Sandy Strang: Stout men of People's Park defy the odds

Yet turn back the clock just four months to the start of the season. Few pundits would have given them any hope of a top-six Premiership-qualifying slot in a ferociously competitive league. The Aberdeen club were entering the campaign off the back of a deeply disappointing 'annus horribilis' of 2009 when they lost 12 out of 16 league matches and escaped relegation only on the very last day thanks to a 127-run drubbing of Poloc and other results going their way.

Fewer still would have backed them after they lost their first match of 2010 to the weather, the only game of the entire opening day to be a rain victim, and followed this up with three successive defeats to Arbroath, Heriot's and Stirling County. They took the field against Penicuik on 29 May propping up the entire division.

Then came the remarkable renaissance. A revival to match all revivals. An astonishing turnaround, which has seen them embark on a winning run of 11 successive league games, propelling them right through the league into second place and genuine title contention. "We owe a lot to our coach, charismatic Jan Stander," acknowledges quietly pragmatic fellow South African captain George Ninan. "Jan has generated a strong work ethic, a single-minded focus on getting the basics right. This has generated a confidence, which has permeated the entire squad, and in turn created a tremendous team spirit and a never-say-die mentality."

"This has been a genuine team effort," stresses Ninan. "Yes, we do have key 'big' players like Jan himself with bat and ball, all-rounder Elton Willemse, overseas amateur Liam Crowley, keeper Stuart Coetzer, and ex-Durham Academy seamer Scott Redhead. But what has defined our entire season is that everyone involved has at some stage taken personal responsibility and made a crucial contribution. Take Jarred Walters for instance, coming in at seven for us. He could easily bat higher, but three times no less, with an undefeated 49 at Drumpeller, 24 not out last week on a tricky track at Stenhousemuir, and again against Ayr on Saturday, he has rescued our innings when we've been struggling. Lawrence Wattie is another, his steady 30 at Penicuik providing the platform for Jan's pyrotechnic 75 in just 41 balls. Grant Jamieson hasn't had much publicity, but he's been solid as a rock opening the innings. William Anderson too chipped in with a vital 47 against Heriot's. Ally Gill at 11 then saw us through on Saturday.There have been others too.'

Stander himself highlights this team dynamic: "Our strength lies in not relying on any one player. Every week we have different people performing, be it overseas pro or not." Stander tellingly points to an extended Scottish Cup run - they reached the semi-finals before losing out to Stirling with a weakened team - as the key catalyst of their improved league form. "In the past the club had a policy of trying to use the cup to give younger players an opportunity, but this year the captain insisted on producing our best sides on Sundays too, and the cup win against Drumpellier turned the corner for us," he said.

Stoneywood will host Drumpellier on Saturday, and then visit Falkland on the final day. "This is the time which separates the men from the boys," sums up Ninan, whose own measured, low-key, wily leadership has been a crucial part in the revival. "Yes, we have defied the odds in a number of games, but what has happened in the past is irrelevant. It is now all about what we can do in the next couple of weeks."

"Success is a journey not a destination," trumpets the Stoneywood website, stressing the club's unstinting commitment to keep developing their own new names to take their proud places alongside the MacReas, Lambs, Coetzers and Goudies as legendary contributors to the club. Season 2010 has been some journey thus far. And it may well arrive at some destination too - the First Division title.