Pars Youths have the experience

"We showed that we could handle the highly pressurised situation.

Like every player at Dunfermline the focus is on the play offs that are just two and a half weeks away.  There are three league fixtures to complete the League One campaign but since last Saturday's draw against Forfar, the Pars are assured of a second place finish. Lewis Martin is looking forward to the big occasions which will be four cup finals in the fight to be in a Championship that will next season  include Hearts, Rangers, Raith Rovers and possibly Falkirk.

Although only just turned 18, Lewis claims it is by virtue of their youth that many members of the team have already experience of winner-takes-all games:-

"A lot of the boys who played in the Youth Cup final actually played in the play offs last season. We did do well and were unlucky against Alloa but we showed that we could handle the highly pressurised situation.

"Playing against Forfar was my eleventh league start and I am just hoping that I can start again against Ayr United this week."

With the Manager already promising to hand debuts to emerging youngsters, the final three league games that allows an opportunity for them to force a way into the Manager's thoughts for those play off games:-

"That is what I am hoping to do" said Lewis. "I will do my best at training; every time I train and in the games where I get a shot, I try the best I can."

Lewis made his first start in the away game against Ayr United in December and in the nine successive starts following that he also experienced starting matches against the other Pars potential play off opponents - Stranraer and Stenhousemuir.

"I played against Stenhousemuir when we played away and Andy Geggan scored in the last minute." When asked who he'd prefer in the play offs, he replied "I am not particularly bothered to be honest. As long as we beat them!

"I played against Stranraer the last time we played them at home.  We have beaten Ayr four times out of five and we have beaten and drawn against Stenny. We can beat any of them.

"We need to start scoring goals and start winning games in the lead up to the play off and hopefully do well in them.  We know that we can score goals and they will come before the end of the season."

Lewis has still to open his goalscoring account but considers that he is coming close:-

"I could have scored two on Saturday. It was terrible, I missed a header but I will show the Manager that I can lift my play."