Check out the photos from Glenavon's play-off triumph at Seaview.

Glenavon made Irish League history tonight by becoming the first team from the First Division to win promotion through the playoffs. Garth Walsh's crisp left foot shot into the bottom corner had given the Blues the lead in the 37th minute and it also cancelled out the Crusaders away goal from the first leg but the lead lasted barely 60 seconds when Darren Stirling volleyed home Chris Morrow's cross from 8 yards to tie the scores 1-1 on the night and 2-2 on aggregate.

In the 15th minute Stirling had brought a save out of McDonald as Glenavon struggled to clear their lines following a good cross into the box by McBride. McMahon was brought down by Livingstone and picked himself up to get on the end of the resulting free kick but his back post header didn't really trouble Armstrong. Minutes later another Glenavon free kick by Montgomery rebounded off the wall to Johnny Wright who put in a decent cross that McAlinden headed over when he should have tested the keeper.

Armstrong was tested a minute later when Walsh drove through the middle and unleashed a long range right-foot shot that the keeper spilled. He then appeared to impede O'Connor as he attempted to get to the loose ball but Glenavon penalty shouts were waved away as McAlinden attempted to find the net from a difficult angle, with his effort deflected away from the unguarded goal.

McBride, the Crusaders left back, made a number of forays into the Glenavon final third and in the 27th minute his cross was only partially cleared, allowing Livingstone to hit a shot that McDonald did well to turn round the post for a corner. Ten minutes later Glenavon were advancing down the right and the ball across the edge of the Crusaders box fell to Walsh on his left foot. He didn't hesitate and drove a great low shot past Armstrong's outstretched left hand into the bottom corner.

Glenavon's jubilation at taking the lead, and cancelling out the Crues' away goal from the first leg was short lived, however, as, within 60 seconds of the restart, McDowell broke down the left and his deep cross found its way to McDowell on the right. His first-time centre was volleyed superbly past McDonald from close range by Stirling.

In the second half Stirling had McDonald diving across his goal to cover a shot from 18 yards that whistled just wide of the post. Davy McAlinden, playing as a striker in a smart tactical switch by Tommy Kincaid, could have won the game in normal time but his 57th minute shot from O'Connor's layoff spun up off the head of veteran defender Jeff Spiers and just missed the top corner with Armstrong beaten by the deflection. McVeigh then curled a left foot shot narrowly wide of Armstrong's right hand post, with O'Connor again providing the assist.

McAlinden had an even better chance to seal promotion in the 74th minute when Hyndes' cross looped up off Spiers and dropped nicely at the back post for him but he put his header wide.

With the score finishing with an aggregate of 2-2 the game went to extra time and the introduction, near the end of normal time, of Paul McKnight for the injured Walsh proved a turning point as his perseverance and skill near the left corner flag saw him beat two defenders and cut the ball back from the bye line to McVeigh who fired a low left foot shot past Armstrong from 8 yards.

With the home side having to press forward, Glenavon had other chances to seal the victory but in the very last minute it needed a point blank save by Andy McDonald to deny Morrow and ensure that the Blues won 2-1 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate to guarantee promotion to the Premier Division for next year, after just a single season in the 'wilderness' of the First Division.