COWDENBEATH still can avoid the relegation play-offs in Ladbrokes League 2 although it is no longer in their own hands.

Having to play the last 35 minutes with ten men was a handicap which definitely allowed Forfar to steal a point they did not deserve, and with Clyde and Berwick Rangers drawing it means that even if Cowden win at Elgin on Saturday the Blues could still be consigned to the play-off if these two sides take points from their matches with Montrose and Edinburgh City.

Montrose need to win to to guarantee being in the promotion play-offs while Edinburgh City are on a long unbeaten run so Clyde and Berwick could lose, so the key thing is that Cowden win.

Said Cowden boss Gary Locke: “We could and should have beaten Forfar, for we were by far the better side.

“Even after we lost Shaun Rutherford to a red card we had some great chances but to come out of the game with the then league leaders with a point is no bad result.

“The sending off was crucial though for it was a tough tackle from Shaun on David Cox but the Forfar player lifted his hands to him so really he should have gone too.”

The manager is very upbeat about the chances of avoiding the play-off with either Buckie Thistle or East Kilbride (the sides drew 2-2 in the first leg in Aberdeenshire on Saturday).

He added: “We have to make sure we do our job on Saturday and go to Elgin and win so that then if one of the other two sides loses, we have achieved our goal.

“When I took over and we were cast adrift seven points at the foot of the table I would have taken this position going into the last game but we have played some really good stuff over the past few weeks, the loss to Montrose apart, and if we can repeat that at Elgin I feel we can get the win we want.”

Robbie Buchanan, who scored against Forfar, agreed: “The boys have produced some excellent performances in recent weeks and one more really good one could see us over the line.

“It was awkward having to play the last half hour with ten but we still created chances and could have got the winner, and we have to look after ourselves and win at Elgin.”

They will have to do it without Rutherford and that may mean a slot for Lewis Moore on the left hand side, with the rest of the team remaining the same although Dale Carrick picked up a knock against Forfar but everything will be done to allow him to make it.