Stirling must go for goals as their championship bid goes to the wire

Stirling University, in only their second season in the Central Taxis Premier Division, are within touching distance of securing the title, although the outcome is not solely dependent on their result against Vale of Leithen at Innerleithen tonight, kick-off 7.15pm, but also the result of the Whitehill Welfare against Spartans game at Rosewell.

Stirling have to win and, because of various possible permutations, hope to do so by a goal more than Spartans if they also beat Whitehill.

The championship could be decided on goal difference and Stirling’s Sports Performance Manager, ex-Whitehill and Spartans player Raleigh Gowrie, said: “There are only certain variables that we can control. We cannot control what happens at Ferguson Park.

“We will, as always, play to the best of our abilities. A victory against Vale is not beyond us and neither is winning by a two-goal margin.”

Stirling, with the exception of Chris McKee and Michael Pentland, are at full strength.

Meanwhile the Vale of Leithen manager, Fraser Ogilvie, said: “Nobody wants to see another team win the title on your home pitch so I can guarantee that we will be trying our best. We will not lie down, because I have pride in my team’s performances and when you get to play in a big game like this it is definitely not meaningless.

“As long as my players give 100 per cent, that is all I can ask for. A win for Vale would move us one place up the league into a mid-table position. When I took over we were second bottom and fighting relegation.”

Vale will be without Ricky Miller (suspended) and Paul Greenhill (injured), while Scott Devlin is a doubt and both Paul Lee and Jamie Paterson are unavailable.