Hamilton Academical 2-1 Airdrieonians (agg 2-2): Visitors promoted after penalty shoot-out
- Published
Airdrieonians clinched promotion on their derby rivals' home ground
Airdrieonians beat Hamilton Academical to end a 10-year absence from the Scottish second tier and send their Lanarkshire rivals down to the third for the first time since 2004.
A thrilling second leg went to a penalty shoot-out after Gabby McGill's late equaliser for the visitors.
Connor Smith and Jean-Pierre Tiehi had Accies 2-1 up on aggregate until then.
And goalkeeper Josh Rae saved Daniel Reilly's spot kick, the first miss after 11 straight conversions.
Callum Smith's first-leg winner for the Diamonds had been cancelled out by his younger brother, Connor, after the on-loan Heart of Midlothian midfielder's fine low finish from a Reghan Tumilty pass.
Accies looked to be in pole position when, after the break, Lewis Smith's low cross was tucked in by on-loan Fulham striker Jean-Pierre Tiehi.
However, McGill levelled the aggregate score to send the tie into overtime when the forward fired home from 12 yards after his first effort was blocked.
Accies' Dylan McGowan sent a header against the bar in stoppage time, as did Airdrie's Calum Gallagher.
A 2-1 second-leg defeat ended the visitors' run of four straight wins and five unbeaten away from home, but Accies' second home win in a row was not enough as they paid for poor end-of-season form that left John Rankin's side second bottom of the Championship.
It ends a run of three play-offs without promotion for the side now led by 30-year-old player-manager Rhys McCabe and comes after they finished third in League 1 before beating runners-up Falkirk home and away in the semi-final.
The midfielder, who previously won promotion with Dunfermline Athletic, felt "we had something to prove" given his youthful introduction to management.
"It's hard to put into words just now," McCabe told 成人快手 Alba. "You can see what it means to the supporters - it's been a hell of a long time and hopefully we've given them a little bit back."
McCabe insisted he had faith that his side would score despite the goal that took the tie into extra time coming so late.
"We score goals - that's what we do," he added. "I think only Celtic have a better goal return than us."