Final week, final challenge

The Pars Young Player of the Year - "I am delighted considering how far I have come over the last year.

Ryan Williamson has had a successful season after breaking into the first team, being called into the Scotland squad for his age group and being included in the SPFL League One team of the year. He collected the Young Player of the Year Award at Saturday night`s award ceremony but there is still one goal left for him and that he hopes to conclude next Sunday by winning the Championship Play Off final.

"I am delighted considering how far I have come over the last year. I was with the under seventeen last year but I have come in and had a great year. Hopefully now we can go on to Wednesday and Sunday and get the job done. Getting promotion would just top it off."

Talking exclusively to the website after receiving his award at Carnegie College, Ryan recalled what he had being doing on the day of the second leg of the semi final play off last year:-

"This time last year I actually had a game with the 17s - I`m sure we beat Queens Park 2-1 - and went up to watch the game against Forfar. It shows you the difference going from watching the play off last year and playing in it this time!"

Ryan really enjoyed the experience of getting past Stranraer:-

"It was brilliant, we knew what we had to do. We knew that if we put the effort in, showed the desire and the will to win, then we would have enough ability throughout the side to go on and win the match. Luckily we did that.

"We came out in the first fifteen minutes flying, took the game to them and had a lot of chances in the first half. At one point we were thinking that it was just going to be one of those days. We were missing chances but the crowd stayed with us throughout the whole game. The support was brilliant and that got us through after extra time."

Ryan was one of five changes to Jim Jefferies` starting eleven:-

"The gaffer said that he could not play the same team for the four games. Some of the boys were probably still tired from Wednesday and maybe a wee change was what was needed. It was great to be part of the day.

"It is the gaffer`s choice but whatever side is put out we will put everything into the game and hopefully we come through that."

Ryan Williamson and Steven Bell

The 18 year old admitted that the Stranraer match had been nerve racking but once he got a couple of touches he settled into his game quickly.

"I loved every minute of the game. The fans were brilliant and behind us, it was a great atmosphere and really good to play in."

The consequences of failing to beat Stranraer had preyed on the minds of the players as much as those of the fans, Ryan revealed:-

"We were all thinking about that but at the same time we were tiring to blank that out. We just went out to try and win the game. We didn`t want to go into the game with a negative attitude thinking we are 2-1 down and we might not come out of this. As players we just wanted to go in and give it our all, pass the ball about.

"We knew fitness wise that we were going to be superior to them really. If we tired them out we knew that we would eventually get a break. I am just glad that we came away with the three goals and the win."

For Ryan this was his real taste of playing in a match with a lot at stake but the experienced players all say that these are the kind of games that they all want to play in.

"It was a good experience for me to play in it. It was my first real taste of really competitive football and a good learning curve."

His grandad and his father Andy, who played for Dunfermline from 1987 to 1993, watched from the stand as usual and they are looking forward to the play off finals as much as Ryan is.

"Cowdenbeath are in a division above but we have already proved this year that we can beat them. If we go out with the right mentality, put in the effort and show the desire that all of us have, then hopefully we will get through the tie.

"To win the final would top off the season for both me and for the club. Everyone wants to be in the Championship; some are saying that it will be better than the SPL. Hopefully it will be a day to remember next Sunday."