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AND so it has come to this. One game for Airdrie United to save their first division bacon.

On Sunday, the Diamonds' destiny will finally be decided. We will know if we have matches against Partick Thistle, Dundee and Dunfermline Athletic to look forward to.

Or acknowledge that trips to East Fife, Arbroath and Brechin City in the second division lie ahead.

The first leg of the first division relegation play-off final at Ayr United on Thursday night was a cracker. A 2-2 draw, everyone who ventured to the South Ayrshire coast was treated to a game full of drama, excitement and incident.

It was a great advert for the SFL. Any neutrals who attended or tuned in on the telly must have been impressed at the intensity of the football served up.

For those of us following Airdrie's fortunes particularly closely, it was a night of mixed emotions. With Kenny Black's men 2-0 up, the mood was ecstatic. Come full-time, the elation had been curtailed somewhat.

The season has lasted a full ten months, and in that time, I've heard the phrase: "If there is a difficult way to do something, Airdrie will find it," on countless occasions.

I now know what those people mean.

In some ways, it is good(?) to know that we go every week to watch a team where it's best to expect the unexpected. But, on the other hand, wouldn't it be nice going along to New Broomfield on Sunday thinking that survival will be guaranteed?

With Airdrie, there are no guarantees and that is why I am not going to bother making a prediction.

If the players produce the performance they did in the first half on Thursday, they will win and stay up. If they repeat their second half efforts, they will not.

Over to you, lads. Will the good Airdrie United please stand up - your town needs you.

ACH, I'd always wanted to visit Peterhead anyway.

While those of us at New Broomfield last Saturday afternoon tried to avoid being drowned in the monsoon conditions, Ross County got on with the job of securing first division survival.

And when it was confirmed that they had won 2-0 at Morton, that meant a Wednesday night trip for Airdrie United to Peterhead in the semi-finals of the play-offs.

In some ways, I wasn't too bothered about that. Peterhead's Balmoor Stadium was one of only five grounds in Scottish Football's '42' I'd yet to visit.

Spectacular scenery was on offer for those who made the journey north in warm, sunny conditions and the views of the North Sea, from the ground as well as the A90, were a sight to behold.

But this wasn't a holiday, this was about football, and the Diamonds got to work almost straight away with an early goal their early play deserved, which helped settle the nerves.

The major turning point of the match came within a minute of the restart. A Peterhead corner appeared to be headed in by Stuart McKay, but no goal was given.

Airdrie didn't bother hanging around for a post-mortem and raced up the pitch to win a corner of their own, and from a half-cleared ball, Scott McLaughlin fired home a lovely goal.

Incredible drama. For Peterhead's goal, it was thought that keeper Stephen Robertson had been fouled in the build-up, but it later emerged that referee Craig MacKay felt the ball hadn't crossed the line.

With the press area half-a-mile away, we will just have to take his word for it! Not that the Blue Toon contingent agreed. They were insistent that a goal should have been awarded.

The Diamonds weren't great, but did enough to win. With the second leg at New Broomfield, a place in the final against Ayr United is looking pretty much odds-on.

It's a case of one down, three to go.

ONE of the reasons why I desired a career in sports journalism will be laid out at New Broomfield this weekend.

Airdrie United will take on champions St Johnstone as they fight for their first division lives on 'Survival Saturday'. The sense of anticipation is palpable.

Should Kenny Black's men defeat the Perth outfit and Ross County, who currently lie in the coveted eighth place, lose at Morton, then the Diamonds will secure outright survival and condemn the Staggies to the post-season play-offs.

Not only will we have the excitement of events on the pitch in Airdrie, those of us present will be keeping close tabs, whether it be by internet, radio or text, on how Morton are doing against County.

These are the type of football matches you want to be involved in whether you are a coach or player; fan or journalist. You simply can't buy this kind of drama on the last day of the season.

The game in this country may have problems, but Saturday will not be a day for debating such issues. All that matters is enjoying the afternoon for what it is. This is what the beautiful game is all about.

Can Airdrie do it? I believe they have the ability to beat St Johnstone, and with Ton in with a chance of finishing in the top four (this means entry to next season's Scottish Cup at the fourth round stage), I reckon they will be highly motivated to get a result at Cappielow.

