So that's it then! Promotion achieved and 2 games to spare.

Up to the dreaded first division - be nice for my annual visit to meet some old mates.

Today we opened at Airdrieonians who were just below us -and we had a shored up team with Bursik age 6/10 between the sticks. But the lad let in only one shot from the 2 he faced and we actually took a 1st minute lead through Watson. The 1-1 draw was deserved - in fact we'd have nailed all 3 points if Brito hadn't saved 7 shots he faced. This left us a smidgeon from promotion.

We entertained Dumbarton and replaced Bursik with Slater who never actually faced a direct shot. The 2 chances we took gave us the points to move up to 3rd and book our place. 
 

All training now done - decent forward line but a 2nd keeper desperately needed. 

A good weekend for us and the lads in the team who want to go up (and the Club Treasurer of course). At home to Queens Park qwe faced a Stall team for 75 minutes - and this time we didn't give up a silly penalty. 3-0 came relatively easy and the game closed out after the hour mark. Quinn, Milne and Boyle all scored. 5th placed Airdrieonians had gone to a surprise 1-0 home loss to Peterhead. We were able to get a late cameo for 2nd string keeper, Bursik, to save 1 EL for Slater.

This put us 3 points clear of them heading up to our 2nd match, at Peterhead. They produced a decent team against us and a point would have been acceptable but near half time we grabbed on a defender error and a good bit of play to get 2 goals from Bowie and Boyle.Riella pulled one back but Watson iced it for us with 6 minutes to go. We put Bursik on then but he didn't give Slater any EL respite.

We now go to Airdrieonians next Saturday with a poor keeper, but a 6 point advantage over them in the table.

A loss will still put Slater up to 5ELs and that should be enough for 2 games which will give us an automatic promotion spot, whether we want it or not. I feel a retirement comeing on soon!!

Not a great week for the team or for keeper Bursik - who will be a casualty come the next "cash for Apprentice" feature.

We were obliged to play him for 30 minutes whilst regular custodian Slater finished his lunch (aka gained some ELs) and in these 30 minutes we lost both games last Saturday. Home to Dundee United we went down 3-0 with Busik missing 2 shots he faced and away in Inverness we lost by 3-1. Again goals lost in the first 30 minutes were crucial.

So we dropped down to 4th after the first game and remain 4th after the 2nd match. But Airdrieonians are level points and are pushing for the top 4 slots.  If we stay 4th well and good but not having a 2nd keeper is costing us. Just as well as my job isn't on the line to get promotion... :-)