2015–16 Scottish League Two#League Two play-offs
{{Infobox football league season
| logo =
| pixels = 250
| competition = Scottish League Two
| season = 2015–16
| winners = East Fife
| promoted = East Fife
Queen's Park
| relegated = East Stirlingshire
| matches = 180
| total goals = 517
| league topscorer = Nathan Austin
(22 goals){{cite web |url=http://www.espnfc.co.uk/scottish-league-two/48/statistics/scorers?season=2015 |title=2015–16 Scottish League Two scorers |publisher=ESPN |access-date=20 August 2015}}
| biggest home win = {{nobreak|Stirling Albion 7–0 Montrose}}
(9 February 2016){{cite web |url=http://www.espnfc.co.uk/scottish-league-two/48/statistics/performance |title=2015–16 Scottish League Two performance |publisher=ESPN |access-date=20 August 2015}}
| biggest away win = {{nobreak|Stirling Albion 0–6 East Fife}}
(19 March 2016)
| highest scoring = {{nobreak|East Fife 5–3 East Stirlingshire}}
(14 November 2015)
| longest wins = 4 matches:
Clyde
East Fife
Elgin City
| longest unbeaten = 7 matches:
East Fife
| longest winless = 8 matches:
Montrose
| longest losses = 6 matches:
Berwick Rangers
| highest attendance = 1,387
{{nobreak|Montrose 0–2 Arbroath}}
(2 January 2016)
| lowest attendance = 238
{{nobreak|East Stirlingshire 3–1 Montrose}}
(21 November 2015)
{{nobreak|Berwick Rangers 3–2 Annan Athletic}}
(16 February 2016)
| prevseason = 2014–15
| nextseason = 2016–17
| updated = 1 May 2016
}}
The 2015–16 Scottish League Two (referred to as the Ladbrokes League Two for sponsorship reasons) was the 22nd season in the current format of 10 teams in the fourth-tier of Scottish football. The last placed team entered a play-off with a team nominated by the Scottish Football Association from outside the SPFL to determine which team enters League Two in the 2016–17 season.{{cite web |url=http://spfl.co.uk/docs/067_324__therulesofthescottishprofessionalfootballleagueasat7march2014_1396269263.pdf |title=The Rules of the SPFL |publisher=Scottish Professional Football League |format=PDF |access-date=5 May 2014 }}
Teams
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=To League Two=
=From League Two=
=Stadia and locations=
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
Annan Athletic
! Arbroath ! Clyde |
---|
Galabank |
Capacity: 2,514{{cite web |url=http://spfl.co.uk/clubs/annan-athletic/ |title=Annan Athletic Football Club|publisher=Scottish Professional Football League |access-date=11 November 2013}}
| Capacity: 7,936{{cite web |url=http://spfl.co.uk/clubs/clyde/ |title=Clyde Football Club|publisher=Scottish Professional Football League |access-date=11 November 2013}} |
200px
| 200px | 200px | 200px |
East Fife
