Former East Kilbride and Stranraer star Paul Woods chooses his side for play-offs, seven years on from penalty heartache with Kilby

Former East Kilbride star and title winner Paul Woods admits he wants to see Kilby LOSE the pyramid play-off final with Stranraer.

The winger, who won the title with the club in 2016/17, has strong ties to the Blues having made over 100 appearances for the club and scored 13 goals, while the club also helped him fundraise for an operation to treat a serious knee injury in 2022 that almost ended his playing career. Now hoping to earn a deal at Stranraer next season, Woods admits it is a ‘nightmare’ to see his hometown team up against a side he holds so close to his heart.

'Woodsy' knows the agony of losing a play-off with East Kilbride after missing the penalty in Cowdenbeath the last time the club reached the final in 2017. And this week he admits he would prefer to see Kilby come up short for the third time in eight years.

He said: “It is such a pity it has come to this between East Kilbride and Stranraer. It is a hard one for me but I wouldn’t like to see Stranraer go down into the Lowland League.

"When you look at the teams that have gone down there previously like East Stirling and Berwick Rangers, it would take a while for them to come back up so I really hope they don’t go down. I could see that sending the club on a downward spiral.

“East Kilbride have obviously done well and deserve the chance to go for promotion again. I will go to both games and watch it, definitely, and see what happens.

“But I don’t want to see Stranraer lose it. I had great times at East Kilbride and I do want to see them get promoted because I know all the hard work the guys up at K-Park have put in and I really think they would kick on, but if I am honest I would go for Stranraer to win.

“What Stranraer have done for me in my career – and