Peterhead substitute Russell McLean is aiming for double figures after coming off the bench to score twice in his side’s League 2 win against Stirling Albion at Balmoor on Saturday.
McLean’s second-half double proved decisive in a seven-goal thriller in testing windy conditions and the striker is eager to build on his mounting tally.
He said: “I was disappointed not to start after doing well last week but the manager told me before the game to be ready as I would come on. I’ve got seven in the league and one in the cup, so if I get to 10 I’ll be happy with that. It’s my first season in the professional league, so I’m happy with how it’s gone.
“I’ve learned a lot from Rory McAllister. We play off each other. Sometimes he will do the physical work and I do the running. It’s not that he is old but he is older and I’m happy to do that. If I run about and he scores the goals which win us the game I’m happy with that.”
With the wind at the home side’s backs, the tone was set from the kick-off with a McAllister effort from the halfway line deflecting off Stirling’s Darren Sminth for a corner and Willie Gibson’s resulting delivery beat everyone, including visiting goalkeeper Cameron Binnie, before curling into the net to give the home side the lead after just 35 seconds.
The Blue Toon’s joy did not last, however, as the Binos equalised in the sixth minute when Willie Robertson forced the ball home from close range after the home defence had failed to clear a low delivery into the box.
It was one-way traffic towards the visitors’ goal and they eventually gave way as former Blue Toon defender Ross Smith hauled McAllister to the ground after being turned in the box and McAllister made no mistake from the resulting spot kick, sending Binnie the wrong way to make it 2-1.
Remarkably, it was all square again by the 32nd minute, with Mason Robertson’s attempted clearance deflecting off team-mate Jason Brown into the path of Smith, who ran clear on goal before firing past Greg Fleming.
Stirling, with the benefit of the conditions in the second half, were denied a lead by Fleming, who made a point-blank save to deny Ross Kavanagh’s close-range header.
Fleming’s save proved crucial as the Blue Toon edged ahead for the third time in the 68th minute through substitute McLean, who controlled a Simon Ferry ball with his chest before turning to fire low past Binnie from 16 yards.
McLean made it 4-2 four minutes later when he converted a McAllister cross before Smith reduced the deficit in stoppage time after beating the offside trap but it was too late as Peterhead claimed all three points.
McLean said: “The conditions made it hard to play in, so to get three points is pleasing and to come on and get the two goals to win us the game is brilliant.
“The title is in our hands. We’ve got two games in hand and if we keep winning we will win the league. We’re happy to grind out the results.”