Every league week has felt stressful this season, primarily because we have found ourselves perfroming better than expected. Unusual i guess. But this week was one of the toughest. 

Arbroath - Always a difficult game against Cameron's well drilled sides and looking at the run in a few weeks ago, one of the games we knew might be our downfall. Our side has been stretching to its physical limit - dont forget these guys are getting on in years! ARB started with a stronger OFF, but weaker GP but were simply far more clinical, in truth we werent switched on, the season is taking its toll, but we had a lineup out to win. ARB 3 goals, from 4 shots on target, from 5 shots. We got 1, consolation goal, from 2 shots on target, from 3 shots. Could this be the week that the relentless drive from DEE proved too much? we simply cant afford to drop points. 

BUT
James' Raith side clearly dont want to get relegated and are going to play a big part in this title race - fielding a very strong side they played to win and they did. Beating DEE in a 6 point session and by doing so keeping the gap at the top between STE and DEE at 5 points. 

Next up we had Dumbarton and luckily they werent in a postion to put up too much of a fight. Colins side were tired from the Cup and put it into beating PET. Probably the right thing to do, trying to make the great escape from relegation places with 1 mor eweek to go. With DEE scraping a win against a STJ team that had the upperhand across the board, they simply wont let go. Final 2 games next week with a 5 point gap. 

Some tired squads, injuries and suspensions across the division with lots to play for, there are going to be some intersting final week matches!

...One Giant leap for Stenny fans. 

Another week passes, another very hard-fought couple of league wins under our belt. Eduard's DEE are relentless. It's always felt like we wouldnt be able to drop any points to keep up and finishing the season with a difficult run in made the challenge even greater, but we have some big scalps in the last few games and now only 4 games left to play. 

Away at Motherwell was always going to be a super tough game, but Andrew has difficult league games and the toughest cup games on his mind too. So it really helped settle our nerves when recent signing Dipps shot us ahead after just 3 minutes. We dont concede loads, so going 1-0 early always feels good. But just two minutes later Bear made a light challenge in the box and was doubly punished - Straight Red* and walking off barely having warmed up. Facing a penalty and it looked liked we were in for a long afternoon. But Norway saved the day and we pushed on for the remaining 85 minuts 10 v 11. Our OFF was dented and it dint look like we were going to manage to score more. Luckily MOT stayed cautious and sat back, so the game played out with very few shots / saves which worked in our favour and we secured 3 vital points

Home to Fraserburgh Another worrying game. Alon's team knocked us out of the cup just a couple of weeks ago, and convincingly so. We took no chances here - strong lineup, home bonus. But FRA came out with what looked like a T11 as well - we rarely seem to get a break! - starting with a worryingly high OFF of 240 which is what hurt us in the cup game. This time out though, we maxed of GP and it turned out like a game of men vs. boys. 14 shots to 1 and we put this one to bed 3-0. 

To finish our campaign, we have 2 very difficuly aways games and what should be, on paper, 2 easier home games. But i'm yet to have a game this season that has felt straight forward.

Reason to celebrate this week though - we are now guaranteed to have our highest SESL place finish in our history and two more points would secure our highest points total in any league campaign, in any division! It also cements our most successful period in the top flight. It would be amazing to finish this off!  

* Aggressive play is one of the things that intrigues me most in this game. I've looked at the numbers carefully many times and particularly as we were building a plan for the title run in this season. The numbers always suggest to me that playing a few players 'A' in the right games, with the right Refs is worth the risks. Yet the results for m always seem to be on the side of unlucky. But there is no 'unlucky' right? Over a long period of time these things should work themselves out. Its just numbers? Bear picked up a suspension and missed 85 mins of the match becuase he was 'A', the only one on the pitch. We knew the risks and i thinkwe can play round the suspension - that's why we picked up Dipps in the auction - for this very eventuality. But can we risk more 'A' in the remaining games? It needs some serious thought.