Dark horses Drumpellier hope to reel in Heriot's

CAN Drumpellier maintain their momentum to threaten high-flying Heriot's? That's the burning question as the SNCL Division 1 race enters its eighth round.

The Langloan men, unfancied at the outset, have gradually built up a head of steam which has seen them, unbeaten since 8 May, move into second place. And tomorrow the Coatbridge side hosts fast-improving Stoneywood-Dyce.

"Don't read too much into our recent Scottish Cup defeat up at Stoneywood," said Drumpellier president Stevie Allison. "We took a significantly weakened team north that day, but our expectations for this match and the season remain high."

Stoneywood skipper George Ninan is equally upbeat, pointing to three successive league wins and a forthcoming Scottish Cup quarter-final tie at home to Division 2 Dumfries. "Despite a sticky start, we kept concentrating on the basics, and are now stringing together the performances which more properly reflect the side's true capacity," he said. It promises to be an intriguing tussle, given added spice by the possible return to the Coatbridge colours for his first game of the season of ex-Scotland player Alan Stevenson.

Unbeaten Heriot's, meanwhile, can make it seven out of seven when they host bottom club Penicuik. The Goldenacre men are further boosted by last Sunday's impressive defeat of Scottish Cup holders Aberdeenshire, and by the timely comeback of skipper Steve Knox – sidelined for the past six weeks with a broken thumb. Seamer Antony Edington also returns, while the winless Kirkhill men, eager to regain their pride after last week's abject 27 all out, reintroduce Grant Davidson for unavailable Matthew Foulds.

Some home truths were spelled out at training this week for a stuttering Stirling County squad. "Defeat to Falkland was particularly disappointing after two excellent results the previous week," said skipper Phil Rees. "But we've spoken to all the boys, and everyone has been made aware of the need for an immediate response."

The New Williamfield men freshen things up with four changes, involving the return of Rees himself, Iain McDonald and keeper Graeme Taylor, and a debut for 16-year old Harry Cordiner, for the testing trip to a rejuvenated and unchanged Arbroath County.

Faltering Ayr, who have slipped down to sixth place, will be without captain Mark Renny for the visit of Poloc, Andi McElnea taking over the reins. "We're undoubtedly involved in a battle now," said Renny. "Some of the more inexperienced lads thought it would just happen, rather than having to make it happen. They now know otherwise." The Shawholm men travel to Alloway with a much weakened side. Keith Sheridan, Dan Walton and Jeremy King are all unavailable and young Nicky Lafferty is out injured.

Elsewhere, revitalised Falkland, rightly delighted by last week's shock away win at Stirling, look to make it two in a row when they welcome to Scroggie Park a Stenhousemuir side that has yet to win.