The brand new season begins for Stirling Albion on Saturday after they journey to play League 2 rivals Dumbarton in Premier Sports activities Cup Group A.
The Binos tackle Stevie Farrell’s aspect of their opening match of the part then face Raith Rovers at Stark’s Park (July 16) earlier than residence video games in opposition to Aberdeen (July 19) and Peterhead (July 23).
Stirling may also kick off their cinch League 2 marketing campaign with a visit to Dumbarton on July 30, including further intrigue to Saturday’s Premier Sports activities Cup conflict.
Darren Younger’s males will hope to place a disappointing pre-season behind them when the true stuff will get below manner this weekend.
They misplaced 4-1 at Alloa final Tuesday and suffered two defeats within the weekend’s North Lanarkshire Cup at Broadwood.
On Saturday, eventual match winners Airdrieonians triumphed 3-0 whereas on Sunday a much-changed aspect slumped to a 3-1 defeat to Albion Rovers.
The Diamonds - who simply missed out on promotion to the Championship - took the lead after solely 5 minutes when Adam Frizzell scored with the help of a deflection.
Airdrie confirmed their class at occasions however Jack Leitch got here near an equaliser earlier than Gabby McGill smashed the ball past Currie to make it 2-0 early within the second half.
The 21-year-old ex-Dunfermline Athletic striker rounded off a cushty win for Rhys McCabe’s group when he netted from shut vary with 5 minutes left.
Earlier within the day, Lowland League Cumbernauld Colts had crushed Albion Rovers 2-1, which means Stirling would face the Coatbridge membership within the third/4th place play-off on Sunday.
Just a few followers made the journey from Stirling and so they noticed their group fall to a disappointing 3-1 defeat. Kyle Banner and Kieran Moore had been the one two gamers from Saturday to start out in opposition to Brian Reid’s group whereas skipper Ross McGeachie and Paul McLean got here into the aspect.
Current signing Danny Burns from Shotts Bon Accord began up entrance however it was a irritating afternoon because the Binos struggled to create probabilities.
Rovers led 2-0 on the break due to a pair of first-half penalties from former Brechin participant/boss Michael Paton - the primary awarded for handball in opposition to McGeachie. Kieran Dolan added a 3rd in 73 minutes earlier than McLean pulled one again when he acquired a contact to Banner’s effort following a nook.
Binos Darren Younger mentioned: “It was a disappointing weekend with the outcomes, there’s little doubt about that. It was vital for the gamers to get recreation time and we modified issues about for Sunday.
“Sadly, in each video games we conceded poor targets and there have been additionally loads of particular person errors. We didn’t create the quantity or high quality of probabilities that we might have needed to.
“We additionally had the Alloa recreation final week, which I didn’t suppose was a 4-1 recreation, however we made errors in that recreation too and each Alloa and Airdrie confirmed the standard they've. It was poor from us in opposition to Albion Rovers on Sunday and we have to do higher.
“We now have a really robust Premier Sports activities Cup group arising and it’s vital we attempt to lay down a marker in opposition to Dumbarton on condition that we additionally play them within the league quickly.
“We’re working as arduous as we are able to so as to add to the squad however the market has been fairly tough.”