It's almost impossible to predict how things will pan out over 90 mad minutes. The optimist in me says Airdrie and Morton will win and the former will stay up. However, the realist in me thinks County will get whatever points they need.

Across the country this Saturday, teams will be playing out meaningless games, counting down the minutes until school's out for summer.

But give me the thrills and spills of a battle against the dreaded drop instead of a mid-table mediocrity slugfest every day of the week. Let the action begin.

THE sun was shining, a night out on the town lay ahead and the following day was to be spent cheering on my team.

Weekends don't really come much better but my mood was gloomy as I began the drive from Clyde's Broadwood Stadium to my South Lanarkshire home last Saturday night.

Before a game, I sometimes imagine how things might pan out during the 90 minutes. What sort of performance will Airdrie United produce? What's the best possible result that can be achieved? That sort of thing.

But I didn't expect for one minute that Airdrie would crash to a 3-0 defeat to rock-bottom Clyde in their basement battle in Cumbernauld.

Having watched the Diamonds pull off a determined 1-0 victory at Dundee seven days earlier, a loss to the Bully Wee seemed inconceivable. Yet it wasn't.

There has been plenty of comment about the result and performance in the pages of the Advertiser, on this site and on supporters' messageboards. I think it is fair to say that everyone was gobsmacked at the abject nature of the display Airdrie served up.

And - forgive me for being negative for a moment - something tells me this particular defeat could have major ramifications for Airdrie's first division future. Suddenly, even a place in the play-offs is far from guaranteed.

Clyde are only a point behind the Diamonds and, on paper, seem to have the easier run-in.

Airdrie face Ross County this weekend then play Partick Thistle and St Johnstone. From the previous nine games combined against these sides, Kenny Black's players have managed just two draws and been beaten seven times.

It's not looking good is it?

Three points against the Staggies are now so important.

Airdrie produced their worst performance of the season last Saturday. We can only hope they have saved their best until last.

THIS week Clyde, Livingston recently and, Stranraer a few months ago.

Just who will be the next club to encounter the sort of financial difficulties that puts its future at risk?

Given that we are in a recession, I suppose it was inevitable that one or two Scottish football clubs would find themselves on the brink.

Clyde appear to be in real danger with debts of around £270,000, but Livi's situation is also a concern as they consistently fail to pay the wages on time.

Stranraer appear to be on the road to salvation after a social housing landlord stepped in and offered them a £250,000 loan to clear their arrears and sort themselves out.

But not everyone will find such charity. For some, there will be no second chances.

When a club runs into serious cashflow problems, I often find myself thinking about how others do their business.

Here in Monklands, we have two chairmen who will not allow bugets to spiral out of control. Airdrie United's Jim Ballantyne and Albion Rovers' Frank Meade have their fingers very much on the pulse.

There will always be some fans who feel that 'speculating to accumulate' is a necessity if success is to be achieved. But breaking the bank does not automatically lead you on the path to glory.

Hopefully both Clyde and Livi will come through their respective problems and remain part of the senior game in this country. However, what worries me is that they won't be the last to stare into the abyss.

HERE'S a prediction for you.

Stoke City will avoid relegation and survive in the Premiership this season.

And they will manage such a feat thanks to the most passionate set of supporters in England's top-flight.

Most observers had written off the unfashionable Potteries outfit before a ball had been kicked in anger, yet today, they sit in 15th position, two points clear of the drop zone.

That Tony Pulis' men go into the final weeks of the season still with a fighting chance of staying up is impressive enough. But when you see that it is purely down to their home form, it is even more eye-catching.

On the road, Stoke suffer dreadful travel sickness having claimed just four points from a possible 42. At home, however, they have won more games and lost fewer than any of their rivals in the bottom half of the Premiership.

And I have no doubt that this is because of the intimidating atmosphere created by their legions of fans who turn the stadium into a seething cauldron. The noise generated in support of their heroes is matched only by the hate dished out to the opposition.

A few weeks ago, they hosted moneybags Manchester City and had Rory Delap sent-off; a couple of minutes later, James Beattie headed Stoke in front. I turned to my better half (who had no interest in the match it must be said!) and told her that the home fans would turn up the decibel levels and urge the team, to victory. They did.

So if you are going to cheer on Airdrie United, Albion Rovers or whoever you support tomorrow, remember one thing.

Never underestimate the power of the 12th man.