Stirling Albion have signed goalkeeper David Crawford until the end of the season after his departure from Montrose.
The 27-year-old had a brief spell at Forthbank in August, when he played in a League Cup tie at Arbroath, but has spent most of the campaign at Links Park. His career has also taken in Queen’s Park, Dumbarton, Alloa, Ayr United and Clyde.
He was expected to sign the relevant paperwork last night and will be in contention for a place in the squad for the game tomorrow against Berwick Rangers at Shielfield.
Crawford’s will compete for the No 1 jersey with Mark Peat, who signed from Beith Juniors in the summer and is the current incumbent, while Sam Filler, 18 months ago, has made six starts in Division Three this season.
Crawford was a substitute when Albion went down 3-2 at Links Park in December, having lost his place at Montrose to Sandy Wood and he has opted to leave the play-off hopefuls to challenge for a first-team berth at Forthbank.
The Berwick match is in doubt because of snow and a postponement would mean another midweek game, with home fixtures against East Stirlingshire (February 5) and Rangers (February 26) already lined up and last weekend’s Forthbank meeting with Annan also to be slotted in.
Binos boss Greig McDonald is still looking to add to his squad and hopes to bring in at least one player on loan within the next few days, with winger Phil Johnston and defender Jamie Bishop having moved to Forthbank since Christmas.
Midfielder Gavin Macpherson this week left the club, 18 months after signing from Falkirk Amateurs.
The 22-year-old showed flashes of what he was capable of, but failed to command a regular place.
Albion are in desperate need of a sustained run of good results after notching up only four wins from 19 league games so far. They are four points adrift of East Stirlingshire at the foot of the table and trail third-bottom Clyde by nine points.
Stirling’s miserable away form has been a big part of their downfall this season, with only two points gathered outside Forthbank – in draws against Peterhead and East Stirlingshire.
The Binos have not managed an away clean sheet for 12 months and face a Berwick team who have lost just one of their nine league games at Shielfield this term.
Albion crashed 4-1 to Ian Little’s team in September but gained revenge with an impressive 6-3 victory at Forthbank in December.
Berwick are seventh in the table but are only four points shy of the play-offs. Their last outing was a 4-2 defeat at Ibrox a fortnight ago, as last weekend’s home game with Elgin was frozen off.
Stirling last’s league success on the road was a 2-1 win at Albion Rovers in May and a draw when they cross the border tomorrow, weather permitting, would be a decent return.
