BRECHIN City's preparations for attempting to maintain their unbeaten league form have continued in the past week with a couple of friendlies which have kept those presently out of the side in action and also topped up the fitness of those who are playing regularly.
Despite the international break, City have faced Stenhousemuir and Forfar Athletic in closed-doors friendlies in the past seven days and manager Michael O'Neill has been delighted with the response of the players out of the team at present.
"Thes
e were good opportunities for the likes of Gary Fusco, Adam Nelson, Calum Smith and Chris McCluskey, who all needed some competitive action and we certainly got that.
"We drew nil-nil at Stenhousemuir in a game in which we missed a few chances. Chris McCluskey played really well, with a couple of tremendous saves.
"Adam Nelson also had a very good game at Stenhousemuir and he has certainly kept the pressure on the likes of Janczyk, Nimmo and Byers with his performances while out of the side.
"On Thursday evening we beat Forfar Athletic two-one on the McDiarmid Park all-weather pitch and really should have won the game by a much bigger margin.
"Once again we missed a few chances, but overall I was pleased with that performance. We played some good football in spells and scored two well-taken goals through Calum Smith and Richard Walker.
"Fusco has come through the two games unscathed, meaning both he and Adam (Nelson) are vying for a place in the team, as is Darren Smith, who is also itching to get back in.
"It's a very healthy situation to be in. We will go to Stirling on Saturday and John Ward should be our only absentee.
"Stirling Albion gave us a tough game at Brechin and I am expecting exactly the same from them on Saturday.
"I feel they are a side who could yet mount a challenge and we will have to be at our best to overcome them.
"However, the lads like being top of the league and we want to stay there for as long as we can."
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