SHOULD the fears and rumours of Gretna's demise at the end of the season prove founded, this stirring victory could already have sealed a place in next season's Second Division for Arbroath. The prospect of both finalists earning promotion was an unspoken side-issue to this tense tussle, according to manager John McGlashan, but his side's raucous celebrations at the end appeared to tell otherwise.
Of course, the stirring scenes could merely have been the release of two years of pent up frustration, as the Red Lichties finally won a play-off tie at the third time of asking. Whatever the overriding emotion, however, this victory was well de
served.
Veteran defender Robbie Raeside, rested for the 1-1 draw in the first-leg at Gayfield, rose energetically five minutes from the end of extra-time to glance in the winning header from substitute Steven Rennie's long throw.
"It was the right call," said Raeside. "We knew there could be extra-time and so I didn't play on Wednesday deliberately so I would be fresh on Saturday. I lasted into extra-time and I could have played another half an hour after that goal.
"It would have been a total injustice if we hadn't come away with a win."
A completely different scenario was on the cards until only seven minutes from the end of regulation time after home substitute Paul McQuade bundled in from barely a yard out after a Marek Tomana cutback.
However, Roddy Black then headed in the equaliser from Jamie Bishop's long ball.
In the end, Cowdenbeath's more pleasing style was no match for the power and determination of their tall Third Division opponents.
"I feel awful, I was relegated before with Hibs and it's not a nice feeling," said Blue Brazil manager Brian Welsh. "But they deserved it over the two legs."
The full article contains 313 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