! colspan=2 rowspan=4| {{Location map+ |UK Scotland|width=350 |float=center |places= {{Location map~ |UK Scotland|marksize=6 |lat=54.987035 |long=-3.2568200 |label=Annan Athletic|position=left}} {{Location map~ |UK Scotland|marksize=6 |lat=56.551976 |long=-2.5933059 |label=Arbroath |position=right}} {{Location map~ |UK Scotland|marksize=6 |lat=55.937769 |long=-4.0295161 |label=Clyde|position=left}} {{Location map~ |UK Scotland|marksize=6 |lat=55.759333 |long=-2.0153998 |label=Berwick Rangers|position=bottom}} {{Location map~ |UK Scotland|marksize=6 |lat=56.238326 |long=-2.9994252 |label=East Fife |position=right}} {{Location map~ |UK Scotland|marksize=6 |lat=56.000685 |long=-3.7546577 |label=East Stirlingshire|position=right}} {{Location map~ |UK Scotland|marksize=6 |lat=57.651538 |long=-3.3200732 |label=Elgin City|position=bottom}} {{Location map~ |UK Scotland|marksize=6 |lat=56.721440 |long=-2.4661846 |label=Montrose|position=right}} {{Location map~ |UK Scotland|marksize=6 |lat=55.824419 |long=-4.2514220 |label=Queen's Park|position=bottom}} {{Location map~ |UK Scotland|marksize=6 |lat=56.129959 |long=-3.912692 |label=Stirling |position=left}} }} |
Bayview Stadium |
Capacity: 1,980{{cite web |url=http://spfl.co.uk/clubs/east-fife/ |title=East Fife Football Club|publisher=Scottish Professional Football League |access-date=11 November 2013}} |
Image:Methil power station.jpg
| 200px |
Elgin City
! Montrose |
Borough Briggs |
Capacity: 4,520{{cite web |url=http://spfl.co.uk/clubs/elgin-city/ |title=Elgin City Football Club|publisher=Scottish Professional Football League |access-date=11 November 2013}} |
200px
| 200px | 200px | 200px |
=Personnel=
class="wikitable" |
Team
! Manager ! Captain ! Manufacturer ! Sponsors |
---|
Annan Athletic
|{{flagicon|SCO}} Jim Chapman |{{flagicon|SCO}} Steven Black |Stanno |M&S Engineering Ltd |
Arbroath
|{{flagicon|SCO}} Dick Campbell |{{flagicon|SCO}} Mark Whatley |Pendle |Megatech |
Berwick Rangers
|{{flagicon|USA}} John Coughlin |{{flagicon|ENG}} Jonny Fairbairn |Zoo Sport |Automatic Retailing Vending Ltd |
Clyde
|{{flagicon|SCO}} Barry Ferguson |{{flagicon|SCO}} Mark McLaughlin |Cash for Kids |
East Fife
|{{flagicon|SCO}} Gary Naysmith |{{flagicon|SCO}} Steven Campbell |Joma |OLS Laundry Service |
East Stirlingshire
|{{flagicon|SCO}} Craig Tully |{{flagicon|ENG}} Richard Barnard |Jako |Shire Trust |
Elgin City
|{{flagicon|SCO}} Jim Weir |{{flagicon|SCO}} Jamie Duff |EC 1893 |McDonald & Munro |
Montrose
|{{flagicon|SCO}} Paul Hegarty |{{flagicon|SCO}} Paul Watson |Nike |Intervention Rentals |
Queen's Park
|{{flagicon|SCO}} Gus MacPherson |{{flagicon|SCO}} Tony Quinn |
Stirling Albion
|{{flagicon|SCO}} Stuart McLaren |{{flagicon|SCO}} Ross McMillan |
=Managerial changes=
class="wikitable sortable" |
Team
!Outgoing manager !Manner of departure !Date of vacancy !Position in table !Incoming manager !Date of appointment |
---|
Berwick Rangers
| {{flagicon|SCO}} {{sort|name|Colin Cameron}} | Sacked | 7th | {{flagicon|USA}} John Coughlin |
Arbroath
| {{flagicon|ENG}} {{sort|name|Todd Lumsden}} | Sacked | 8th | {{flagicon|SCO}} Dick Campbell |
League table
|update=complete
|source=[https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/scottish-league-two/table BBC Sport]
|team1=EAF |team2=ELG |team3=CLY |team4=QPK |team5=ANN |team6=BER |team7=STI |team8=MON |team9=ARB |team10=EAS
|result1=SL1 |result2=playoffs |result3=playoffs |result4=playoffs |result10=RPO
