SPFL awards: Stirling Albion | Kilmarnock | Clyde

THE Premiership is over for the season and the Edinburgh clubs have finished in the bottom two places.

Jordan White's exploits have earned him an award this week. Picture: Lisa Ferguson

Hearts finished bottom through financial mismanagement and a 15 point penalty whereas a run of 12 defeats in 17 games, and only one win, has seen Hibs tumble into the second bottom play-off place.

Hibs or, as manager Terry Butcher refers to them, ‘Hibernian nil’, now face either Hamilton Accies or Falkirk next week to see what league they will play in next season.

Falkirk edged out Queen of the South to make the semi-finals of the play-offs against Accies with a Fife Derby between Cowdenbeath and Dunfermline determining who has a spot in the Championship next season.

East Fife and Stirling Albion will meet over the next week to scrap it out for a place in League 1 after dramatic play-off wins at the weekend and the Scotsman Weekly Website Awards are here to mark the achievements in the past week.

Good week for – Kilmarnock

Two 1-0 wins to end the season have meant that Kilmarnock can go on holiday now and forget all about the play-offs and possible relegation. Winning at home against St Mirren could have been expected in a relegation fight however going to the home of your closest rivals in the race to avoid the play-offs on the final day, in front of over 15,000 fans, and winning is a bit more special.

Bad week for – Hibs (and Aberdeen)

Picking up the Award that no-one wants is a regular occurrence now for the Easter Road side. Both capital clubs in the Championship was a very unlikely possibility when Hibs looked to relegate Hearts at the end of March. It is now a strong possibility but look on the bright side, they are not playing this week so cannot win the Bad Week for Award.

Second place slipped out of the Dons’ hands in the last minute against Motherwell yesterday to complete a disappointing end to what could have been a very good season for Derek McInnes’ side.

The result took the shine off McInnes being awarded the Football Writers Manager of the Year Award on Sunday night.

Team of the week – Stirling Albion

Stirling Albion are the form team in the play-offs and East Fife have a fight on their hands to retain their League 1 status. The Forthbank side scored 8 times in two play-off games against Annan to progress and momentum is behind Greig McDonald’s side.

That gives Stirling a record of seven wins in eight games and the Binos will be League 1 bound if that continues.

Manager of the week – Allan Johnston (Kilmarnock)

Two wins out of two at a crucial stage of the season and no goals conceded makes it a terrific week for Johnston. This time last week Killie had lost 5-0 to Hearts and there was an ‘AJ out’ banner at the game and hopefully Johnston had a wry smile on his face on Saturday.

Premiership Player of the week – Kris Boyd (Kilmarnock)

It may have been his last games for Kilmarnock but what a way to go out for goal-grabber Boyd. His goal just before half time at Hibs won the three points for the Ayrshire club just 3 days after his goal saw off St Mirren 1-0.

Boyd’s second spell at Rugby Park will be remembered fondly for his efforts in keeping them up.

Premiership Goal of the week – Craig Reid (Motherwell)

It may have been scrappy and it may have been controversial however Craig Reid’s goal for Motherwell at Aberdeen brought the greatest benefits this weekend. A greater financial reward of a quarter of a million pounds will be welcomed at Fir Park and not Pittodrie with the players also enjoying two more weeks summer holiday.

Not the highest quality goal of the weekend but the most important in the top half of the table.

Premiership play-off Player of the week – Blair Alston (Falkirk)

Falkirk youngster Blair Alston started the scoring in the Premiership play-offs at Palmerston Park against Queen of the South and he ended it at the Falkirk Stadium with the decisive goal.

Alston’s strike in Dumfries last Tuesday was a terrific right foot effort sent low into the corner of the net with his extra winner coming when he converted a Scott Shephard cut-back.

The 22-year-old contributed more than goals to both games with Technical Director Alex Smith reckoning that Alston could be the latest Bairn to come off their production line of talent.

Premiership play-off Goal of the week – Bob McHugh (Queen of the South)

It may well count for little now however on-loan Motherwell striker Bob McHugh’s goal to win the first leg was a thing of beauty. The striker let a Daniel Carmichael pass run across his body before firing in an unstoppable shot from 18 yards.

The play-offs were good individually for McHugh with three goals however his second will live the longest in memory.

Championship play-off Player of the week – Andy Geggan (Dunfermline Athletic)

Andy Geggan was not even meant to be playing against Stranraer at the weekend after being taken to hospital after Wednesday night’s first leg. The midfielder was checked out for kidney damage after Wednesday night’s 2-1 first leg defeat by Stranraer and did not train on Thursday or Friday.

Geggan rose from his sick bed to settle East End Park nerves in the second half when he tied the aggregate score and he then scored in extra time to put the Pars in front before they ran out 3-1 winners.

Championship play-off Goal of the week – Greg Stewart (Cowdenbeath)

Stewart may be off to pastures new next season however the Dundee bound striker is doing his best to ensure Cowdenbeath remain in the Championship

The front man scored a double in each leg of the Blue Brazil’s play-off semi-final with Ayr however his second in the first meeting at Somerset was the pick of the bunch.

Picking up the ball with his back to goal some 20 yards out Stewart twisted and turned before shooting home with a fine strike.

League 1 play-off player of the week – Jordan White (Stirling Albion)

The sought after striker is enhancing his reputation at the right time with his hat-trick on Saturday impressing watching spies. White scored goals two, four and five for Stirling at Galabank and generally made a nuisance of himself over the two legs.

The former Dunfermline striker looks set to be a full timer again come the start of next season

League 1 play-off Goal of the week – Scott Ferguson (Clyde)

The fleet footed Ferguson had Clyde ahead twice in their play-off against East Fife. His first goal at Broadwood showed his quick feet as he nipped in between the Fifers’ goalkeeper Greg Paterson and Scott Durie and flicked the ball into the air before volleying home.

His goal at Bayview showed his pace as he darted away from the home defence to shoot past Paterson from 20 yards.

Another bright prospect in the lower leagues.