The Lowland League champions hold a 3-1 advantage going into the second leg, as they hope to make it fourth time lucky for promotion
Mick Kennedy admits attack will be the best form of defence for East Kilbride as they aim to seal their ‘destiny’ today and reach the promised land of the SPFL. Kilby take a 3-1 lead to Bonnyrigg for the second leg of their League Two play-off final after a Cami Elliott brace and a Jordan McGregor strike at a sold-out K-Park last week handed the advantage to the Lowland League champions. The club has been trying to earn their place in the professional ranks for a decade, coming up agonisingly short on three previous occasions, but they now find themselves in the strongest position yet to secure that elusive promotion. Having conceded four goals against Brora Rangers in the semi-finals and keeping just nine clean sheets from 34 league games this term, Kennedy insists his side can’t afford to just defend their lead at New Dundas Park. He said: “Two goals is nothing. We went up to Brora with a 4-1 lead and before we knew it we were 3-1 down up there, where another goal would have brought the tie level. “So there will be no complacency and hopefully we can execute our gameplan on Saturday to take the club to its destiny, as everybody at East Kilbride believes it is. “We will create opportunities, I don’t think there is any doubt about that. It is about converting opportunities.
“One of the things I would criticise myself about in my time here is that we don’t keep enough clean sheets for the amount of possession we have in games. “We have to defend the moments and sometimes we lack a bit of concentration – and that comes down to individuals. “It is not something you can fix structurally, so I would hope we can go there, put in a really professional performance, keep a clean sheet and see the game out.
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“But I think we need to go there and score a goal to try and take the game away from Bonnyrigg. If they get the first goal, the crowd gets behind them and I am sure it will be packed to the rafters. “Nervousness can set in and the dynamics of the game can change very quickly.”
EK face a Bonnyrigg side fighting for their survival having come up from the Lowland League in 2022. And Kennedy knows they have a battle on their hands. He added: “I have got a lot of respect for Bonnyrigg as a club and I am sure the town will come out and back them, so we need to be respectful of that. “There will be no complacency from myself. We need to find some way of having an attacking threat and controlling the game. “I think Bonnyrigg will be a lot more attacking this week and they’ll be a lot more dangerous on the ball. It will be a totally different game.”
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