AYR ended a five-year exile from Scottish football's second tier with a hard-earned First Division Play-Off win in this final, second-leg encounter, completing an amazing turnaround after they trailed 2-0 at home in the first leg, before they rallie
d to draw 2-2.
Ryan Stevenson's first-half goal was enough to spark celebrations among a noisy travelling support and condemn Airdrie United to relegation after just one season in the First Division.
Ayr manager Brian Reid declared: "I'm absolutely ecstatic – five years out of the First Division is too long and we want to go up and stay up.
"We had tremendous support today and I'm glad we could reward them. There will be a massive party in Ayr tonight."
There was little pleasing on the eye during a frantic clash but the visitors always looked the more likely.
They almost carved out the first chance when Kenny Connolly sprinted into the box and sent an inviting cross over the face of goal. However, Bryan Prunty was unable to apply the finishing touch.
The Diamonds recovered to create two excellent openings of their own with Stephen Grindlay enjoying a charmed life.
Ayr's keeper first took two attempts to save Willie McLachlan's raking drive and was then fortunate to see Bobby Donnelly put a free header wide of target following Scott McLaughlin's corner.
Having enjoyed their best period, Airdrie switched off and were punished when the visitors broke upfield to take the lead. A direct run by Ryan Borris had the Diamonds defence back-pedalling before Ryan Stevenson cracked an 18-yard shot into the bottom left-hand corner of Stephen Robertson's net.
The visitors should have doubled their lead moments later when Connolly found himself clean through only for Robertson to deny him with an excellent diving save.
Airdrie, with their First Division status under genuine threat, almost levelled through John Baird's delicate chip which was inches too high.
Their best chance of salvation appeared to be through the exploitation of an Ayr defence which looked suspect whenever the ball was played into their box. However, a snapshot wide by substitute Simon Lynch was as close as they came while the visitors went closest to increasing the scoring when Prunty headed a Mark Roberts cross straight at Robertson.
Reid added: "We will probably be the only part-time team in the First Division next season but I was with Queen of the South when they were part-time and survived and we will try to do the same."
Part-time football may be a consequence of defeat for an Airdrie side who must now adjust to life in the Second Division.
Manager Kenny Black said: "I've not heard anything about not staying full-time but the chairman will answer that. No-one is more disappointed than me that the club is going down but we were beaten by the better team today. We were inept at times."
The full article contains 510 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
