HOME FARM/EVERTON booked their place in the Premier Division of the National League next season after a dramatic penalty shoot out in this second leg of the relegation promotion playoff at St Mel's Park last night.

The Whitehall side went into the game with a two goal cushion from the first leg, but this was soon wiped out by a battling Athlone side. Athlone got the early goal they were looking for when Conor Frawley headed home a John Morris Burke corner after just 13 minutes.

Athlone's revival was complete when Michael Collins fired home from close range seven minutes before the end of the first half after good work by Tommy Gaynor. The second half and extra time failed to separate the sides and when Adrian Carberry and David Dowling missed their penalty kicks Home Farm/Everton seized, the initiative, eventually winning the shoot out 4-3.