East Kilbride v Stranraer: Taking advantage to Stair Park key to sealing historic play-off win, says Mick Kennedy
dailyrecord.co.ukEast Kilbride boss Mick Kennedy reckons his side will need to take a lead to Stranraer if they are to seize their shot at promotion glory in the pyramid play-off final.Kilby welcome the Blues to K-Park on Saturday for the first leg of the historic tie, which will either see EK reach the SPFL for the first time in their 14-year existence or see 154-year-old Stranraer lose their league status.
The Stair Park club were consigned to the play-off after finishing bottom of League Two last weekend and Scott Agnew’s charges must battle for their survival.It represents a third bite at the promotion cherry for Lowland League champions East Kilbride, having suffered penalty heartache in 2017 at Cowdenbeath and semi-final pain at Cove Rangers in 2019.The sides have met just twice before with Stranraer running out 2-1 winners in the Scottish Cup third round in 2016 and 1-0 victors in the League Cup group stages in 2021, both at Stair Park.
And Kennedy is not underestimating the task at hand, feeling his side must take a good advantage with them to Stair Park next weekend if they are to finally realise their dream of reaching the SPFL.He said: “The challenge set at the start of the season was to get the club up to League Two and the players have put us in a fantastic position to do that.
The reality is that over the next 180 minutes we have the opportunity to make history, but we are all aware of the challenge that lies ahead.
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