Stats underline where the problems lay

The Blue Brazil scored only 23 goals in their 36 league games and that was the root cause of their problems.

Robbie Buchanan was the leading scorer with seven goals from his 33 starts.

Harvey Swann, who became the penalty taker, scored five in 34 starts with Cammy Muirhead four in 20 starts and Brad Smith three in 34 games.

That shows exactly where the problems were, a lack of goalscoring power and it led to eight games being lost 1-0.

Amazingly Cowden had one of the best away defensive records in the division with only 21 goals being conceded in 18 games but at home they conceded 35 goals.

Manager Gary Bollan will be seeking to ensure that the goal output increases significantly in the 2018/19 campaign.

Of course not all the blame for the lack of goals should be shouldered by the strikers as there were periods of the season where the creativity of the midfield department seemed to desert the team.

However, when the squad was re-shaped in January it brought more creativity and firepower and things started to improve with a few wins being recorded after only one before Christmas, but the lack of goals still persisted.

Jordyn Sheerin and David Cox joined Buchanan and this trio posed opposing teams a lot more problems, without the goals tally unfortunately increasing markedly.

Kyle Miller was the midfield general and made 35 appearances and his work in the play-off final alongside on loan Blair Malcolm, from Ross County, and Brad Smith helped ensure that the club survived.

Fraser Mullen made the most appearances standing on 39, in all competitions, and played mostly at right-back in the closing phase of the season.

Goalkeeper Dave McGurn played 32 games and had three shut-outs and Jamie Pyper, 35 appearances.

Not a season to remember with the 36 league games only producing 22 points, but Mr Bollan will looking for a whole lot better next term.