Saturday 6th May 2023 3pm – Scottish League Two – New Dundas Park, Bonnyrigg

Whilst the calls for the National League in England to become League Three, and an additional promotion and relegation spot awarded, it is still easier for a team at Step 5 to be promoted to Step 4.

The National League has a dearth of former Football League sides in, some on their way down (Scunthorpe United and Torquay United for instance will be playing at step 6 next season), whilst others are very much on the up – Wrexham and Notts County’s titantic battle for promotion this season showing the rude health and benefit of a spell outside the Football League. But in Scotland it is still very much a closed shop.

Currently, only one side is potentially relegated from the SPFL structure come the end of the season. Potentially, because whoever finished bottom of League Two has a second (and third) chance with a two-legged play-off against the side that emerges victorious from the Champions play-off between the Highland and Lowland Leagues.

In recent years there has been some notable successes of teams coming up and carrying on the momentum. FC Edinburgh, Cove Rangers and Kelty Hearts have all won subsequent promotions, having replaced sides like East Stirlingshire, Brechin City and Berwick Rangers. But this season has been slightly more challenging for Bonnyrigg Rose who replaced Cowdenbeath a year ago.

With just two games to go, Bonnyrigg were one of three sides that could still finish bottom. Having been bottom of the league for 10 games in the early part of 2023, the climbed off the foot of the table, only to return to it in the second to last game after bottom side Albion Rovers took an unlikely lead at East Fife. Fortunately, the home side turned it around in the second half but it still meant that they had to beat Elgin City, themselves one of three sides that could have been relegated, on the final day of the season to be sure of safety.

Whilst there would be some eyes and ears on Albion Rovers home game against Champions Stirling Albion, the maths were simple enough. Three points and it didn’t matter what happened elsewhere.

Despite a challenging first season in the SPFL, the fans had flocked to New Dundas Park, with an average attendance of over 900 during the season. Over 2,000 arrived for the visit of Elgin City, more than at any game in League’s One and Two.

The first half was tense. The home side couldn’t afford to make a mistake, so were relatively cautious in their approach. A goal-less first 45 minutes in both their game and the one at Albion Rovers didn’t help settle any nerves in the crowd. One goal in either game could decide the fate of the season and fortunately that goal came in the 49th minute, when striker Keiran McGachie hooked in a loose ball from a corner to give Rose the lead. Three minutes later Albion Rovers took the lead.

On the hour mark the game, and Bonnyrigg’s fate was sealed. McGachie was on had to turn the ball home from 12 yards and celebrated as if he had won the cup final, ripping off his shirt and parading in front of the covered terrace. Rose were staying up. Albion scored a second but it was irrelevant. Gray added a third for Rose and they would be dancing in the streets of Bonnyrigg for days to come.

Albion Rovers now face a two-legged tie against Lowland winners The Spartans whilst Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic can look forward to another season in SPFL, and rewarding their fantastic supporter base.