'I was gutted': Scottish Premiership play-off drama as loanee goes from villain to hero

Leading 1-0 from the first leg at East End Park, Dunfermline headed to Gayfield with a slender advantage and defended doggedly against the hosts.

However, Neil Lennon’s men were in jeopardy of letting Arbroath back into the tie when Oxborough wiped out Ryan Dow just inside the penalty box on 83 minutes following a short back-pass from Robbie Fraser. Referee David Dickinson pointed to the spot and booked Oxborough, but the on-loan Motherwell keeper redeemed himself by plunging low to his left to save Aaron Muirhead’s effort.

“When the penalty was awarded, I was gutted,” said Oxborough. “But these things happen in football. My focus was on saving the penalty and I was thankful I could get down there.”

Arbroath pressed for a goal in the dying stages, but Dunfermline held firm. They will now take on Partick Thistle in the semi-finals, with the first leg taking place in Fife next Tuesday.

Dunfermline also have the Scottish Cup final against Celtic on May 23 to look forward to. They defeated Falkirk on penalties last month, with Oxborough making saves from the spot in that shoot-out.

There is play-off action further down the leagues on Saturday.

In the Championship semi-finals, Airdrieonians take on Alloa Athletic at home trailing 1-0 from the first leg, while at Ochilview, Stenhousemuir take on Queen of the South with the tie finely poised at 1-1.

In League One, Hamilton Accies defend a 3-1 lead when they host Forfar Athletic, while Clyde travel to Spartans defending a 2-0 lead.

The Pyramid play-off final also commences this weekend, with Highland League champions Brora Rangers hosting Edinburgh City in the first leg at Dudgeon Park.

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