|win_ANN=16|draw_ANN=8 |loss_ANN=12|gf_ANN=69 |ga_ANN=57
|win_ARB=11|draw_ARB=6 |loss_ARB=19|gf_ARB=42 |ga_ARB=51
|win_BER=14|draw_BER=7 |loss_BER=15|gf_BER=45 |ga_BER=50
|win_CLY=17|draw_CLY=6 |loss_CLY=13|gf_CLY=56 |ga_CLY=45
|win_EAF=18|draw_EAF=8 |loss_EAF=10|gf_EAF=62 |ga_EAF=41
|win_EAS=9 |draw_EAS=5 |loss_EAS=22|gf_EAS=41 |ga_EAS=79
|win_ELG=17|draw_ELG=8 |loss_ELG=11|gf_ELG=59 |ga_ELG=46
|win_MON=11|draw_MON=10|loss_MON=15|gf_MON=50 |ga_MON=70
|win_QPK=15|draw_QPK=11|loss_QPK=10|gf_QPK=46 |ga_QPK=32
|win_STI=13|draw_STI=9 |loss_STI=14|gf_STI=47 |ga_STI=46
|name_ANN = Annan Athletic
|name_ARB = Arbroath
|name_BER = Berwick Rangers
|name_CLY = Clyde
|name_EAF = East Fife
|name_EAS = East Stirlingshire
|name_ELG = Elgin City
|name_MON = Montrose
|name_QPK = Queen's Park
|name_STI = Stirling Albion
|status_EAF=CP
|status_EAS=R
|status_QPK=OP
|show_limit=5
|class_rules = 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
|res_col_header=PQR
|col_SL1=green1 |text_SL1=Promotion to Scottish League One
|col_playoffs=yellow1|text_playoffs=Qualification to League One play-offs
|col_RPO=red2 |text_RPO=Qualification to League Two play-off final
}}
Results
Teams play each other four times, twice in the first half of the season (home and away) and twice in the second half of the season (home and away), making a total of 36 games.
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
= First half of season =
{{#invoke:sports results|main
|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey
|team1=ANN|team2=ARB|team3=BER|team4=CLY|team5=EFI
|team6=EST|team7=ELG|team8=MON|team9=QPA|team10=STI
|name_ANN=Annan Athletic
|match_ANN_ARB=2–2
|match_ANN_BER=1–0
|match_ANN_CLY=2–3
|match_ANN_EFI=2–0
|match_ANN_EST=3–1
|match_ANN_ELG=1–1
|match_ANN_MON=3–2
|match_ANN_QPA=3–1
|match_ANN_STI=1–1
|name_ARB=Arbroath
|match_ARB_ANN=0–2
|match_ARB_BER=3–1
|match_ARB_CLY=0–1
|match_ARB_EFI=1–1
|match_ARB_EST=0–0
|match_ARB_ELG=0–3
|match_ARB_MON=3–1
|match_ARB_QPA=1–2
|match_ARB_STI=2–0
|name_BER=Berwick Rangers
|match_BER_ANN=0–2
|match_BER_ARB=2–2
|match_BER_CLY=0–5
|match_BER_EFI=1–1
|match_BER_EST=2–1
|match_BER_ELG=2–3
|match_BER_MON=2–1
|match_BER_QPA=1–0
|match_BER_STI=1–2
|name_CLY=Clyde
|match_CLY_ANN=4–2
|match_CLY_ARB=0–2
|match_CLY_BER=1–1
|match_CLY_EFI=2–0
|match_CLY_EST=3–1
|match_CLY_ELG=4–2
|match_CLY_MON=3–1
|match_CLY_QPA=0–2
|match_CLY_STI=0–1
|name_EFI=East Fife
|match_EFI_ANN=0–1
|match_EFI_ARB=0–1
|match_EFI_BER=5–0
|match_EFI_CLY=1–0
|match_EFI_EST=5–3
|match_EFI_ELG=2–1
|match_EFI_MON=1–1
|match_EFI_QPA=0–2
|match_EFI_STI=1–1
|name_EST=East Stirlingshire
|match_EST_ANN=3–1
|match_EST_ARB=0–4
|match_EST_BER=0–4
|match_EST_CLY=0–3
|match_EST_EFI=1–0
|match_EST_ELG=2–0
|match_EST_MON=3–1
|match_EST_QPA=2–1
|match_EST_STI=2–3
|name_ELG=Elgin City
|match_ELG_ANN=3–2
|match_ELG_ARB=2–0
|match_ELG_BER=4–1
|match_ELG_CLY=1–1
|match_ELG_EFI=4–2
|match_ELG_EST=4–0
|match_ELG_MON=2–0
|match_ELG_QPA=0–0
|match_ELG_STI=1–0
|name_MON=Montrose
|match_MON_ANN=1–1
|match_MON_ARB=3–0
