Champions!

The Spartans players celebrate clinching the Lowland League title. A nervy afternoon as Spartans needed a win to be sure of holding off the challenge of last year's champions, East Kilbride, who started the day just a point behind and with a superior goal difference. Worse still, the visitors to Ainslie Park were third-placed East Stirlingshire on an unbeaten run of nineteen matches while East Kilbride had the easier opponents on paper - Stirling Uni. No goals in either game at half time - Spartans still one point ahead - but a goal in either game could turn things around. Spartans did create a few more chances in the second half, but neither keeper was seriously tested. However the news was coming through of an upset in the other game - Stirling Uni had taken the lead. As the game entered its final moments the kids at the far end of the ground unfurled a very home-made looking "Champions" banner and a cheer went around the ground - East Kilbride had lost and Spartans were champions. The final whistle led to joyous celebrations from players and spectators and then an announcement that the trophy, which had been waiting somewhere near Edinburgh Airport, was on its way. After a short wait the players lined up to receive their medals and the captain collected the league trophy. Such is the nature of the Scottish league pyramid Spartans now have a two-legged play-off against the winner of the Highland League before the winner of that play-off then plays against the bottom team in League Two - Cowdenbeath - to determine who will be in League Two next season.