Petrie awards his players legendary status as Montrose clinch title
Montrose are t he League 2 champions after securing a 1 – 1 draw with Elgin City at a packed Links Park.
The Gable Endies needed a point to be sure of their first title success in more than 30 years and t hey were given a shock right on half- time when Shane Sutherland cracked home a free-kick from 25 yards.
Nerves were calmed when Mar ti n Rennie set up Jamie Redman to knock in the equaliser from close range five minutes into the second half.
Stewart Petrie’s side pushed for the win, but they were unable to find a second goal, although that mattered little when the final whistle sounded.
The Angus club had to scrap for seniors urv ival against Brora Rangers in the first-ever Pyramid playoffs just three years ago but have now left Scotland’ s bottom tier in a much more positive way.
Manager Petri es aid :“It has been an incredible turnaround at the club and I am delighted for the people who have supported Montrose on and off the pitch for years.
“This club does not win tro - phi es often, so we should savour this one.
“Our last title success was 1985 and the players who achieved that are legend sat Montrose.
“It old our players beforehand that is the status they would achieve if we got over the line.”
Pre- season favourites Peterhead kept on battling until the last minute to secure a 2–1 Balmoor win over Edinburgh City. However, they came up three points short and will now meet Stirling Albion the play-offs.
Pat Scullion turned an early Willie Gibson free- kick into his own net to have the SPFL’S helicopter looking for Balmoor, but by the time Gareth Rodger turned in an equaliser and Scott Brown hit a late winner Montrose was the destination.
Stirling Albion ended their league season with a 1- 1 draw against visitors Stenhouse - muir, the point ensuring that both sides extended their season.
Colin Mcmenamin stabbed home a cut back to put the Warriors into a first- half lead before Peter MacDonald thumped in an equaliser following the break.
Clyde failed to put any lastday pressure on the Binos or the Warriors in the play-off chase as they lost 2- 1 at home to Berwick Rangers.
Jack Hamilton scored either side of a Jack Boyle equaliser and the Borderers saw out the last 17 minutes with only ten men after Steve Notman was dismissed.
Cowdenbeath’s last game before they head into their play-off against either Cove Rangers or Spartans ended in a 2- 0 defeat by Annan Athletic at Central Park.
Blair Henderson net ted a double in the first four minutes, the Galabank side’s only blemish being the late red card for Owen Moxon.