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Annan eye play-off prize as Arbroath pull away

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Chris Jardine | 14:38 UK time, Thursday, 14 April 2011

It's been said everywhere else but Arbroath really were the only winners after .

It was a pretty even game with not too many chances.

But as biased as we all are when it comes to our own team, we felt we possibly just shaded things.

There was one moment of real controversy when everyone in the ground thought that Ian Harty had put us in front midway through the first half - everyone except the linesman that is.



Jardine is hoping to avoid a play-off date with David Irons's Stenhousemuir

Jardine is hoping to avoid a play-off date with David Irons's Stenhousemuir

It was a long punt (no change there I hear some of you say) from our goalkeeper that was headed on into the path of Harty by an Albion Rovers defender.

Harty did what he does best and slipped the ball underneath the onrushing goalkeeper and in to the net. One-nil Annan - or so we thought.

To be fair to the linesman he did have his flag up as soon as the goal was scored but the referee looked over and appeared to signal that he had got it wrong and the goal would stand.

The linesman persuaded the referee to go over to him and managed to change his mind and the goal wasn't given.

Understandably our players felt hard done by and were pretty furious, but it was made worse as the officials seemed to change their story as to why the goal wasn't given.

Now, although I never heard it first-hand I trust my team mates and we came away feeling very frustrated.

The point gained would normally have been welcomed as Albion is always a difficult place to go, .

But their win at Clyde on Saturday meant that realistically the title might now be a bridge too far for us.

and that victory puts them in the very healthy position .

They still have to come down to our place, but on top of defeating them in that game we're hoping for a five-point swing in the other three games.

Our job now, starting at home to Berwick this weekend, is simply to make sure we finish in one of the three play-off positions. It's a simple as that.

We're six points clear of fifth-placed Queen's Park and we want a play-off spot confirmed as quickly as we can before we think about finishing in a specific position.

Finishing second or third means that we would play a team from our own division in the play-off semi-final, whereas fourth would see us come up against a team from the division above.

As things stand that's looking like it's going to be Stenhousemuir and would see us face our old manager, .

My former team-mate Lewis Sloan is also there now, so it would make for an interesting tie should it happen.

It's all 'ifs' and 'buts' just now and, as I say, confirming just one of those play-off spots is what it's all about first and foremost.

Things are winding down now in terms of our training with guys picking up knocks, so the players need to protect themselves for what lies ahead.

We've had nights off here and there but the sessions in general are fairly light.

It's been a frustrating time for me as I've not featured in the last two matches and I hope I'm going to have a part to play in these last few games.

I played 14 on the bounce including the five matches we won in-a-row, but I dropped out in the next match when we lost at home to Clyde.

That's left me personally very disappointed but it's all about the team doing well and as long as we're successful I'll be happy.

Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    Don't give up just yet. It's a very odd league this season, not only do Arbroath have to travel to Galabank, they also have a derby game, which are notoriously unpredictable. They also have to face QP tomorrow, who realistically will need to take something from that game to have a chance of making the play offs, so will be fired up.

    It may seem like a big gap but the most bizarre things happen in the last four games of a season. keep going.

  • Comment number 2.

    Thanks for the comment JGB and you're absolutely right. We're certainly not giving up but we realise it is well outwith our hands after the results of last weekend. As I say, we have to get our play-off position confirmed as soon as possible so that means we are going out to win every game. If other results go our way then we'll see where that takes us.

  • Comment number 3.

    Well now.

    Can't see Annan finishing top 4 now.Hard run in for them and this time next week Queens Park will be within 2 points of them and Annan will be 4th.

    I think it may be better that they don't go up and will make a James of themselves and come straight back down.

    Scottish Football is bad enough without these plastic teams getting promoted.

    Another reason I think it would be better to stay down.It would give Neil a chance to get his squad built for next season.

    What about you Chris.Are you going to continue playing on next season or call it a day?

    You didn't answer my question on the blog.I asked if going to America to play is something that would be of interest to you mate?

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