STRANRAER took the glory, Arbroath the spoils in their Irn-Bru Second Division play-off final and left the home side casting their eyes anxiously in Gretna's direction.
Stranraer's plans for next season depend on events 100 miles eastwards along the A75, where Gretna's anticipated demise may yet produce the promotion denied them by Arbroath over the two legs of this play-off final.
Only the most churlis
h would deny Arbroath promotion having surmounted one of these end-of-season trials at the third time of asking.
Nobody was happier at the end than Red Lichties' skipper Barry Sellars, an Arbroath native who has suffered in the cause and deserved to be swamped by the ecstatic travelling fans at the end. "I'm a local boy, one of several in the side and it means so much to us, and to these fans, to finally come through the play-offs," he said.
That joy was echoed by manager John McGlashan, who said: "Those last 20 minutes were the longest of my life; we had to stand up to a battering. I've been involved in games where one side has dominated for 60 or 70 minutes, but this was the first one when one side totally dominated for the full 90; great credit to Stranraer for the way they attacked us, but I'm so proud of the way my boys stood up to the pressure.
"I feel, if the Gretna situation is resolved, it would be right for Stranraer to go up, they certainly deserve promotion for their form over the season."
That view was shared by a disappointed Derek Ferguson, who blamed his poor choice of team and tactics in the first leg for leaving his side with too much to do here.
"The league table doesn't lie, but my mistakes on Wednesday landed us with just too much to do today. However, we showed what we're all about; we weren't bullied, we went for it and if we didn't get going in the first game, we really went for it here. However, some days you don't get what you deserve."
The goal was scored by Frenchman Gregory Tade, firing home after good passing between Stephen McConalogue and James McKinstry just after the hour. By then Arbroath were down to ten men after Craig Tully's straight red card for a foul on Danny Mitchell in 57 minutes.
The play-off format might not be ideal – Stranraer finished the regular season 13 points and two places above the Lichties, yet lost out on promotion – however, it makes great theatre.
The full article contains 443 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
