Scotland Division 2 5th August

[aliando]

cheers scotty - oddschecker have now updated the odds

Saturday 5 August 2006
	Home	Draw	Away	BPP
Cowdenbeath v Alloa (15:00 BST)	2.20	3.60	3.50	102%	Related markets...Match ResultHalf-time/Full-time - - -Correct ScoreDouble ChanceHalf-time ResultOdd or Even TotalOver/Under
Forfar v Stranraer (15:00 BST)	3.10	3.60	2.25	105%	Related markets...Match ResultHalf-time/Full-time - - -Correct ScoreDouble ChanceHalf-time ResultOdd or Even TotalOver/Under
Morton v Raith (15:00 BST)	1.66	4.33	5.50	102%	Related markets...Match ResultHalf-time/Full-time - - -Correct ScoreDouble ChanceHalf-time ResultOdd or Even Total
Peterhead v Brechin (15:00 BST)	1.95	3.60	3.50	108%	Related markets...Match ResultHalf-time/Full-time - - -Correct ScoreDouble ChanceHalf-time ResultOdd or Even TotalOver/Under
Stirling Albion v Ayr (15:00 BST)	2.00	3.60	3.90	104%

[scotty83]

5 Aug-15:00	Cowdenbeath v Alloa		2.10	3.50	2.75
5 Aug-15:00	Forfar v Stranraer		2.80	3.40	2.10
5 Aug-15:00	Morton v Raith		1.53	3.75	4.75
5 Aug-15:00	Peterhead v Brechin		1.83	3.50	3.40
5 Aug-15:00	Stirling v Ayr		1.80	3.50	3.50

From bet365.

[DA-go Par Adonis]

I like the look of Stirling. Did quite well after a poor start last season and seem to have improved their squad. Don't know much about Ayr's signings but losing Craig Conway can't have helped them.

[scotty83]

Also like the look of Stirling they have kept almost all of their squad from last season and looked pretty solid in the second half of the season. Ayr on the other hand have lost a few players the biggest loss being Conway. A lot of the Ayr fans aren't too confident about this game but Stirling are expetced to be missing a few first team regulars.

I also like the look of Stranraer away to Forfar. Stranraer relegated from the 1st have totally changed their team around and will take a while to gel but they do look as though they will be able to score a few with the players they signed. Forfar on the other hand have cut back this season and are expected to struggle.

Will post up more in depth preview later in the week.

[steve1966]

Originally Posted by scotty83

Also like the look of Stirling they have kept almost all of their squad from last season and looked pretty solid in the second half of the season. Ayr on the other hand have lost a few players the biggest loss being Conway. A lot of the Ayr fans aren't too confident about this game but Stirling are expetced to be missing a few first team regulars.

I also like the look of Stranraer away to Forfar. Stranraer relegated from the 1st have totally changed their team around and will take a while to gel but they do look as though they will be able to score a few with the players they signed. Forfar on the other hand have cut back this season and are expected to struggle.

Will post up more in depth preview later in the week.

Good post Scotty.....keep it coming.

Looking at the Scots league to pick up a bit of cash but I'm a bit behind the times at the moment.

Tempted to have a nibble at under acheivers Morton. Every year I have them to win this division and they let me down.

Might go instead with Scotty on Stirling if the info's good.

[nastro 1888]

big noise in the local papers regarding morton, still paying full-time wages ( possibly the only in this division ) and the chairman and manager saying this is the last chance for the big money for the players - morton are still the largest supported team outside the spl and gretna where all that stood between them and auto-promotion last year ( finished around 15 points ahead of the 3rd placed team ) and missed out on the play-offs. Think morton will skate this league this year.

Originally Posted by steve1966

Tempted to have a nibble at under acheivers Morton. Every year I have them to win this division and they let me down.

[boyd]

Morton are the only professional team in this division now that Gretna have been promoted. Stranraer and Brechin who came down are both semi-pro, along with the rest of the league so also agree that Morton will win the league. Morton should have strong home form throughout the season and i feel they should be a Raith side that struggled last year.

[scotty83]

Morton really should win the league this year as stated earlier their now the only full time team left in the division and there is no Gretna, Partick or Airdrie to deny them this time but I have thought that they would win it before and they seem to continue to throw it away every year. Morton should have enough to beat Raith. Raith look a bit better than the team from last season and have brought in forwards Harty and One. Harty scored loads for Stranraer and then Clyde before moving to hamilton and that start of last season where he fell out with the backroom staff and played only one game he was on trial at Partick and Stranraer before finding his way to Raith he could be a good signing if he bothers to play as he always hd an eye for goal. One scored loads for Cowdenbeath last season however he has been found out at this level before when he was with Partick. Morton have signed a Jamie Stevenson from Alloa who looks a good attacking midfielder. Raith have also not beating Morton since 1990 but with Morton having been unpredictable in the past I'm going to leave the game alone.

Still fancy Stranraer to beat Forfar. Both have massively changed squads from last season and both didn't look that great pre-season. However in the last 2 friendlies with their first team out Stranraer began to click into place. they have Moore up front who has scored plenty at this level before and Wright who's speed could cause problems. Both look a shaky at the back but I think that Stranraer are worth a punt as they look to have the better attacking options.

Stirling could missing up to 5 players for the game against Ayr. However, the Ayr fans are pretty split on opinion on their signings and their manager with predictions from Ayr fans for a Stirling win and with many of them unsure of the starting 11 plus unhappy at the manager including his favourites in his team I think that Stirling are still worth a look.

Alloa also look a big price away to Cowdenbeath. Alloa beat Stenhousemuir and Berwick in the play-offs last season to secure their place in division 2. Both Stenny and Berwick ran Cowdenbeath close last season in the race for the 3rd. The Alloa manager Allan Maitland knows his stuff at this level and turned Alloa's season around last season.

[steveadam23]

I fancy Peterhead to beat Brechin this afternoon. Last season Peterhead only missed out on promotion to division 1 when they were cruelly beaten by Partick Thistle on penalties, meanwhile Brechin had a terrible season in Division 1 finishing with only 17 points, only 7 of those coming away form Glebe park. Brechin also haven't won an opening day fixture since the 2001/02 season.

Peterhead have been pretty quiet on the transfer front, only bringing in a striker, and last night secured the signature of Brian Gilfillan from Gretna. Brechin have brought in a few players mostly from the 3rd division, but they have lost a lot of their experienced players, Gerry Britton, Paul Deas (was the club captain), David Hannah, and Ally Mitchell all leaving the club.

Peterhead have a couple players unavailable today, Ian Good is doubtful, and Chris Hegarty is suspended. Brechin have 2 players out also, Gary Bollan and Charlie King.

Both these sides should be challenging for promotion by the end of the season, however given the players that Brechin have lost I think they might take a few weeks to get into their stride. It should be a tight game, with Peterhead just edging it. 2.1 is available on Betfair, with the bookies all about the 1.9 mark.