sucker punch.

Late goals against are another disappointing feature in Elgin’ season and that carried on in Thursday’s 2-1 defeat from peterhead.

Position

W

D

L

GD

Points

Queen’s Park

10

1

4

12

-29

7

In all their proud history since 1867 Queen’s Park have only finished bottom of Scottish football once, however the new head coach that comes in to replace the recently departed Gardner Speirs will have their work cut out for it not to happen a second time.

A new squad was required after a deluge of departures in the summer and so far the new look Queen’s Park side have not gelled and have only picked up 7 points.

A lack of experience is costing the Spiders dearly and moving their home games to Airdrie to help facilitate the Commonwealth Games athletics track at Hampden is adding to the feeling of unease at the club.

It will be a hard shift between now and the end of the season for Black and White fans however the seeds of recovery next season may have to be sown early.

Key man – Blair Spittal – The SPFL’s Young Player of the Month for October is the brightest star in a troubled season for Queen’s. The attacking midfielder was grabbing goals for fun in the autumn and his club need him to get back to that as soon as possible no matter how hard it is to pin your hopes on an 18 year old.

High - A midweek win at Montrose came about in injury time and a William Hill Scottish Cup replay success at least gives a choice of highs.

However the performance of the season from Queen’s came against Ayr in the Cup were the Honest Men were given a real fright before winning 3-2.

Low – Peterhead at home which ended 5-0 to the Blue Toon. The game highlighted the gulf between experienced and confident players playing against inexperienced players that are low on confidence.