Cowdenbeath 1-2 Arbroath [aet] (Agg 2-3)

May 4 2008 Chris Gallagher At Central Park

ARBROATH boss John McGlashan watched his side finally shake off their play-off jinx then insisted his team are destined for promotion. After failing to win either of their play-off matches in the last two seasons Robbie Raeside's extra-time header saw Arbroath book a crunch clash with Stranraer.

And McGlashan is convinced his side's luck has now turned and that they will win their first play-off final to ensure the club start next season in Division Two.

He said: "It's the first time we've won in the play-offs and the players deserved it.

"We felt this was our moment. We have been so unlucky in recent years but approached this really positively and got the result.

"I thought Cowdenbeath scored against the run of play but we kept going, got the goal, and never looked like losing.

"We prepared for the game perfectly and it all paid off."

McGlashan also toasted veteran stopper Raeside who only came into the side in the absence of the suspended Allan Rattray.

He said: "If I leave Robbie out in the final play-off games there will be mayhem now.

"But we will need his experience as we face two tough games."

After a slow start Pat Scullion almost put the Blue Brazil ahead but his long-range strike was palmed over by Darren Hill.

And the home side had another close call just before half time when Mark Ramsay blasted in a low shot that Roddy Black almost turned into his own net only for Hill to make a great reaction save.

Arbroath began to dominate after the break and in 60 minutes Paul Lunan wasted a glorious chance when his header from Paul Watson's corner bounced down and over the bar.

But it was Cowdenbeath who scored against the run of play in 73 minutes when Marek Tomana's cross was bundled home by sub Paul McQuade.

The away side kept fighting and Black equalised in 84 minutes with a close-range glancing header that sneaked past Hay.

Arbroath began extra time on top but were denied a goal in controversial fashion after 97 minutes.

Alan Brazil's goalbound shot from 12 yards looked to have hit the hand of home skipper Douglas Hill but ref Willie Collum played on.

Seconds later Hill headed Jamie Bishop's header off the line.

Arbroath must have thought their luck had deserted them but justice was done when Raeside rose in the box in 115 minutes to head home the winner.

Cowdenbeath boss Brian Welsh was devastated by the result.

He said: "I feel brittle, awful. We didn't play well and they deserved it.

"I'm mega-disappointed to be relegated. It has happened to me before but this feels even worse.

"The young players in the dressing-room could go either way now and they'll need to show character."

Welsh also shrugged off the pelters aimed at him by a section of the support who were left fuming at relegation.

He said: "I've had constant abuse since I took over here.

"I know what the supporters are like here. I just wish they'd got behind the team rather than shower them with abuse when we went 2-1 down."