East Fife secured promotion to Scottish League One after a 1-1 draw at Annan clinched them a 4-3 aggregate win in their two-legged play-off final.
Dick Campbell’s Fifers, who won the first leg 3-2 on Tuesday night at Bayview Stadium, fell behind on the night to an early opener from Tommy Goss, but Adam Laaref’s first-half equaliser proved decisive.
Annan, without suspended pair Scott Hooper and Layton Bisland after they were both sent off in the first leg, made a flying start at Galabank as Goss headed home Ryan Muir’s cross to put them 1-0 up in the sixth minute.
The Fifers restored their aggregate advantage in the 37th minute when Annan goalkeeper Jamie Smith failed to gather a free-kick into the box and Laaref fired the loose ball into the top corner.
Laaref struck a post with an angled shot three minutes later, while East Fife goalkeeper Liam McFarlane made several crucial second-half saves and Muir hooked a golden chance for Annan in stoppage time over the crossbar.
David Martindale believes the pressure is off his Livingston side after they booked their place in the Premiership play-off final with a comfortable victory over Partick Thistle.The Lions progressed 4-0 on aggregate, securing a second 2-0 win with Jamie Brandon’s opener added to by Stevie May’s stunning half-volley.They will now face either Dundee or Ross County over two legs, with the...

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca pointed to Marc Cucurella’s Barcelona connections after the defender headed the only goal against Manchester United to keep his side’s Champions League hopes in their own hands.The 26-year-old got on the end of Reece James’ cross in the 71st minute to power home his seventh goal of the season and rescue the Blues just as two vital points looked to ...

Walsall boss Mat Sadler said guiding the Saddlers to a play-off final is the proudest moment of his footballing career after they completed a 4-1 aggregate win over Chesterfield.Late goals from Charlie Lakin and Levi Amantchi – with an Armando Dobra consolation for the Spireites in between – earned Walsall a 2-1 victory on the night.And it provided a measure of redemption for a side wh...

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery could not give any assurances over the future of Emiliano Martinez after the goalkeeper was in tears following his side’s 2-0 win over Europa League finalists Tottenham.The Argentina international has been linked with a move away from Villa Park this summer and he was emotional at full-time of Villa’s final home game of the season.Asked about the 32-year-old...

Marc Cucurella was once again Chelsea’s hero as his headed goal earned a potentially season-defining 1-0 win over Manchester United just as his side’s Champions League hopes looked to be slipping away.With 20 minutes remaining at Stamford Bridge the Blues were set to head into the final day of the Premier League season with their top-five fate out of their hands, with more poor finishi...

Walsall booked a place in the League Two play-off final by completing a 4-1 aggregate victory over Chesterfield with a 2-1 win at the Poundland Bescot Stadium.Holding a 2-0 lead from the first leg, the Saddlers defended resolutely and effectively sealed progress nine minutes from time through Charlie Lakin’s close-range finish.Armando Dobra netted a stoppage-time Chesterfield consolation but...

Livingston eased into the final of the William Hill Premiership play-offs with a comfortable 4-0 aggregate victory over Partick Thistle.Leading 2-0 from the first leg, progression for David Martindale’s side was rarely in doubt after Jamie Brandon powered them ahead five minutes before half-time.Stevie May’s sensational half-volley midway through the second half extinguished any hope o...

Aston Villa boosted their hopes of a Champions League return after a 2-0 victory over Tottenham, who had more than one eye on Wednesday’s Europa League final.Villa’s memorable run to the quarter-finals of this season’s competition gave them the taste for more and they boosted their hopes with an eighth win from their last nine Premier League games.This was probably the biggest ho...

Liverpool have reportedly joined the race to sign unwanted Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku in the upcoming summer transfer window.The 27-year-old looks set to leave Stamford Bridge this summer after failing to establish himself under Enzo Maresca.Nkunku has featured primarily in the Europa Conference League but has managed to score 14 goals and provide five assists in his 42 games across all co...

Real Madrid have agreed a £50 million deal to sign Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen with the highly-rated youngster set to undergo his medical.Per Fabrizio Romano, Real Madrid have activated the £50 million release clause in the 20-year-old’s Bournemouth contract.The Spanish giants look set to beat several Premier League sides to his signing with Chelsea, Liverpool, and Arsenal al...



- 1 Richie Wellens hails Leyton Orient’s ‘outstanding’ victory over Stockport
- 2 Man Utd are losing the feeling of being a massive club – Ruben Amorim
- 3 Eddie Howe tells Newcastle to ‘drive forward’ and seal Champions League spot
- 4 Rangers thump Aberdeen to end five-match winless streak at Ibrox
- 5 Newcastle beat 10-man Chelsea to take step towards Champions League spot
- 6 We will see – no Unai Emery assurances over future of tearful Emiliano Martinez
- 7 Leyton Orient book Wembley date by beating Stockport on penalties
- 8 Albanian Laura Woods goes braless in pink top
- 9 AFC Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson wary of Notts County fightback in second leg
- 10 Brendan Rodgers hits out at ‘needless challenge’ on Reo Hatate