Cove Rangers should have been able to celebrate the championship triumph in style with another win until Turriff struck with two late goals to take a deserved point.
An early opener from former Aberdeen and Dundee United midfielder Stuart Duff and a goal from Dean Donaldson three minutes from the break gave the champions an interval lead, but Jamie Beagrie’s 77th-minute header reduced the leeway and substitute Nikolas Wozniak equalised with seven minutes left.
The loss of two goals and points were not going to spoil Cove’s day and captain Eric Watson, who turned 34 on Saturday, was ready to celebrate when he said: “It was a cracking day for us all and to lift the trophy on my birthday was extra special.
“Our supporters were tremendous, they have been all season.
“They have followed us everywhere given we haven’t had a ground to call our own.
“We wanted to finish with a win, and we had chances to make it 3-0, but it didn’t quite come off. Turriff are a good side, we knew they would come back at us, it did take a little bit of the shine off the day until we got the trophy.”
Little wonder the celebrations were loud and long. Cove have been on the road throughout the season as they wait for a new ground to call home, and manager John Sheran and his players deserve immense credit for seeing off the challenge of Brora and Formartine throughout the hard, long winter months.
The ultimate prize is a place in the SPFL and Sheran rang the changes for this match ahead of the play-off first leg against Edinburgh City on Saturday. Out went Daryl Nicol, Darryn Kelly, Jamie Watt, Blair Yule and goalkeeper Stuart McKenzie, but Cove flew out of the blocks and opened the scoring with just three minutes on the clock when attacker Jonny Smith fed Donaldson and his deep cross picked out Duff unmarked and he shot high past Kevin Main in the United goal.
In the 16th minute the crowd rose as one for a minute’s applause in memory of Cove manager John Sheran’s father Willie who died on Wednesday night, just as Cove won the championship with victory at Clach.
Chances were at a premium but three minutes from the break Cove doubled their advantage.
Central defender Watson crossed from the left and Donaldson bundled the ball home from six yards.
Cove were in control and early in the second half United goalkeeper Main did well to get an important touch to a dangerous Donaldson cross, the ball broke to Connor Scully but his net-bound drive was cleared off the line.
Turriff almost pulled one back in the 68th minute but central defender Cammy Bowden’s powerful six-yard header landed on the top of the net.
But the champions were starting to run out of steam and Turriff were not to be denied and in the 77th minute they pulled one back when Jamie Beagrie’s glancing header flew in from six yards.
Six minutes later United drew level with a clinical finish from substitute Wozniak who took full advantage when Cove goalkeeper John McCafferty spilled a cross at his feet.
Cove were reduced to 10 men four minutes from time when Stuart Walker was shown a straight red card by referee Mat Northcroft for aiming a kick at a Turriff player but nothing was going to take the gloss of the champions’ day.
A change of tactics from United manager Ross Jack paid dividends according to Turriff forward David Booth who said: “We were just about worth a point after they dominated us in the first half.
“In the second half we were able to turn them more and we got a bit of success in the end.
“The pitch was even worse than it looked and the manager had a right go at us a half time, rightly so as we were pretty poor, he got a reaction in the second half so it definitely worked.”