Thistle boss Bryan Slavin has heaped massive credit on his players for having the self belief to produce a miraculous comeback at Kilsyth to clinch promotion to the Premier League.

In one of the most dramatic finishes to the season ever seen, Thistle looked down and out, and in danger of missing out on promotion altogether, but James Marks' leveller, and an exquisite back-heel finish from Sean Pierce, in the final few minutes, sent Largs into wonderland.

Bryan said: "I can honestly say I have never experienced anything like this in 20 years of football. To be potentially in fourth place in the league on 85 minutes, and then go into an automatic promotion place come the final whistle is the stuff of dreams, it is like a fairytale.

"We have come literally from nowhere. We were done, and the boys pulled it back. How many teams could have done that after they had lost a goal - many teams would have chucked it out of pure disappointment and rejection. But we kept going and it is a massive credit to the boys, not just today, but all season."

And the Thistle player boss revealed that there were high emotions following the exhilarating finish: "At the end of the game, I walked into the shower room and all the pressure just came out, and I must have cried for around five minutes - it was a big sort of release.

"I can't thank everybody enough - the players, supporters, committee - we have got over the finishing line by the smallest of margins, and everybody in the squad has made an impact."

"We dominated the game but we couldn't get the finishing touch until the last few minutes - we had done enough in other areas to get us over the finishing line. We shouldn't be surprised we did it the hard way, it is the only way we seem to know how to do it, it is horrific for the heart and the hairline!

"I have a fixed image in my head of the goal going in all the players going to celebrate, and the fans running on the park, and the ecstatic joy."

"Everyone in the squad has made an impact at some part to get us over the finishing line."

The Thistle boss also had words of praise for striker Sean Pierce, who failed to score a penalty in the 0-0 against Winton last Monday, but popped up with the crucial match winner on Saturday.

Bryan said: "Sean kept plugging and trying and to nick the goal at the end - it was the stuff of dreams, and to win us promotion was great.

"It shows you everybody has a part to play right to the death, everyone can influence the game."

Thistle President Martin Phillips said: "Five minutes to go, it looked like we could go fourth, but to get second spot is incredible. It was a great achievement by the players and management. From the committee's point of view, I'd like to thank not just players and management, but I'd like to thank the supporters home and away. A special thanks to Alex and the young team for their continual singing and support.

"Considering where we were last year to where we are now is an incredible feat for Largs Thistle.

"When the second goal had gone in, and news filtered through that Kilwinning and Cumnock were beaten, promotion was ensured - it was incredible."

Assistant boss Stuart Davidson said: "What a day - everybody was brilliant. We started well in the game, but things started to get desperate and we conceded a goal which we probably deserved to lose, and the players then showed great resilience. One goal down with just minutes to go, usually in that situation in the past, the players haven't adapted well to that, but the players gave it everything and kept going.

"It is not always gone our way this season, and the boys absolutely deserved that, and the celebrations were brilliant.

"It is now up to Cumnock to go and win their two games to win the title, and that is a big ask, and if they do, then we will say well done."

Largs will need to wait to see if they can now win the title. Cumnock won 7-1 at Kilsyth on Tuesday, and require maximum points at Shotts on Saturday, and at home to Cumbernauld next Wednesday evening, to clinch top spot in the McBookie.com First Division.

* Largs Thistle host their Player of the Year celebration at JG Sharp's on Saturday 11 June at 7.30pm. All supporters welcome.