MATCH PREVIEW - EAST STIRLINGSHIRE (A)

Boxing Day sees the first of two games with East Stirlingshire with a 3pm kick off at The Falkirk Stadium.

Our win at Coatbridge on Saturday saw us move up to ninth place in the Lowland league with 26 points from our 19 games.

The Shire sit in 16th place with 16 points from their 20 games played.

In last season’s games we beat Shire 5-0 at Central Park and drew 0-0 at The Falkirk Stadium.

Former Cowden players in their squad are captain Jamie Pyper and Callum Murray who left Central Park earlier this season.


LAST TIME OUT

A goal from Matty McDonald was enough to give us a 1-0 win over Albion Rovers at Cliftonhill.


THE OPPOSITION

It has been a tough first full season in charge for manager Pat Scullion who took over from Sandy Clark towards the end of last season.

They have had four wins so far against Gretna 2008 (4-1), Edinburgh University (3-0), Celtic B (2-1) and Albion Rovers (3-2) while they have also drawn games against Civil Service Strollers (0-0), Caledonian Braves (1-1), Cumbernauld Colts (1-1) and Hearts B (1-1).

Losses have come against Tranent (1-2), Gala Fairydean Rovers (0-2), East Kilbride (1-2), Berwick Rangers (1-2), University of Stirling (2-3 & 0-1), Albion Rovers (1-3), Cumbernauld Colts (0-3), Broomhill (3-4), Linlithgow Rose (0-2), Bo’ness (3-4) and on Saturday Civil Service Strollers (0-2).

In the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup they lost 1-0 to Huntly in the First Round while in the South Challenge Cup they had a 2-1 extra time home win over Sauchie in the Second Round before bowing out to Caledonian Braves 1-0.


MATCH OFFICIALS

REFEREE – Steven MacDonald

ASSISTANT REFEREES – Ian Hart & Darren Robertson


ADMISSION

Adults - £10 | Concessions - £7 | Under 14s - free with a paying adult

Buy your tickets in advance here.



THIS WEEK'S OTHER LOWLAND LEAGUE FIXTURES

Bo’ness United v Linlithgow Rose
Celtic B v Gretna 2008
East Kilbride v Albion Rovers
Edinburgh University v University of Stirling
Gala Fairydean Rovers v Berwick Rangers
Tranent v Civil Service Strollers



Previewer: Andrew Mullen.