|match_MON_BER=4–1
|match_MON_CLY=2–0
|match_MON_EFI=1–4
|match_MON_EST=2–1
|match_MON_ELG=2–0
|match_MON_QPA=1–6
|match_MON_STI=1–3
|name_QPA=Queen's Park
|match_QPA_ANN=0–1
|match_QPA_ARB=1–0
|match_QPA_BER=0–1
|match_QPA_CLY=1–1
|match_QPA_EFI=0–2
|match_QPA_EST=5–1
|match_QPA_ELG=3–1
|match_QPA_MON=0–1
|match_QPA_STI=1–0
|name_STI=Stirling Albion
|match_STI_ANN=1–0
|match_STI_ARB=3–1
|match_STI_BER=1–3
|match_STI_CLY=0–1
|match_STI_EFI=1–3
|match_STI_EST=0–0
|match_STI_ELG=3–1
|match_STI_MON=1–0
|match_STI_QPA=1–2
|source=[http://spfl.co.uk/league-two/results/ Scottish League 2]
|update=8 March 2016
}}
{{col-2}}
= Second half of season =
{{#invoke:sports results|main
|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey
|team1=ANN|team2=ARB|team3=BER|team4=CLY|team5=EFI
|team6=EST|team7=ELG|team8=MON|team9=QPA|team10=STI
|name_ANN=Annan Athletic
|match_ANN_ARB=4–1
|match_ANN_BER=1–0
|match_ANN_CLY=3–3
|match_ANN_EFI=2–4
|match_ANN_EST=1–3
|match_ANN_ELG=4–2
|match_ANN_MON=3–3
|match_ANN_QPA=1–0
|match_ANN_STI=2–2
|name_ARB=Arbroath
|match_ARB_ANN=2–1
|match_ARB_BER=1–2
|match_ARB_CLY=0–1
|match_ARB_EFI=0–1
|match_ARB_EST=3–0
|match_ARB_ELG=2–3
|match_ARB_MON=0–0
|match_ARB_QPA=0–1
|match_ARB_STI=1–1
|name_BER=Berwick Rangers
|match_BER_ANN=3–2
|match_BER_ARB=3–0
|match_BER_CLY=3–0
|match_BER_EFI=2–0
|match_BER_EST=2–2
|match_BER_ELG=2–0
|match_BER_MON=1–0
|match_BER_QPA=1–1
|match_BER_STI=1–0
|name_CLY=Clyde
|match_CLY_ANN=2–1
|match_CLY_ARB=1–2
|match_CLY_BER=2–1
|match_CLY_EFI=0–0
|match_CLY_EST=0–1
|match_CLY_ELG=1–0
|match_CLY_MON=3–3
|match_CLY_QPA=0–1
|match_CLY_STI=3–1
|name_EFI=East Fife
|match_EFI_ANN=4–2
|match_EFI_ARB=2–1
|match_EFI_BER=1–0
|match_EFI_CLY=2–0
|match_EFI_EST=1–1
|match_EFI_ELG=0–2
|match_EFI_MON=3–0
|match_EFI_QPA=1–1
|match_EFI_STI=1–0
|name_EST=East Stirlingshire
|match_EST_ANN=0–1
|match_EST_ARB=0–3
|match_EST_BER=0–0
|match_EST_CLY=2–4
|match_EST_EFI=1–3
|match_EST_ELG=0–3
|match_EST_MON=2–4
|match_EST_QPA=0–3
|match_EST_STI=3–2
|name_ELG=Elgin City
|match_ELG_ANN=2–2
|match_ELG_ARB=4–1
|match_ELG_BER=1–0
|match_ELG_CLY=1–0
|match_ELG_EFI=1–3
|match_ELG_EST=2–0
|match_ELG_MON=1–1
|match_ELG_QPA=1–1
|match_ELG_STI=2–1
|name_MON=Montrose
|match_MON_ANN=0–5
|match_MON_ARB=0–2
|match_MON_BER=1–0
|match_MON_CLY=2–1
|match_MON_EFI=2–2
|match_MON_EST=3–2
|match_MON_ELG=3–1
|match_MON_QPA=1–1
|match_MON_STI=1–1
|name_QPA=Queen's Park
|match_QPA_ANN=1–3
|match_QPA_ARB=2–1
|match_QPA_BER=0–0
|match_QPA_CLY=2–1
|match_QPA_EFI=3–0
|match_QPA_EST=0–3
|match_QPA_ELG=0–0
|match_QPA_MON=1–1
|match_QPA_STI=1–1
|name_STI=Stirling Albion
|match_STI_ANN=2–1
|match_STI_ARB=1–0
|match_STI_BER=2–1
|match_STI_CLY=1–2
|match_STI_EFI=0–6
|match_STI_EST=3–0
|match_STI_ELG=0–0
|match_STI_MON=7–0
|match_STI_QPA=0–0
|source=[http://spfl.co.uk/league-two/results/ Scottish League 2]
|update=30 April 2016
}}
{{col-2}}
{{col-end}}
Season statistics
=Scoring=
==Top scorers==
{{updated|matches played on 30 April 2016}}
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
Rank
