EK boss: We’re on brink of history...

LOWLAND League side East Kilbride have been challenged to make history in today’s League Two play-off second leg against Cowdenbeath at Central Park.

Boss Martin Lauchlan arrived at K-Park soon after the New Town side came to national attention last season when they drew Celtic in the Scottish Cup, and they thoroughly enjoyed their 15 minutes of fame.

Now Lauchlan has urged his players to seize the chance to join the Senior ranks if they can overcome the Blue Brazil.

“I took over after the Celtic game last season which put the team on the map,” Lauchlin said.

“What people don’t realise though is that East Kilbride were fifth in the league at that point, and were 25 points behind Edinburgh City who won it.

“What we have managed to do this year is to take the good football that East Kilbride have always played and been renowned for, and married that to a winning mentality that was maybe missing before.

“I have said to the boys in the past, drawing Celtic in the Scottish Cup was luck. It was good fortune that made people aware of the side.

“This season, let’s earn that recognition through what we do on the pitch, and the players have responded brilliantly.

“If we could take the final step and get into League Two then that would be the icing on the cake, and I think we have a really good chance of doing it.”

The tie is delicatelypoised after a goalless draw in last Saturday’s first-leg in East Kilbride, with goalkeeper Matt McGinley’s last minute penalty save keeping the scores even going into today’s encounter.

But Lauchlin saw enough in last week’s game, as well as in their win over today’s opponent in the Scottish Cup earlier this season, to suggest that his men have what it takes to triumph this afternoon.

He added: “The draw sets us up for a cracking game at their place. We have absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain.”