Arbroath are not taking anything for granted

Sellars hopes his side can make it third time lucky

By Michael Gannon

Published:

Arbroath attacker Barry Sellars has set his sights on reaching the Scottish League Second Division.

His vision was not quite so focused, however, when he fired the goal which took the Red Lichties to the precipice of promotion.

It was Sellars who brilliantly drilled the ball into the net on Wednesday night to give Arbroath a 2-0 advantage going into this afternoon’s play-off final second leg at Stranraer.

He may have shut his eyes for the goal but he believes things are looking up for the Gayfield Park side.

Sellars said: “I cannot say too much about the goal, to be honest, I just closed my eyes and hit it.

“I had a similar chance against Elgin a few weeks ago and I thought too much about it and missed.

“This time I was determined to get my head down and smash it.

“I think at 2-0 we have a good advantage but it is not over.

“We have built up some momentum at the right time but we need to keep that going into Saturday.

“We are capable of scoring down there and if we can repeat our display that we showed against Cowdenbeath in the semi-final we will be there.”

Abroath may have left things late against Cowdenbeath, with Robbie Raeside grabbing the winner four minutes from the end of extra time but Sellars believes they have confidence and momentum before today’s second leg.

Raeside was on target again in the first leg before Sellars hit the second and, although Arbroath are in prime position, they will be taking nothing for granted after play-off disappointments in the previous two seasons.

Sellars said: “I think the result and performance against Cowdenbeath gave us a lot of confidence.

“It really galvanised us because we have taken a bit of stick this season.

“It has been a bit of a disappointing season in terms of our performances but we have came good at the right time.

“Being up there three years in a row is no coincidence.

“Hopefully, this is the year we can get over that finishing line.”

Defender Alan Rattray returns following suspension but may have to settle for a place on the Arbroath bench.

Elsewhere in the Scottish League, the Montrose midfielder Hugh Davidson has signed a new one-year contract with the Links Park club.