Day of destiny at Royal Albert

May 21 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

ROYAL Albert face their biggest crowd of the season on Saturday when they head for Dunipace and their final game in the Central League Second Division.

And an interested observer at Denny’s Westfield Park will be Carluke Rovers’ nail-biting boss Whitey Moffat.

A win will promote Dunipace – but if Albert can snatch even a draw, Rovers will go up instead.

Albert manager Iain McCluskie said: “There could be a massive crowd at Dunipace and it’s a huge game for them.

“If they beat us they’re up, if we draw, Carluke are up. I don’t think that puts us under any greater stress – we’ll give it our best shot, but the real pressure is on Dunipace.”

Albert go into the game on the back of a 2-1 defeat at Greenock despite having been 1-0 up through Scott McLachlan, but the home side snatched two quick goals to take the points.

McCluskie added: “After that it was a non-event, a typical end of the season game.”

Forth Wanderers, with the bare bones of a squad, brought their season to an end with a 2-0 home defeat by Dunipace.

Manager Paul Anderson said: “We pushed Dunipace all the way and Gordon Murphy, Stephen Donachie and John Currie all had good chances.

“But we were punished for two mistakes at the back.”

Royal Albert are holding a former players’ race night in the Larkhall Thistle Social Club on Saturday from 7.30pm.