Expect an open game in the second leg

STRANRAER'S STEPHEN McConalogue admitted yesterday his side are going to have to gamble on all out attack—with all the accompanying risks—in tomorrow's play-off final return leg if they are to pip Arbroath to promotion to the Second Division,

Trailing the Lichties 2-0 from Wednesday night's clash at Gayfield the Stair Park side have it all to do and front man McConalogue acknowledged this isn't a time to be cautious.

"We're facing a real uphill struggle now," confessed the one time Dundee United striker. And the only way we can tackle the situation is to go out from first whistle looking for an early goal.If we get it back to 2-1 then we're in the hunt again. Of course the threat, looking at how they got their second goal, is that they catch us on the break but we can't sit in, we have to go for it. They are a big physical team and so dangerous at set pieces.

But they are the ones who have the travelling to do on Saturday and hopefully that'll be to our advantage. I set off at quarter-to-four on Wednesday to make the game which does have an effect. Now they have the reverse journey to make and for our sake I hope things even themselves out."

"Wednesday there was probably our best home performance of the season," said Black. "And considering we were playing the side that finished second top it's a massive result.

"I think we are peaking at just the right time. We've gone into the play-offs in the last two seasons playing really well and then not done well at all when it really mattered.

This time we've had an up and down season yet come the business end we're feeling fit and getting results. Long may that continue because I've been through two years of losing play-offs with this club and it's a horrible feeling.

Now we're as close as we are to putting that right we aren't going to let it slip from our grasp. It's only half-time in the tie and as the manager has said we need to forget we're going down there with a 2-0 lead.

We have to approach Saturday like we were starting afresh from 0-0. But we're a side that travels well. We've a good away record and that includes Stair Park.