Albion Rovers keeper Neil Parry is playing things cool despite being on the brink of becoming a league winner for the first time.
The Coatbridge side, who are eight points clear, will be League 2 champions if they beat East Fife at Bayview and second-placed Queen’s Park fail to get the better of Annan at Hampden.
Parry said: “I could be a title winner come Saturday, and it is an exciting thought, but while we are close, we are not over the line. We have to be as professional as we can be and if we do that then we will get over the line.
“I won a few cups in my time in the Juniors but I have never won a league, even at Boys Club football. Our Scottish Cup run all the way to the quarter-finals and a replay with Rangers last year was great but sometimes the draw can help you do that. Winning a league is different as it is all about consistency.”
Only once in their last seven games have Rovers not shown title-winning form and that came a fortnight ago when Elgin left Cliftonhill with all three points.
Parry added: “We went into the Elgin game with five wins in a row behind us but we lost 3-0. It was a horrible day weather wise with a gale-force wind blowing down the pitch.
“They got an early goal and that allowed them to sit in and counter attack us, which is not a complaint as we have done that quite a few times this season.
“It turned into a bad day at the office but the manager Darren Young and his assistant Sandy Clark used their experience well and had us lifted before the Berwick game last weekend. We went out and put in a good, positive performance and enjoyed a 2-0 win.
“The last time we played East Fife we were having a bit of a mini-slump back in February. They beat us 3-2 in a run where we lost four games in a row. They are one of the best teams in this division but they have possibly not been as consistent as they would have liked.
“We are going there knowing that it will be difficult and also knowing that they need the points to be in a play-off place. The last time we were at Bayview they were the better team but we left with a 0-0 draw.
“Both sides have a lot to play for and there will be no easy games between now and the end of the season. We have done well but we have not achieved anything yet.”
Craig Stewart
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