Zeno Ibsen Rossi will be hoping to help Kilmarnock preserve their Scottish Premiership status when they face Dundee in a two-legged play-off.
Ibsen Rossi started as Killie registered a 2-0 win over Hamilton Academical on Sunday, a victory which proved fruitless as relegation rivals Ross County also triumphed.
County only needed a point to survive and came from behind to win 2-1 at Motherwell, with Iain Vigurs and Michael Gardyne on target for the Highlanders.
With County trailing at the break, Killie looked to be heading for safety after Mitch Pinnock’s first-half double had put them in the ascendancy against Hamilton.
But the turnaround at Fir Park, where Motherwell had not lost since February, condemned the East Ayrshire outfit to a shootout for survival with Dundee.
Kilmarnock will be bidding to secure a 29th consecutive year in Scotland’s top flight when they duel with Dundee who beat Raith Rovers 3-1 on aggregate to clinch their place in the play-off.
The first leg is at Dundee’s Dens Park on Thursday (8.15pm kick-off) followed by the second leg at Rugby Park on Monday 24th May (7.45pm).
Ibsen Rossi made his 18th appearance for Killie against Hamilton as their relegation to the Championship was confirmed, with Pinnock having a second-half penalty saved by 19-year-old goalkeeper Jamie Smith on his debut.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Brennan Camp’s timely intervention proved crucial as Weymouth registered a 2-1 win over Altrincham at the Bob Lucas Stadium.
Camp’s vital clearance prevented Joel Senior levelling after the Alty defender had gone clear four minutes from time.
His heroics helped the Terras preserve a lead given to them by Andy Dallas’s finely-taken goal 13 minutes from time.
Earlier, Dallas’s 22nd-minute opener had been cancelled out by former Wigan midfielder Ryan Colclough who netted from the edge of the box five minutes into the second half.
Weymouth goalkeeper Ethan Ross kept out Connor Kirby’s effort as the visitors went in search of a quick second before Camp was denied by a stunning reaction save from Tony Thompson.
Defender Camp capped his 31st appearance for the Terras by keeping their lead intact after Senior had threatened to spoil their day.
Victory saw Brian Stock’s team close to within three points of 17th-placed Altrincham and boosted their chances of finishing the season as the highest-placed promoted side.
Sam Sherring made his 40th league appearance for Torquay United as they battled out a 2-2 draw with fellow high-fliers Stockport County at Edgeley Park on Sunday.
A share of the spoils ended County’s title hopes and did little to help the Gulls in their bid for the one automatic promotion place, leaving Sutton United in the driving seat.
Sutton’s 3-0 win against Maidenhead United on Saturday saw them establish a four-point lead over Torquay, the Gulls trimming it to three with just two games remaining.
Gary Johnson’s team were forced to come from behind in Greater Manchester after Macauley Southam-Hales fired County ahead with a stunning goal in the 34th minute.
But after Connor Lemonheigh-Evans had hit the post for the Gulls, Scott Boden drew them level from the penalty spot five minutes before the break.
And although Boden netted his second from close range in the 57th minute, County restored parity through Ashley Palmer seven minutes later.
Torquay host Barnet on Saturday and visit Altrincham the following Saturday, while Sutton host Hartlepool United before closing with a trip to Barnet.
Pictures courtesy of Kilmarnock FC.
With thanks to sponsor UPN for their support.
