Carlisle United's Charters set for play-off action with Murphy's Queens
Carlisle United's Taylor Charters is preparing for play-off action as he bids to help Peter Murphy's Queen of the South to promotion.
The Blues loan midfielder and his team-mates take on Cove Rangers tomorrow in the first leg of their Scottish Championship play-off semi-final.
Queens finished third in Scotland's third tier to set up a two-legged encounter with second-placed Cove.
The first leg is at Queens' Palmerston Park before the return encounter at the Balmoral Stadium on Saturday.
The winners will play either Stenhousemuir or Airdrieonians for a place in Scotland's second tier.
Charters, whose contract is up at Carlisle this summer, returned from injury to take his place in the Doonhamers squad on Saturday as Murphy's side drew 1-1 with champions Arbroath.
The versatile west Cumbrian came off the bench on the hour mark for his 12th loan appearance as Queens ended the league campaign unbeaten in eight games.
The Dumfries outfit, in Carlisle United legend Murphy's first season in charge, are bidding to return to Scotland's second tier after three years in League One.
Their squad also includes Cumbrian defender Matty Douglas and ex-Carlisle United man Brennan Dickenson, though the latter has been out of action for the last two months.
Also in Scotland, Annan Athletic face a two-legged play-off semi-final against Elgin City to try and retain their League One place. The Galabankies are away on Tuesday before the home second leg on Saturday, with Wullie Gibson's side hoping to reach the final against either Edinburgh City or East Fife.
On the United loan front, meanwhile, Ethan Robson and Gateshead will try to force their way into the National League play-offs on the final day this afternoon.
The north east club are eighth, a point outside the play-off places ahead of their last game against Southend United - who are seventh.
Gateshead, managed by ex-Carlisle coach Carl Magnay, will usurp Southend in the play-offs if they win the crunch fifth-tier game at the International Stadium.
Blues midfielder Robson has made three appearances for Heed but has missed out recently with injury.
Should Gateshead fail to make it into the promotion running, they will face Carlisle in league action next season for the first time since 1960. That was against the original Gateshead club that disbanded in 1973, with the current incarnation of the non-league club having formed in 1977.
In the battle for promotion to the National League, meanwhile, the National League North and South play-off finals are now confirmed.
Scunthorpe United will take on Chester in the northern final, while Boreham Wood will face Maidstone United in the southern final.
Scunthorpe got past Andy Preece's Chorley 4-2 in their northern semi-final with Chester winning 2-1 against Kidderminster Harriers, whose assistant manager is former United boss Neil McDonald.
In the southern semis, Boreham Wood defeated Torquay United 1-0, while Maidstone claimed a 2-1 win against Eastbourne Borough, managed by ex-Blues midfielder Adam Murray.
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