!Player !Club !Goals |
---|
1
|align="left"|{{flagicon|SCO}} Nathan Austin |align="left"|East Fife |22 |
2
|align="left"|{{flagicon|SCO}} Craig Gunn |align="left"|Elgin City |21 |
3
|align="left"|{{flagicon|SCO}} Gary Fraser |align="left"|Montrose |19 |
4
|align="left"|{{flagicon|SCO}} Blair Henderson |align="left"|Berwick Rangers |17 |
5
|align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} Peter Weatherson |align="left"|Annan Athletic |15 |
6
|align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} Josh Todd |align="left"|Annan Athletic |13 |
==Hat-tricks==
;Note
4 Player scored 4 goals
=Discipline=
==Player==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
===Yellow cards===
{{updated|matches played on 30 April 2016}}
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
Rank
!Player !Club !Cards |
---|
1
|align="left"|{{flagicon|SCO}} Michael McKenna |align="left"|Berwick Rangers |13 |
2
|align="left"|{{flagicon|SCO}} Reece Donaldson |align="left"|East Stirlingshire |11 |
rowspan="3"|3
|align="left"|{{flagicon|SCO}} Steven Notman |align="left"|Berwick Rangers |rowspan="3"|10 |
align="left"|{{flagicon|SCO}} Gary Fraser
|align="left"|Montrose |
align="left"|{{flagicon|SCO}} Ross Forsyth
|align="left"|Stirling Albion |
rowspan="3"|6
|align="left"|{{flagicon|SCO}} Mark McLaughlin |align="left"|Clyde |rowspan="3"|9 |
align="left"|{{flagicon|SCO}} Mark Nicolson
|align="left"|Elgin City |
align="left"|{{flagicon|SCO}} Ross Smith
|align="left"|Stirling Albion |
9
|align="left"|{{flagicon|SCO}} Graham Webster |align="left"|Montrose |8 |
10
|colspan="2"|6 players |7 |
{{col-2}}
===Red cards===
{{updated|matches played on 30 April 2016}}{{cite web |url=http://www.espnfc.co.uk/scottish-league-two/48/statistics/discipline |title=2015–16 Scottish League Two statistics – Player Discipline |publisher=ESPN |access-date=16 August 2015}}
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
Rank
!Player !Club !Cards |
---|
rowspan="6"|1
|align="left"|{{flagicon|ENG}} Peter Weatherson |align="left"|Annan Athletic |rowspan="6"|2 |
align="left"|{{flagicon|SCO}} Ricky Little
|align="left"|Arbroath |
align="left"|{{flagicon|SCO}} Jordan McGregor
|align="left"|Berwick Rangers |
align="left"|{{flagicon|SCO}} Kevin Walker
|align="left"|Berwick Rangers |
align="left"|{{flagicon|SCO}} Reece Donaldson
|align="left"|East Stirlingshire |
align="left"|{{flagicon|SCO}} Ross Smith
|align="left"|Stirling Albion |
7
|colspan="2"|33 players |1 |
{{col-end}}
==Club==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
===Yellow cards===
{{updated|matches played on 30 April 2016}}{{cite web |url=http://www.espnfc.co.uk/scottish-league-two/48/statistics/fairplay |title=2015–16 Scottish League Two statistics – Club Discipline |publisher=ESPN |access-date=20 August 2015}}
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
Rank
!Club !Cards |
---|
1
|74 |
2
|73 |
3
|64 |
{{col-2}}
===Red cards===
{{updated|matches played on 30 April 2016}}
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
Rank
!Club !Cards |
---|
