The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
What’s at stake on final day?
Saturday is the last day of the season for the SPFL’S lower league clubs. Courier sports editor Eric Nicolson assesses what is at stake for our local teams.
Dundee United: When the final whistle blew in Dumfries on Saturday and the United players were trudging off the pitch after suffering a bitterly disappointing 3-0 defeat by Queen of the South it looked as if the Tangerines would go into their final game of the season against Livingston needing to pick up at least a point to get into the play-offs. Dunfermline’s injury-time equaliser at Inverness spared them a nervy Saturday afternoon. The Livi match isn’t a meaningless one, though, as victory may be needed to earn United home advantage in the play-off quarterfinal second leg.
Dunfermline Athletic: The Pars are in a very strong position to join United in the play-offs, chiefly due to that injurytime equaliser. A home match against Dumbarton awaits and a draw will almost certainly be enough given their superior goal difference over Caley Thistle, who have a trip to Morton and need all three points to have any hope. Should Dunfermline get the victory, United will need to match that result to finish above Allan Johnston’s side and claim that home second leg.
Brechin City: With just four points to their name, Brechin’s relegation to League One has been long since confirmed. In terms of pounds and pence this has been a great season for City, with the cup game at Celtic, two home fixtures against Dundee United and St Mirren fans flocking to Glebe Park in big numbers swelling the coffers. Football-wise, it has been a miserable ordeal. There have been numerous hard-luck stories but no victories. One chance remains – Queen of the South at home. Never before will a team 40 points from safety have been so determined to win their last game of the season.
Raith Rovers: Not many saw this coming a few weeks ago. Ayr United appeared to have the League One title in the bag, only to lose their last two matches. League One has been a twohorse race pretty much since day one and Raith are now one point ahead in it. If Ayr beat Albion Rovers (who are fighting to avoid automatic relegation) Rovers will need to match them at home to Alloa. The end of the season proved to be a harrowing experience a year ago in Kirkcaldy and Raith fans will want to avoid the play-offs again at all costs.
Arbroath: Making the play-offs would be an ant-climax for Raith but it represents a success for Arbroath in their first season in League One since promotion. Dick Campbell will want to finish third, and be best of the part-time teams in the division, and that’s where they will find themselves if they beat bottom-of-the-table Queen’s Park. With fourth-placed Alloa playing Raith, even a defeat could be enough. Third will also mean avoiding Championship side Dumbarton in the play-off semi-final.
East Fife: Darren Young’s men threatened to have a run at the play-offs but that challenge disappeared several weeks ago. With Stranraer also in midtable, this fixture definitely falls into the ‘playing for pride/can’t wait for their summer holidays’ category.
Forfar Athletic: When Jim Weir took over from Gary Bollan, Forfar were rock bottom. Their mission – survival – was accomplished a fortnight ago. They can’t be caught by second-bottom Albion Rovers and they can’t reach their opponents Airdrie. Another flip-flops fixture.
Montrose: There’s certainly nothing meaningless about this one. The last time Montrose were promoted from the basement league was 1995. They came back down the season after and have been ever-presents since, nearly dropping out of the SPFL three years ago. It has been a stunning season for Stewart Petrie’s team. After losing 3-0 at Clyde, Montrose have won five in a row. If they make it six (at home to Elgin City, who can’t make the play-offs) they will go up as champions. They can even afford to draw. Lose, however, and the Gable Endies can’t expect any favours from Edinburgh City who are the opponents of title rivals Peterhead.
Cowdenbeath: There is nothing riding on Cowdenbeath v Annan Athletic but things will get very serious very soon for the Blue Brazil. A home and away pyramid play-off against either Cove Rangers or Spartans awaits for Bollan’s side. With the very future of the club possibly at stake, losing that one does not bear thinking about.
Twitter: @C_enicolson