cinch League Two returns this week as The Warriors welcome Elgin City to Ochilview for their 2nd meeting in less than a month.

It’s league business though following a 3-1 loss in the Highlands in the SPFL Trust Trophy second round.

The Warriors were on a poor run of form which saw them pick up 2 wins from 2 since that fixture.

With no fixture last week, it gave Stephen Swift and the boys some extra time to work on the training ground.

“I think the big thing was getting them in on Saturday and continuing to work on the things that we wanted to work on and the boys have bought into it. I think it’s been a really good, productive week. Ideally, we’d have liked to have kept on playing, but I think the boys have got a good bit of focus at the moment. However, we played Elgin in the cup and we thought they were a very good side. They’ve only lost 1 league game this year so we know how difficult it’s going to be.”

Playing Elgin so soon again, gives us a chance to right the wrongs of that poor performance up in Elgin, and Swifty agreed.

“We play teams in the league 4 times, so it’s good to have a look at them and obviously we know them from last season, when we had a good record against them. However, they look like they’ve improved and have a bit more physicality and a bit more bite about their play as well. I think it will be a really tough match.”

One player that Swifty will have to finish the season without is Craig Bryson. The midfielder announced his retirement this week, and Swifty paid his respects and gave his thoughts on a replacement.

“Ideally, we know that the loan market is open until the end of September, so it will be one that we’ll try and replace, but we want to replace with the right player and we won’t be rushing into anything and we want to make sure that it’s the right person and hopefully we can get it done.

“But, with Craig it was definitely a gamble worth taking in terms of knowing that there might have been a problem with the fact the he wasn’t fully fit. But, for us, to get a shot at Craig Bryson was a dream come true and unfortunately, it didn’t quite work for him. But what we gained was him showing his professionalism to the lads and everything that he did about the club was absolute class and everything was positive.

“And I wish him all the best for his retirement because he’s had an unbelievable career.”

Without Brys though, the gaffer has a full squad at his disposal this weekend.

“It’s really pleasing to have a full squad on the training ground so that we can work on stuff. Especially when we’ve changed the shape a few weeks ago, so it’s important that we continue to develop that. But, ultimately, I think the players attitude has really improved and I hope that we can go into Saturday and continue that attitude and effort that they’ve been showing recently.”

One player that’s lit up the fans this season is Will Sewell. The striker was brought in during the summer from Largs Thistle and has really hit the ground running with his new team.

The website spoke to Will this week on this weekend’s match.

“Aye, we need to kick on and go for the 3 points and keep this run going and take us up the league. Then we’re off to East Fife on Tuesday and will try to push on even further and get away from that run that we were on.”

Will’s scored in the last 2 matches and we asked how important it was to keep that run going.

“It’s brilliant, especially 2 in 2, 2 goals in 2 starts in the league and I want to get more. Every time I’m on that park, I want to score goals and if I’m scoring the goals then we’ve got a right good chance of winning.”

Will is one of the new boys and we’ve asked how he’s found the dressing room, especially after the poor run of form at the start of the season.

“It’s been good. We’ve stayed together and stuck together through that period of time and that got us though it. We knew that we weren’t doing well enough and we knew that something had to change and it did and now we’re starting to win games, we’re playing better and the changing room is bouncing now.”

 

MATCHDAY INFORMATION

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Kick-off: 3pm

Match Entry: Both home and away fans can enter via pay at the gate [cash] or you can purchase your ticket in advance by using Fanbase. Adult admission costing £14, concessions £9 and under 16’s just £5.

Getting Here: Click here for details of how to get to Ochilview by car or train.

Season Card Holders: Season Tickets are valid for this match, the Season Ticket number will be displayed at the turnstiles.

The Pie Hut: Food and drinks will be available to be purchased once again from the Pie Hut.

The Wee Bar: The Wee Bar is open from 12pm with all fans welcome.

Ochilview Matchday Guide: You can read our Matchday Guide here and ensure that you have everything that you need for your visit to the ground.

