The Black and Golds suffered a disappointing end to an otherwise positive 2016/17 season after being beaten in the two-legged play-off semi-final by Forfar Athletic. They endured a disappointing end to the previous season when they missed out on a play-off place by just a single goal. Experienced manager Jim Chapman will have been disappointed at how his side fell away in the second half of the campaign, especially with one of the best squads in the division, and then saw it dismantled in the summer with goalkeeper Jordan Hart, defender Martin McNiff, midfielders Matty Allan and Ryan McStay, winger Josh Todd and striker and leading goalscorer Peter Weatherson all leaving the club. Striker David McKenna was signed from relegated East Stirlingshire whilst a number of youngsters made the step up into the first team squad. They made a steady if unspectacular start to the season and it wasn’t until the turn of the year that they found their form to climb into the play-off places. Peter Weatherson returned from a spell managing Shettleston Juniors and they finished the season in the 3rd place in the League Two table having won nine of their last 13 league games. They had led Forfar Athletic 2-0 at half-time in the first leg but had to settle for a 2-2 draw before losing 4-2 in the second leg at Station Park to lose 6-4 on aggregate. Defender Jean-Guy Lucas was an integral part of the defence in front of young goalkeeper Blair Currie, who enjoyed a breakthrough season between the sticks and was voted player of the season. Nathan Flanagan impressed on the wing after joining on loan from St Mirren whilst David McKenna finished as leading goalscorer with 12 goals. The Galabankies have now gone 91 league games since recording a goal-less draw! Chapman will be hoping to strengthen his squad over the summer so they can have a real push for the title in 2017/18.