rowspan="2"|1
|rowspan="2"|8 |
Stirling Albion |
3
|7 |
{{col-end}}
Awards
=Monthly awards=
class="wikitable" |
rowspan="2"|Month
!colspan="2"|Manager of the Month !colspan="2"|Player of the Month !rowspan="2"|Ref. |
---|
Manager
!Club !Player !Club |
August
|{{flagicon|SCO}} Gary Naysmith |{{flagicon|NGA}} Smart Osadolor |
September
|{{flagicon|SCO}} Gus MacPherson |{{flagicon|SCO}} Bobby Linn |
October
|{{flagicon|SCO}} Paul Hegarty |{{flagicon|SCO}} Matty Flynn |
November
|{{flagicon|SCO}} Barry Ferguson |{{flagicon|SCO}} David Gormley |
December
|{{flagicon|SCO}} Stuart McLaren |{{flagicon|SCO}} Darren Smith |
January
|{{flagicon|SCO}} Jim Weir |{{flagicon|ENG}} Nathan Austin |
February
|{{flagicon|SCO}} Barry Ferguson |{{flagicon|SCO}} Steven Doris |
March
|{{flagicon|SCO}} Gary Naysmith |{{flagicon|SCO}} Kyle Wilkie |
April
|{{flagicon|USA}} John Coughlin |{{flagicon|SCO}} Brian Cameron |
League Two play-offs
The first round was contested between Cove Rangers and Edinburgh City, the winners of the Highland League and Lowland League respectively. City, the winners, then played off against the bottom club in League Two, East Stirlingshire, swapping with them and being promoted to the 2016–17 Scottish League Two with a victory.
=Semi-finals=
==First leg==
{{football box collapsible
|result=
|nobars=1
|date=23 April 2016
|time=15:00
|report=[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/36092511 BBC Report]
|team1=Cove Rangers
|score=0–3
|team2=Edinburgh City
|goals1=
|goals2=Allum {{goal|22||45}}
Donaldson {{goal|41}}
|stadium=Harlaw Park, Inverurie
|attendance=
|referee=
}}
==Second leg==
{{football box collapsible
|result=
|nobars=1
|date=30 April 2016
|time=15:00
|report=[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36118566 BBC report]
|team1=Edinburgh City
|score=1–1
|aggregatescore = 4–1
|team2=Cove Rangers
|goals1= Gair {{goal|32}}
|goals2= Watt {{goal|86}}
|stadium=Meadowbank Stadium, Edinburgh
|attendance=839
|referee=
}}
=Final=
==First leg==
{{football box collapsible
|result=
|nobars=1
|date=7 May 2016
|time=15:00
|report=[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36180133 BBC Report]
|team1=Edinburgh City
|score=1–1
|team2=East Stirlingshire
|goals1=Gair {{goal|15|pen.}}
Mbu {{sent off|0|77}}
|goals2=Wright {{goal|42}}
Donaldson {{sent off|0|90+1}}
|stadium=Meadowbank Stadium, Edinburgh
|attendance=1,090
|referee=Gavin Duncan
}}
==Second leg==
{{football box collapsible
|result=
|nobars=1
|date=14 May 2016
|time=15:00
|report=[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36234801 BBC Report]
|team1=East Stirlingshire
|score=0–1
|aggregatescore = 1–2
|team2=Edinburgh City
|goals1=Donaldson {{sent off|0|86}}
|goals2=Gair {{goal|87|pen.}}
|stadium=Ochilview Park, Stenhousemuir
|attendance=1,286
|referee=Don Robertson
}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Scottish League Two}}
{{2015–16 in Scottish football}}
{{Scottish fourth division football seasons}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:2015-16 Scottish League Two}}