East Stirling News Update
Shire are looking to make it three wins in a row when Berwick Rangers visit Ochilview in this weekend’s SPFL Scottish League Two fixture.
Coach John Coughlin will have few extra options available in terms of team selection with both captain Kevin Turner and defender Michael Bolochoweckyj still out through injury, so it will be left largely to the squad of players who won so well at Annan Athletic last Saturday to try to achieve the right result.
The win at Galabank allied to Berwick’s 3-2 home defeat against Elgin City opened up a four point gap between the teams. The Wee Rangers had been going well under new manager Colin Cameron until last week’s disappointment which was their first defeat in the five games the new man has been in charge.
With just two defeats in the last nine league games, Shire’s form has not been bad either but the performance of the team in the two most recent victories against Elgin City and Annan Athletic have shown a real return to the kind of exciting, attacking football that took the team to the top of the league in the early stages of the season.
So far the teams have won a game each in the four game rubber this season. Michael Bolochoweckyj’s early goal gave Shire a 1-0 win at Ochilview in September while Berwick turned the tables with a 2-0 victory at Shielfield just prior to Christmas.
It is a match which could have a significant impact on both teams’ challenge for a play-off place and it would be great to see as many Shire fans at the game as is possible to give the team the kind of encouragement that helped them so much at Annan.
Shire will be in their traditional black and white hooped jerseys, black shorts and red socks while visitors Berwick Rangers will wear their change strip of blue shirts and white shorts.
The referee for the game is Mat Northcroft, admission is £10 for adults and £5 concessions and kick-off, as always, is at 3:00pm.