Malcolm’s play-off agony
CRAIG MALCOLM, Striker, 29, Gardenhall League One – Stranraer
For Craig Malcolm it’s been a summer of torment.
Stranraer’s penalty shootoutdefeat to Ayr in May’s Championship play-off final keeps playing over and over in his head.
Only Willie Gibson converted as the Honest Men’s keeper, Gary Fleming, saved three spot-kicks to secure promotion in a 3-1 win.
Even although he only played the first hour of the second leg tie, Malcolm’s pain is still raw as the Blues were denied in the play-offs for a third successive season.
And after watching games at the European Championships in France and, more recently, the Scottish League Cup go to penalties, Malcolm admitted: “I’m still not over it. It’s still hard to take.
“Every time I watched a game at the Euros go to penalties it all came flooding back.
“And then they started penalty shoot-outs in the League Cup when games were drawn, so what happened against Ayr is still fresh.
“We were close to going to a shoot-out against East Stirling the other week but we managed to get a couple of late goals, thankfully.
“I don’t think too many boys would have been keen on taking them just yet.
“We’ll do our best to avoid another one at all costs.”
Malcolm’s side begin their League One campaign on Saturday away to Livingston, but even that conjures up thoughts of what might have been last term.
Stranraer beat the Lions 8-6 on aggregate in a thrilling play-off semi final, which relegated their opponents.
“When I think back to how well we played in those games, I can’t believe we didn’t go up,” said Malcolm.
“The boys did so well to get past Livingston, but really the 94th minute equaliser in the first leg of the final with Ayr killed us.
“I just hope now we can use what happened as motivation to make sure we don’t go through that again.
“We’ve lost in the play-offs the last three seasons. Each time we’ve got closer and closer, so hopefully this is our year.
“I’ve said that the last three seasons, though.
“We want to go and win it outright this time.”
Stranraer’s top goalscorer last season with 14 goals, Malcolm will be a key man in their push for the title.
He’s also closing in on 100 career goals.
Yet he reckons he’s got a job on his hands to nail down a starting slot after gaffer Brian Reid signed ex-Hearts hitman Christian Nade.
Nade joined from Dumbarton with Calvin Kemp, Mark McGuigan and Smart Osadolo also among the striking options this term.
The 29-year-old said: “It’s going to be tough just to get in the squad.
“Mark finished last year strongly and we’ve got five players fighting for one or two places up front depending on the system we play.
“I’m two away from 100 senior goals so that’s the first target for me if I am in the team.”
MARK MCGUIGAN, After a couple of frustrating seasons, Fraser Kerr will hope to find his feet quickly at Stenhousemuir this season.
The full-back joined Cowdenbeath in November after being released by Motherwell, a spell that ended in a three-game ban for his involvement in the Fir Park fracas against Rangers in May 2015.
Kerr made 13 appearances for the Blue Brazil, but they were relegated from League One and the former Calderglen High School pupil’s contract wasn’t renewed.
He was offered a contract by League One side Stenny in June and joined the Warriors alongside striker Jack Smith, who starred in the Lowland League for East Kilbride last season.