Moment Airdrie fans storm Hamilton pitch after historic play-off win and goad rivals as supporters slam ‘ugly’ scenes
THE Scottish Championship play-off final ended in chaos this afternoon after Airdrie secured promotion following a 6-5 win on penalties over Hamilton.
Gabby McGill scored in stoppage time for the Diamonds to make it 2-1 to Accies, taking the tie to extra-time after Airdrie won the first leg 1-0.
Kenny RamsayPlayer-manager Rhys McCabe hailed by players after play-off win[/caption]
Kenny RamsayAirdrie have been promoted to the Championship[/caption]
Connor Smith and Jean-Pierre Tiehi netted for the hosts in regular time.
Neither team could clinch the match in extra-time though as it ended goalless and it was settled through a nervy penalty shootout instead.
But unfortunately for Jim Rankin’s side, It was defender Daniel O’Reilly who missed the sole spot-kick between the two sets of players.
The miss sends them down to League One next season, the first time the club will compete in the third division since the 2003/04 campaign.
It’s a historical day for player-manager and former Rangers star Rhys McCabe though as the Diamonds have now leaprogged their Lanarkshire rivals to reach the Championship.
They will join Dunfermline in the second division next season after the Pars sealed automatic promotion by lifting the League One title this year.
But whilst it was a cause for celebration for Airdrie fans after bagging promotion today, some supporters took it to the extreme after O’Reilly missed his penalty.
It sparked wild scenes at full-time as fans invaded the Hamilton pitch to celebrate their team’s success.
However, supporters of various clubs in Scotland have taken to social media to blast a certain section of both home and away fans in attendance who seemed to be goading each other in the stadium.
Footage showed Airdrie fans darting over to the home section making provocative gestures trying to stir up a reaction.
Airdrie fans storming the pitch at full-time
Rival supporters in the stands were seen shouting back at the away fans on the pitch, in what has been described as “ugly scenes”.
Reacting to the chaos after the final whistle, one Twitter user wrote: “Ugly scenes at the end here as Airdrie and Hamilton fans clash.”
“Ugly scenes of our lads pitch invading and three Accies fans running for their lives.”
“A few Airdrie and Hamilton fans jumping about here in some ugly scenes.”
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