Published: Thursday, 28th May, 2009 10:45am

Oakley face anxious wait on their Premier League future

by Graham Gibson

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DEFEAT by Ballingry Rovers in their final league game of the season has left Oakley United sweating over their Premier Division future.

A 2-1 defeat at Ore Park ensured Ballingry"s safety but left Oakley"s future in the balance as they can still be overhauled at the bottom of the table should fellow strugglers Blairgowrie win their last two games.

Oakley can now do nothing but sit and watch to see whether they join Dundee North End and Dundonald Bluebell in being relegated.

Gaffer Stevie Kay admitted it would be a nerve-racking end to the season when it appeared as if they had done enough to haul themselves to safety.

'Even though we came in late in the season after a horrendous start there was a couple of notable games, away to Dundee and at home to Fauldhouse, where we could already have been safe if we had just had a wee bit of luck.

'It is disappointing to still be in this position because if we won against Ballingry we were definitely safe. A draw was no good to us either due to goal difference with Blairgowrie being a few goals better off than us.'

The first half ended goalless with neither team getting the upper hand, although Ballingry came out the stronger after the break, missing a penalty before eventually taking the lead on 70 minutes when slack defending allowed Rovers in to score.

A second five minutes from time all but clinched the tie but battling Oakley never gave up and pulled one back in the last minute through Brendan Cusick in the last minute.

Kay said, 'I thought a draw would have been a fair result. We were the better team in the first half then in the second half after an even first 10 minutes we fell out of the game. Their midfield gave us a severe hard time and we never put their defence under any pressure whatsoever.

'We pressed for goals after going behind but they broke away and scored again. It was either win or take our chances. It will be a bit nerve-racking but hopefully Ballingry or Fauldhouse can do us a favour.'

Elsewhere, Rosyth ended their league campaign with a 3-1 victory away to Bankfoot Athletic ensuring they claimed second place in the league.

Charlie Scarborough had the Recreation Park side 1-0 up at the break before Calum Young added a second. Bankfoot pulled one back in the last 10 minutes but a Tom O" Brien goal with five minutes remaining ensured Rosyth would end their season on a high.