East Kilbride should have Pyramid play-off beyond Stranraer, says boss Mick Kennedy

East Kilbride boss Mick Kennedy reckons his side should have had the Pyramid play-off wrapped up entirely, let alone won their first leg at K-Park this afternoon.

The sides are locked at 2-2 as they head for Stair Park next Saturday to see who ends up in next season's League Two, but the hosts created enough chances to have been comfortably ahead by half-time.

As it was, Andy Stirling’s 32nd-minute strike was cancelled out by Sean McIntosh right on the stroke of half-time.

Craig Ross headed Stranraer in front in 60 minutes, but John Robertson levelled with a howitzer of a strike 10 minutes later to keep Kilby in the tie.

But they were left to rue a number of gilt-edged opportunities, with Robertson, Joao Balde and Tiwi Daramola chief offenders.

“The game should have been out of sight, the tie should have been out of sight, no disrespect,” said Kennedy.

“But if you don’t take your chances then that’s what happens.

“I thought we were excellent, played some really attractive possession-based football and didn’t go back to front. We had loads of control.

“Everything I asked them to do they executed – it was just that final part.

“This is a cup final. We need to take a lot of confidence out of today. We created loads of opportunities, had lots of control in the game, so I think that should give us a lot of belief.”

Kennedy says Kilby won’t change their strategy when they head to Stair Park for the second-leg showdown.

He said: “It’s all to play for next week down at Stranraer, so we should go there with a lot of confidence and belief.

“It being a grass pitch won’t make any difference to us, we will play the same way, the game-plan won’t change, we’ve been doing it all season.

“We’ve played on grass this season and done the same things.

“We’ll go down there, try to control the game, and implement our style on it.

“Whether Stranraer might change ever so slightly because they’re at home, I don’t know, but we’ll go there to try and win the game, definitely.”

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