Ross County will be playing in Scotland’s third tier for the first time since 2008 next season after a second-half collapse against Raith Rovers condemned the Staggies to relegation from the Championship.
Stuart Kettlewell’s men came in to the evening bottom of the pile, knowing only a win — coupled with a Morton victory at home to Airdrieonians — would be enough to secure a place in the relegation play-off and clinch an unlikely lifeline.
The 1-1 draw in Greenock meant County needed to rack up the goals against Raith to have any chance of staying up on goal difference, but it never truly looked like happening.
The Highlanders appeared destined for the drop in mid-April, yet found the form that had previously deserted them all season to earn back-to-back wins, and looked sharp early on.
Any nerves were settled on 16 minutes, with Kieran Phillips meeting a sumptuous Noah Chilvers free-kick from the right-hand side to head home for his fifth of the season to move County temporarily in to ninth.
The visitors had keeper Trevor Carson to thank for keeping them in front shortly before the break, with the veteran keeper making a fine stop to deny Dylan Easton after the wide man danced past three County defenders on route to goal.
Curtis Main heads a crucial leveller for Morton to keep the Greenock side in the Championship
Knowing goal difference could perhaps play a part, County went in search of a second after the interval, and went close to doubling their advantage through Akil Wright, whose back-post header was tipped over the top by Rae.
Raith delivered a sucker-punch with 15 minutes remaining. Josh Mullin was given far too much room to pick out Innes Cameron in the middle, and the front man produced a fine headed finish past Carson.
It went from bad to worse for Kettlewell’s men within four minutes, and it was Mullin once again at the heart of it, giving Jack Hamilton the simplest of headers from close range to put Raith in front.
The defending from County — as it has been for much of this campaign — was woeful.
Substitute James Scott netted late in stoppage-time to give County hope, but they shot themselves in foot within seconds as Declan Gallacher conceded a penalty which was dispatched by the outstanding Mullin to seal the visitors’ fate, with Airdrieonians finishing in the play-off position.
After being pegged back for much of the first period at Cappielow, the Diamonds took the lead through Euan Henderson, who produced a clinical finish at the end of a free-flowing mood within 90 seconds of the restart.
The next twist in an dramatic night came 15 minutes later when Lewis Strapp was shown a straight red for a lunge on Iain Wilson.
Morton players celebrate a famous escape at Cappielow in front of their loyal followers
Morton soon made their advantage count courtesy of a Curtis Main header with just under 20 minutes left to play, with the hosts holding out for the point they needed to secure their safety.
Elsewhere, champions St Johnstone rounded off their season with a 1-0 win away at Ayr United, whilst second-place Partick Thistle were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Queen’s Park.
It was goalless at East End Park between Dunfermline and Arbroath, with the sides set to meet again next week in the promotion play-off quarter-final.
The first leg will take place in Fife on Tuesday before the return at Gayfield Park next Friday night.
