Stirling Albion boss Darren Young was delighted with his side’s performance in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Peterhead at Forthbank in Premier Sports Cup Group A.
The victory lifted the Binos to second place in the table and they were assured of runners-up spot on Sunday when Raith Rovers went down 3-0 to group winners Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
It’s the second year in a row that Stirling have missed out on a place in the last 16 of the competition as one of the three best runners-up on goal difference.
It’s been a hugely encouraging start to the season ahead of the big cinch League 2 kick-off this weekend – Albion head for Dumbarton on Saturday having defeated the Sons 2-1 three weeks ago.
Dale Carrick hit a hat-trick to see off Peterhead as a much-changed Stirling side bounced back from the 5-0 midweek defeat to Aberdeen with a convincing win over their League 1 opponents.
Young said: “We have lost out on goal difference but it’s been a great campaign overall. We started off with a good win at Dumbarton then we had another great performance against Raith and a deserved win on penalties.
“We got a bit of a going over by Aberdeen in midweek but I asked the boys for a reaction and I got one. That shows the strength in depth because we made five or six changes and we were also able to give young Kieran Curtis his debut against Peterhead and Greg Harrower came on against Aberdeen.
“I’m delighted for Dale Carrick that he got the hat-trick on Saturday. It was a great start for us getting the early goal and I felt we should have been going in at half-time a couple of goals up. Danny Burns got into good areas and forced some good saves from their goalkeeper.
“Callum Law came into the team and it was great for us to keep a clean sheet. We played some good football and it gives us a boost for the league to finish second in the group. The Aberdeen game aside, we have more than matched our opponents all over the park.
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“We’re looking forward to the Dumbarton game now and I’ve got some decisions to make in terms of team selection but that’s a good position to be in. There will be some players unhappy but it’s a squad game – we need to show these same cup performances in the league and start with a win at Dumbarton.”
Meanwhile, Livingston midfielder Harrison Clark last week became Albion’s eighth new signing of the summer.
The 19-year-old has joined on a season-long loan, having spent time on loan at Arbroath and Kelty Hearts last season. Clark, who hails from Ashington in the north east of England, was snapped up by Livingston from Chester-Le-Street last summer.
Clark impressed on his debut against Peterhead and joins fellow new arrivals for 2022/23: Aaron Dunsmore (East Fife), Robert Thomson (Stenhousemuir), Ross Davidson (East Fife), Danny Denholm (East Fife), Cameron Clark (Annan Athletic), Danny Burns (Shotts Bon Accord), Josh Cooper (Morton).
