There may be more to come from Derek
Two of the finest goalscorers seen outside of the Premiership over the past 20 years both netted last Tuesday night, in what could be their last outings in the game.
Whilst 40-year-old Peterhead front man Derek Lyle, who scored against Dumbarton, is considering staying on for another season, his one-time Queen of the South team-mate, 38-year-old Iain Russell, marked his last-ever game by converting a penalty against Albion Rovers.
Peterhead have offered Lyle, who scored more than 100 goals for the Dumfries men during three stints at the club, and who also played for Partick Thistle, East Stirling, Stirling Albion, Dundee, Hamilton Accies, Morton and Cowdenbeath, a new deal that also formalises his coaching role with the Balmoor men.
Lyle moved to Peterhead in 2018 and in their recent 3-1 win at East Fife, Lyle had the unique distinction of sharing goals with 18-year-old Danny Strachan, who was not even born when he grabbed his first-ever goal for Partick Thistle in 1999.
Blue Toon boss McInally has opened talks with Lyle, who has been taking striking drills in training this season that will see his coaching position at the club formalised, with McInally saying: “I really want Derek to stay, because he is a big part of the club.
“If you saw his performance against East Fife last week, you will know he played like someone aged less than 30, never mind 40.
“I know he had thoughts of retirement earlier this year, but I believe he has many more games and goals in him and that is why I want him to stay at Peterhead.”
Cowdenbeath manager Gary Bollan praised Russell following his announcement that he was retiring from football just minutes after scoring that penalty.
Russell has ended a near 20-year senior career that started as a youth at Rangers and then a first-team player at Motherwell in 2003 before stints at Dumbarton, Brechin, Morton, Alloa, Stirling Albion, Livingston, Queen of the South and Airdrie ahead of joining Cowdenbeath last November.
After scoring 201 goals in more than 500 appearances, Bollan said: “I was delighted to see him end a great career with a goal. He is a great lad and a really good influence in and around the dressing-room.
“He has made a real contribution to the team and you could see how much that meant to him to score his last goal.”