Stat Attack: Braves on fire in front of goal

Anyone visiting Alliance Park this season would likely agree with that assessment. Alliance Park has been the home for thrills with an average of 4.5 goals per game at our home on the edge of Strathclyde Country Park this season.

Whilst we have perhaps shipped more goals than Ricky Waddell would like, our own goalscoring record has been phenomenal. 72 league goals (95 in all competitions) with 28 league games played, there is 8 more games to potentially reach the century... or are we getting ahead of ourselves?

You would think not, given we have averaged 2.6 goals per league game this season so the squad will have high confidence in reaching this milestone. Goals have been coming from all different avenues this campaign, 15 different players getting on the scoresheet so far this season. Marc Kelly, Zac Butterworth, Luke Main and Ross McNeil have all been key contributors to the stunning tally each weighing in with double figures already.

Kelly in particular has been a standout creative force all season long and goals are far from all he contributes to the team. When the Bellshill born midfielder is on his game, often so are Braves, with the 24-year-old chipping in with an astonishing 19 assists on top of his impressive goal tally.

In the assist charts, Zac Butterworth lies not far behind Kelly, contributing 9 assists thus far. This figure is impressive but doesn't take into account the work Zac does outside of this with much of Braves best attacking play this season flowing through him even if he doesn't supply the final finish or pass. 

Others who may go unnoticed are Jamie Walker and Scott Forrester. Two stalwarts of the team throughout the season at the back and they have also have a remarkable 19 goal contributions between them, emphasising the creative ability we possess in all areas of the park.

Life on the Road

We have had mixed form away from home in the Lowland League this campaign, registering 5 wins out of a possible 13. Last time out though we recorded an excellent win in Edinburgh, triumphing 5-2 over Hearts B which will likely breed confidence heading into another tough challenge away to Cowdenbeath tomorrow.

The odds will once again be in favour of a high scoring affair with us on the road. There has been an astounding average of 5.3 goals in our last 6 away games, so there’s no doubt those who have witnessed the Braves this season are certainly getting their money’s worth.

With three away games on the bounce coming up against Cowdenbeath, Edinburgh University and Threave Rovers it will be important to build on that previous away success over Hearts B.