CD Migjorn have earned promotion to Tercera Division for the first time in the club’s history, meaning at least two Menorcan clubs are guaranteed to be in the fifth tier of Spanish football next season.

Migjorn defeated Mallorcan side Cardassar 2-1 at Los Nogales to win their promotion play-off 3-2 on aggregate.

They did it the hard way, falling behind Xavier Darder’s goal near the end of the first half.

Llonga equalised on 56 minutes and it was Merca who struck the promotion winning goal 16 minutes from time to fire Migjorn in to the national leagues for the first time in their 53-year history.

They will join CE Mercadal in Tercera Division, with Mercadal finishing their season with a 3-0 defeat to champions Ibiza Islas Pitiusas.

Unfortunately, they won’t be joined by CE Ferreries, whose promotion hopes were ended by a 2-0 defeat at Campos.

Ferreries finished fourth in the Regional Preferente Menorca, just three points behind champions Migjorn, but prevailed in the Menorcan play-offs, defeating Sporting Mahon to make it in to the promotion play-offs.

CE Alaior face an anxious wait to learn their fate. They play their final game of the season against Portmany this weekend, but whether they remain in Tercera Division next season is dependent on what movement there is between Tercera and Segunda.

Migjorn will become the 13th Menorcan club to participate in Tercera Division – following UD Mahon, CD Menorca, CD Ciutadella, CD Minerva Ciutadella, CE Mercadal, CE Alaior, Sporting Mahones, Atletic Ciutadella, CE Ferreries, Atletico Villacarlos, CF Norteno and Penya Ciutadella.

Tercera Division was traditionally the third tier of the Spanish football pyramid. CD Minerva Ciutadella and CD Ciutadella merged in 1956 to form Atletic Ciutadella after playing two seasons (1954/55 and 1955/56) in Tercera.

As well as those three clubs, five others – UD Mahon, CD Menorca, Sporting Mahones, CE Alaior and CE Mercadal – have played in the third tier.

Tercera Division dropped to being the fourth tier for the 1977/78 season, and then ahead of the 2021/22 it became the fifth tier with the re-structure of the Spanish pyramid, that saw the creation of an additional professional league.

The so-called RFEF Tercera (18 groups) sits below RFEF Segunda (five groups) and RFEF Primera (two groups) in the pyramid, with Segunda Division (22 teams) sat beneath La Liga (20 teams).