Winning silverware at Hampden is the stuff of dreams for most chairmen of Scottish football clubs but Peterhead’s Rodger Morrison is desperate to avoid a nerve-jangling afternoon at the National Stadium.
The Blue Toon can claim the League 2 crown by beating Stirling Albion at Balmoor on Saturday but a draw or defeat could set up a final day showdown with title rivals Clyde.
The Bully Wee host Queen’s Park this Saturday before travelling to Cowdenbeath in the final round of fixtures.
Peterhead will end their campaign against Queen’s Park at Hampden but Morrison hopes his side will have already been crowned champions by then.
Morrison, whose side were pipped to the title by Montrose on the final day last season, said: “Last season was a bit galling when missed out so it would be pleasing for everyone at the club if we were able to get the job done on Saturday.
“We don’t want to leave it until the last game of the season against Queen’s Park at Hampden as that would be a really nervy occasion.
“This is always a hard league to get out of and it isn’t always the team that plays the better football that wins games.
“If we were to win promotion back to League One, I think we would enjoy it more and feel more at home.
“There will always be full-time teams in that division but it is good to test yourselves against them. There are also a number of teams from nearby so we should be doing less travelling.
“We have done well in that league. In 2006 we only missed out on promotion to what is now the Championship on penalties against Partick Thistle.
“We were competing against a lot of full-time teams then. We put Morton out in the semi-finals and then narrowly lost against Partick Thistle. Hopefully we can bounce back this time and show what we can do in that league.”
Jim McInally’s side defeated Elgin City 2-1 on Saturday in only their second win in six matches as they edge towards the title.
Morrison said: “We have had plenty of pressure and possession in recent games, we just haven’t been killing off teams.
“Saturday against Elgin was another example. We had so much of the play and their goalkeeper was in great form but we could have won by more. It is always hard to get points at this stage of the season.
“We have more points than Arbroath and they have already won League One. We played against Albion Rovers the week before and they are fighting for points because they don’t want to finish bottom.”
The Peterhead chairman, meanwhile, hopes Cove Rangers are successful in their quest to reach the SPFL through the pyramid play-offs.
The Highland League champions take on their Lowland League counterparts East Kilbride for the chance to face the team that finishes bottom of League 2.
Morrison added: “I think the more Highland League teams that can make the step up the better. Cove have the facilities and the team to do it.
“I would like to see more teams from the north in the SPFL.”