Referee: Alan Newlands

Assistants: Brian Christie & Sean Duff

 

OPPOSITION INFORMATION

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Full name              Elgin City Football Club

Nickname(s)        City or The Black and Whites

Founded                1893; 129 years ago

Ground                  Borough Briggs, Elgin

Capacity                 4,520 (478 seated)

Chairman               Graham Tatters

Manager                Gavin Price

2021–22                 Scottish League Two, 9th of 10

 

Last 10 Matches 

Date	Venue	Competition	Opponent	Result	Score
3/9/22	Home	League Two	Bonnyrigg Rose	W	2-0
27/8/22	Away	League Two	Dumbarton	L	1-2
23/8/22	Home	SPFL Trust Trophy	Stenhousemuir	W	3-1
20/8/22	Home	League Two	Stranraer	D	2-2
13/8/22	Away	League Two	Forfar	D	2-2
9/8/22	Home	SPFL Trust Trophy	Dundee United B	W	1-0
6/8/22	Away	League Two	Stirling Albion	D	2-2
30/7/22	Home	League Two	East Fife	L	1-3
23/7/22	Home	League Cup	Queen of the South	L	0-2
19/7/22	Home	League Cup	St Johnstone	L	2-4

 

Top Scorers

Name	Goals	Assists	Played	Goals per 90	Mins per Goal	Total Shots	Goal Conversion	Shot Accuracy
Kane Hester	5	0	10	0.54	168	21	24%	48%
Russell Dingwall	3	2	8	0.38	237	14	21%	57%
Darryl McHardy	2	0	8	0.28	325	17	12%	71%
Brian Cameron	1	0	9	0.13	713	5	20%	40%
Matthew Cooper	1	0	10	0.11	855	3	33%	67%

The statistics shown for each player include any goals they may have scored in the following competitions in the current season: Scottish League Cup, Scottish League Two

FIXTURE INFORMATION

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Last 10 Meetings 

Date	Venue	Competition	Result	Score
23/8/22	Away	SPFL Trust Trophy	L	1-3
9/4/22	Away	League Two	W	2-0
29/1/22	Home	League Two	W	2-1
18/12/22	Away	League Two	D	2-2
25/9/21	Home	League Two	L	1-2
13/4/21	Home	League Two	W	2-0
19/12/20	Away	League Two	L	0-2
18/1/20	Away	League Two	W	3-2
3/12/19	Home	League Two	D	2-2
17/8/19	Away	League Two	W	1-0

 

Head to Head

	Total	Won	Drawn	Lost
Home	4	2	1	1
Away	6	3	1	2
Total	10	5	2	3

 

ON THIS DAY – 17 September 

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Year	Opponent	Competition	Venue	Result	Score
2016	Peterhead	League One	Home	D	2-2
2011	Albion Rovers	League Two	Away	D	1-1
2005	East Fife	Division Three	Home	W	2-1
1994	Hamilton	Challenge Cup [R1]	Away	L	0-2
1991	Queens Park	Division Two	Home	L	1-3
1988	Arbroath	Division Two	Away	L	1-5
1983	Forfar Athletic	Division Two	Away	L	0-1
1977	Albion Rovers	Division Two	Home	L	2-4
1966	Albion Rovers	Division Two	Away	L	1-4
1960	Berwick Rangers	Division Two	Away	W	2-1
1955	Berwick Rangers	Division Two	Home	W	5-1
1949	Dumbarton	Division Two	Away	L	0-3
1938	Kings Park	Division Two	Home	W	2-0
1932	Dunfermline Athletic	Division Two	Away	D	1-1
1927	St Bernard’s	Division Two	Away	L	1-3
1921	St Johnstone	Division Two	Away	L	0-1

 

	Total	Won	Drawn	Lost
Home	6	3	1	2
Away	10	1	2	7
Total	16	4	3	9

 

 

LEAGUE INFORMATION

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Fixtures

Albion Rovers vs Forfar Athletic

Annan Athletic vs East Fife

Dumbarton vs Bonnyrigg Rose

Stenhousemuir vs Elgin City

Stirling Albion vs Stranraer

 

Table

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts	League Form
1	Dumbarton	6	6	0	0	14	3	11	18	WWWWW
2	Bonnyrigg Rose	6	3	1	2	8	6	2	10	WDLWL
3	East Fife	6	3	1	2	7	7	0	10	LWWDL
4	Stenhousemuir	6	3	0	3	8	10	-2	9	LLLWW
5	Stirling Albion	6	2	2	2	8	7	1	8	DWWLD
6	Annan Athletic	6	2	1	3	7	11	-4	7	WLLDW
7	Elgin City	6	1	3	2	10	11	-1	6	DDDLW
8	Stranraer	6	1	3	2	8	11	-3	6	LDDDL
9	Albion Rovers	6	1	2	3	6	7	-1	5	LLWDD
10	Forfar Athletic	6	1	1	4	6	9	-3	4	WDLLL