Locke's wary of repeat

Gary Locke admits East Kilbride’s Scottish Cup earlier in the season shows how difficult a task his side face in the League Two play-off final.

The Blue Brazil gaffer wasn’t in charge at Central Park when Joao Victoria’s early header helped 10-man Kilby earn a 1-0 win in October when Liam Fox was in the hot seat.

However, Locke is well aware of the qualities Martin Lauchlan’s men will pose and had Kilby watched during Saturday’s play-off semi-final win over Buckie Thistle.

He said: “East Kilbride knocked us out of the Scottish Cup earlier in the season, so that’s all the warning we need before this game.

“We’ve had East Kilbride watched for a couple of games and they have a lot of quality. We knew it was going to take a lot to escape relegation, so we had to prepare properly and we had someone there against Buckie.

“We know East Kilbride are quite physical, but they can play as well.

“I’m aware of how difficult it will be and we’ll need to be at our best to take anything out of the first leg.”

Cowdenbeath finished bottom of League Two after they failed to win on a nail-biting final day battle with Clyde and Berwick Rangers to avoid the dreaded play-offs.

However, Locke’s side are on a good run of form, taking nine points from their final six games of the season, and their away form isn’t the worst either.

They’ve lost eight from 18 games on the road, winning five and drawing five.

And the former Hearts and Killie boss ghoing thre cleash insists Cowden are in buoyant mood

with EK. He added: “I know it sounds a strange thing to say when you’ve finished bottom of the league, but we are playing with confidence.

“The first three quarters of the season is where MATCHthe damage REACTIONwas done.

“Since I came in I couldn’t have asked for much more from the players.

“It’s two cup finals we have to play and the boys are looking forward to it.”