East Kilbride won the Championship final 4-1 against Brora Rangers at The Ross Commercial Finance K Park Stadium, a result that was decided by a dominant first-half display and superior finishing across the 90 minutes. The Lemeister model had made East Kilbride narrow favourites at 44 per cent, projecting a 3-1 win, and the actual outcome closely matched that forecast with the home side taking the trophy. The final margin stretched to three goals only when R. Mimnaugh added a fourth in stoppage time, but the result had already been settled by the 82nd minute when J. Leitch restored a two-goal lead.
N. Flanagan opened the scoring for East Kilbride in the 20th minute, the first of five normal goals in the match. S. Fagan doubled the advantage three minutes before half-time in the 42nd minute, giving the home side a commanding lead at the break. That early control was crucial, as East Kilbride had found the net twice before Brora Rangers could establish any rhythm. The first-half performance laid the foundation for the victory, forcing the away side to chase the game after the interval.
Brora Rangers responded after the hour mark, with M. Ewan scoring in the 63rd minute to make it 2-1. That goal gave the visitors a platform to push for an equaliser, and they would have sensed an opportunity to level the contest. East Kilbride, however, absorbed that pressure and struck back decisively. J. Leitch restored the two-goal cushion in the 82nd minute with a normal goal, and R. Mimnaugh sealed the win with a fourth goal in the 94th minute, deep into stoppage time. No assists were recorded on any of the five goals, indicating that all the finishes came from individual efforts rather than created chances from team-mates.
The statistical story of the match was defined by East Kilbride's ability to convert their opportunities at key moments. Both sides were disciplined, with no cards shown throughout the contest, suggesting a clean and competitive final. Neither team made any substitutions, indicating that both managers trusted their starting line-ups to see out the match. That lack of tactical adjustments from the bench may have worked in East Kilbride's favour, as their forwards maintained their sharpness while Brora Rangers were unable to inject fresh energy into their attack.
The standout performers were the goal-scorers for East Kilbride: N. Flanagan, who netted the opener; S. Fagan, who doubled the lead; J. Leitch, who restored the cushion; and R. Mimnaugh, who added the late fourth. For Brora Rangers, M. Ewan was the sole scorer, taking his chance in the 63rd minute. The collective contribution of East Kilbride's forward line proved decisive, with four different players finding the net. The defensive performances could not be individually assessed from the available data, but restricting Brora Rangers to a single goal was sufficient to secure the win.
The result means East Kilbride win the Championship title and earn promotion, ending their season with a convincing victory in the final. Brora Rangers, despite reducing the deficit to one goal early in the second half, were unable to complete a comeback and will finish as runners-up. The Lemeister model had correctly identified East Kilbride as favourites, and the match played out largely as it had projected, with the home side controlling the contest and ultimately lifting the trophy. The final margin of 4-1 reflected East Kilbride's sharper edge in front of goal, while Brora Rangers will be left to reflect on a defensive collapse in the final third of the match.
