In order to have a chance of grabbing a lifeline, Accies must now win at Heriot's on Saturday, but with two other threatened clubs – Stirling County and GHA – meeting each other, the situation is not as bleak as it could be.
In a nutshell, Dund
ee High FPs are already doomed while Accies have 37 points with one game remaining. Above them Stirling County (40 points) host GHA (38 points), although the former have still to entertain Heriot's.
So, from an Accies perspective, their best hope is to beat Heriot's preferably with a four-try bonus point, then hope GHA lose, although it is not inconceivable they could ultimately be hoping for a favour from their Capital near-neighbours.
Barnes said: "I'd rather be playing Heriot's than Stirling in the situation we are in."
Upbeat almost to a fault, Barnes' mood contrasted sharply with a sight that unfolded soon afterwards – an Accies player emerged from the dressing room to sit for a few moments on the pitch, seemingly in silent contemplation.
At face value it was a sign that some Accies do not take to defeat easily, though it is actions that matter and if ever there was a time for all the squad to stand up and be counted, it comes this weekend.
Barnes believes they will prevail. He cites such reasons to be optimistic as the impending return of some key players, notably Scotland under-20 back Chris Kinloch and experienced second row Ed Stuart, a late withdrawal through 'flu. Also, considering Accies had been thumped 38-8 at Meggetland in the Scottish Cup earlier this month, it was some turn around to get within four minutes of victory on Saturday, Ben Fisher ploughing over for the decisive late try.
Such a last-gasp tour de force signalled the character in the Boroughmuir ranks, as coach Eamon John rightly pointed out. But Barnes, too, felt his side showed guts.
"We gave it our best shot. No complaints" said the ex-Scotland second row. While he was unable to say whether Accies had tried to force things too much – particularly in the first half when they knocked on four times in the Boroughmuir 22 as well as losing a couple of line-outs and a scrum heel – he remained adamant that it wasn't all doom and gloom.
"If we had played that way all season we would not have had any problems," said Barnes.
As to the question of whether Accies tried too hard or Boroughmuir were able to force those ultimately costly handling errors, you pays your money and takes your choice.
What struck this observer is that it was unfortunate for Accies in their plight that they had to play opponents already crowned champions.
'Muir played like a side who took their responsibilities as champions seriously – indeed, anything else would have been unacceptable.
Sometimes, for various reasons, things don't click, but it is a sign of class and confidence that a quality side still find reserves. This is what Boroughmuir did, as confirmed by coach John. He said: "It was all about pride. We've had to show quality and character all season.
"Quality was lower but the character shone through in the end.
"Boroughmuir haven't lost at home since December '06 and that was what we were battling to maintain."
As part of the motivation for a side who were crowned champions with four games remaining John continues to set targets.
"We now have 94 points having lost only once in the league and with a good few bonus points in the bag.
"Our aim now is to go to Melrose and win our concluding match of the season so as to set a points target others will find hard to surpass in future seasons."
In fact, John has already started to give some thought to the title defence, with a few pieces put in the jigsaw on Saturday.
"We could have done without injuries to Fergus Pringle, who suffered concussion, and Matt Cannon, who picked up a shoulder knock. That was especially the case having had to leave out five players from the previous week.
"Unfortunately, you can't really start putting together a side in March for the subsequent season but in planning ahead it didn't do any harm to have three relatively young players finish the game in our back three – James White (22], Stuart McGee (21] and Rob Cairns (21].
While these three have their careers in front of them, it was a Meggetland swansong for retiring forwards Graeme McCallum and David Cunningham, both in their 30s and who previous represented Edinburgh in Europe.
Given such distinctions it was appropriate they led the side out jointly.
Afterwards, Cunningham revealed: "When we were trailing with five minutes to go I turned and said to Graeme that we didn't want people remembering our last game at Meggetland for a defeat."
What happened was that Fisher crossed in the corner and Boroughmuir had regained a lead they had forfeited when Iain Berthinussen rounded off the best move of the day in 70 minutes with a try created by Matt Coupar and David Blair.
Blair couldn't convert but it was just about his only slip with a boot on a day when his first half penalty and drop goal saw Accies turn round equal to a couple of penalties from Elgan O'Donnell who subsequent touchline conversion did justice to a fine try from sub. Euan Matheson.
At 13-6, 'Muir might have thought they were home and hosed, but a Blair penalty and the Berthinussen gave them the lead for the first time only to have hopes dashed.
Here there is one other aspect that could have swung matters 'Muir's way, as confirmed by Cunningham in noting how a trophy bearing the name of his club's late Scotland and Lions legend, Bruce Hay, was at stake for the first time.
It was Cunningham's view that Boroughmuir found a bit extra in honour of the memory of a man who died last October, aged 57.
If that said much about Boroughmuir's regard for Hay, Cunningham also spoke of deep appreciation for the gesture by Accies in putting up the trophy to be coupled with their 150th anniversary celebrations.
Perhaps the abiding memory should be of the deep respect between intense rivals who played in highly committed fashion – so much so that it was a shame there had to be a loser.
As Barnes – believed to be the instigator of Accies' silverware gesture – indicated though, they do live to fight another day .
On current form, it's deservedly so, since they are Division One standard.
That place, however, has to be earned.
Boroughmuir: Cottrell, White, Clapperton, O'Donnell, Cairns, M Cannon, Cusiter, Lait, Cunningham, Ward, Pringle (c), McCallum, Brown, Fisher, Martyn.
Subs: Costigan, Matheson, Hare, McGee, Stewart.
Accies: Walker, Coupar, Loudon, I Berthinussen, Dickie, Blair, Campbell, Burns, Price, Marsh, Campbell, Pike, J Berthinussen, Teague (c), Drennan.
Subs: Bonner, Lovett, Smith, Edwards, Niven.
Scorers: Boroughmuir: Tries: Matheson, Fisher;
Conversion: O'Donnell;
Penalties: O'Donnell (2).
Accies: Try: I Berthinussen;
Penalties: Blair (2); Drop goal: Blair.
The full article contains 1230 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
