Edinburgh City retain SPFL status after aggregate victory over Brora Rangers
The club’s decade-long tenure in the Scottish Professional Football League continues despite finishing bottom of the table following an insolvency-related point deduction.
Edinburgh City have secured their continued membership in the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) by defeating Highland League champions Brora Rangers 3-1 on aggregate in the Pyramid Play-off final. The result extends the club’s presence in the league to ten years, denying Brora Rangers promotion for the second consecutive season.
The decisive second leg was played at Meadowbank Stadium, where 18-year-old striker Divine Iserhienrhien scored both goals to overturn a first-leg deficit. Iserhienrhien, an on-loan player from Airdrieonians, opened the scoring in the first minute and added a second just before the quarter-hour mark. His performance ensured Edinburgh City maintained an early aggregate lead that they did not relinquish.
In the first leg, Brora Rangers had taken the lead through James Anderson, but Iserhienrhien had cancelled out that opener to level the tie. The young striker concluded the play-off campaign with five goals in three games, having also scored twice in a 5-0 victory over second-bottom Dumbarton earlier in the season.
Edinburgh City’s retention of their SPFL status comes despite a difficult domestic campaign. The club finished at the bottom of the table following a 15-point deduction for insolvency, which contributed to a run of seven straight league defeats. However, the play-off victory ensures they remain in League 2 for the upcoming season.
Brora Rangers had aimed to become the UK’s most northerly professional club but fell short in the final hurdle. The Highland League champions had previously missed out on pyramid play-off qualification earlier in the process due to licensing issues. This latest defeat marks their second consecutive failure to secure promotion to the SPFL.
