Albion Rovers 0-1 Spartans (agg 1-2): Edinburgh side claim League 2 place after play-off
- Published
Blair Henderson's penalty was the difference between Spartans and Albion Rovers
Spartans will play in Scotland's League 2 next season after winning the Pyramid play-off to end Albion Rovers' 104-year stint in the senior leagues.
With the tie poised 1-1 after last Saturday's first leg, Blair Henderson's early penalty in Coatbridge was enough to earn the Lowland League champions a place in the SPFL for the first time.
The striker sent the visiting fans into raptures after Ewan Wilson fouled Jordan Tapping in the penalty area.
Rovers' hopes had not been helped by midfielder Blair Malcom being sent off with 13 minutes remaining for violent conduct
And the home Twitter account proclaimed it as "one of the darkest days in our history" but vowed "we will be back, stronger".
Spartans, who were formed in 1951 as a team for former Edinburgh University students, missed out in 2017-18 after losing to Highland League champions Cove Rangers in the play-off semi-final.
However, Douglas Samuel's current side have made it at the second time of asking after beating first Brechin City and now a Rovers side who finished bottom of the fourth tier.
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