'Progress' report...

Our progress so far this season might be described, at best, as 'mixed' - and even that would be pushing it. After positive performances in our opening two league matches and - lest we forget - the demolition of Dundee in the Challenge Cup, surely one of the best Warriors perforamnces since the glory days of 1995, things have regressed considerably. We go into this afternoon's match at Dumbarton on the back of five consecutive defeats (three in the league, one in the Challenge Cup and one in the Stirlingshire Cup).

Let us focus first on the positives. Over the years we have developed the habit of signing strikers of considerable pedigree, only to see them flounder once at Ochilview - Paddy Flannery, Murray McDowell or Craig O'Reilly anyone? Fortunately it appears that Alex Williams will not be falling into that particular trap - he has lived up to his reputation as a quality striker, and all Warriors fans will be hoping he returns to fitness as quickly as possible.

Our problems, however, lie in defence. A nunber of our recent defeats (most notable those against Alloa and Peterhead) have been defined by individual errors, and it is becoming ever clearer that the defenders are struggling without the protection which last season was offered to them by Craig Molloy, sitting in front of the back four. Last week's defeat to Dumbarton was something of an anomaly in this respect - their goal was more attributable to the skill of Derek Carcary than to any shortcomings of our own - and judging from the highlights we actually played pretty well over the piece. Hopefully we can take that forward into this afternoon's match with Forfar.

On a different note, it would be remiss of me not to mention the success which ex-Stenny star David Templeton has been enjoying. I have been extremely impressed with his form for Hearts this season, and he throuoghly deserved his recent call-up to the Scotland under-21 squad. I was particularly fond of his goal against Hamilton the other week, which had 'Made in Stenhousemuir' written all over it: he capitalised on an uncharacteristic mistake from Simon Mensing - another ex-Warrior currently thriving in the SPL - before firing home past Tomas Cerny. Whilst our present players might have a fair distance to go before any of them can emulate Templeton, here's hoping that we recover swiftly from our current troubles...