Stranraer's remarkable run of 14 wins in 16 games brought them the unexpected bonus of their second championship in four years as well as a place in the first division. A crowd of 1649 were at Broadwood to see them beat Clyde 1-0 and book their place upstairs along with Clydebank, while Livingston missed out.
Saturday's narrow but deserved victory climaxed an amazing season for Campbell Money's men and follows an equally improbable Challenge Cup triumph last season.
Paul Brownlie hit a post in an early Clyde attack, while Gordon Young and Paul Kinnaird had efforts blocked near goal at the other end. Ten minutes from time Alan Lansdowne swept in a cross from Keith Knox for the winner. The Bully Wee, even in defeat, were saved by Stenhousemuir's failure to win at Dumfries.
With an inferior goal difference as they sat in third place, Clydebank took advantage of injury-hit Brechin's misfortunes and went on a goal spree. Joe McLaughlin opened, Colin McDonald struck twice, and Kenny Ward and Derek McWilliams also found the net before the interval against Steve Kerrigan's reply. Ward made it 6-1 in the second half. Even so, Bankies needed Livingston's defeat at home to Caley Thistle to put them up.
A crowd of 3500, the season's largest at Almondvale, came along for what they assumed would be the formality of securing promotion, but Iain Stewart surprised the leaders with a first- half strike. Tom Graham levelled soon after the break but Livvy were stunned by Paul Sheerin's free kick 16 minutes from time and there was no way back as the home side missed out for the second year running.
An early solo goal by Queen of the South veteran Tommy Bryce proved the only score at Dumfries and relegated Stenhousemuir for the first time in their history. Forfar guaranteed their safety when Martin McLauchlan struck late for the only goal away to East Fife.
bill sutherland
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