Edinburgh City attacker Ross Allum is intent on inflicting more misery on Cove Rangers when the sides meet again in the second leg of the SPFL play-off semi-final at Meadowbank on Saturday.
Allum was at the heart of the Lowland League champions’ 3-0 win at Harlaw Park last Saturday, scoring twice.
But it was not just his goals which incurred the wrath of Cove as Allum was accused of simulation in the first half and booked for leaving the pitch to celebrate a goal.
But Allum insists he can handle the heat.
The 27 year-old said: “The stick is something I seem to get along the way. It’s part of my game. I quite enjoy it and that seems to take the heat off the other players, so I’m happy with that. It spurs me on when I’ve got people on the sidelines giving me a bit of abuse. It gives me a boost.”
Allum’s double has taken his tally to the season for 28 and the forward is confident his side can complete the job and set-up a two-leg final against League 2’s bottom club East Stirling next week.
The forward has not played higher than the Lowland League and, having come close before losing to Brora Rangers at the semi-final stage last season, he is determined to make the most of his second chance.
He added: “The first leg went to plan and to win 3-0 at the Highland League champions was some effort from us. We’re favourites, but we know Cove will be going for it.
“We’re a good defensive team and it is hard to break us down at times so hopefully we can get another couple of goals and kill the tie off.
“Cove have not experienced these play-offs. We have. I never want to go through what we went through against Brora ever again. Maybe that gives us that extra bit to go further.
“I have never played at SPFL level before and to do that with Edinburgh City would be the dream.
“It has been the aim all season. We’ve won the Lowland League two years on the bounce so we have been building up to this.
“We’re in a good position and hopefully we can see it through.”