Ross County will probably be taking part in in Scotland’s third tier for the primary time since 2008 subsequent season after a second-half collapse in opposition to Raith Rovers condemned the Staggies to relegation from the Championship.
Stuart Kettlewell’s males got here in to the night backside of the pile, understanding solely a win — coupled with a Morton victory at residence to Airdrieonians — could be sufficient to safe a spot within the relegation play-off and clinch an unlikely lifeline.
The 1-1 attract Greenock meant County wanted to rack up the targets in opposition to Raith to have any probability of staying up on aim distinction, but it surely by no means really appeared like taking place.
The Highlanders appeared destined for the drop in mid-April, but discovered the shape that had beforehand abandoned all of them season to earn back-to-back wins, and appeared sharp early on.
Any nerves had been settled on 16 minutes, with Kieran Phillips assembly a luxurious Noah Chilvers free-kick from the right-hand facet to go residence for his fifth of the season to maneuver County briefly in to ninth.
The guests had keeper Trevor Carson to thank for maintaining them in entrance shortly earlier than the break, with the veteran keeper making a fantastic cease to disclaim Dylan Easton after the vast man danced previous three County defenders on path to aim.
Curtis Major heads a vital leveller for Morton to maintain the Greenock facet within the Championship
Figuring out aim distinction may maybe play a component, County went searching for a second after the interval, and went near doubling their benefit by way of Akil Wright, whose back-post header was tipped excessive by Rae.
Raith delivered a sucker-punch with quarter-hour remaining. Josh Mullin was given far an excessive amount of room to pick Innes Cameron within the center, and the entrance man produced a fantastic headed end previous Carson.
It went from unhealthy to worse for Kettlewell’s males inside 4 minutes, and it was Mullin as soon as once more on the coronary heart of it, giving Jack Hamilton the best of headers from shut vary to place Raith in entrance.
The defending from County — because it has been for a lot of this marketing campaign — was woeful.
Substitute James Scott netted late in stoppage-time to present County hope, however they shot themselves in foot inside seconds as Declan Gallacher conceded a penalty which was dispatched by the excellent Mullin to seal the guests’ destiny, with Airdrieonians ending within the play-off place.
After being pegged again for a lot of the primary interval at Cappielow, the Diamonds took the lead by way of Euan Henderson, who produced a scientific end on the finish of a free-flowing temper inside 90 seconds of the restart.
The subsequent twist in an dramatic night time got here quarter-hour later when Lewis Strapp was proven a straight purple for a lunge on Iain Wilson.
Morton gamers rejoice a well-known escape at Cappielow in entrance of their loyal followers
Morton quickly made their benefit rely courtesy of a Curtis Major header with just below 20 minutes left to play, with the hosts holding out for the purpose they wanted to safe their security.
Elsewhere, champions St Johnstone rounded off their season with a 1-0 win away at Ayr United, while second-place Partick Thistle had been held to a 1-1 draw at residence to Queen’s Park.
It was goalless at East Finish Park between Dunfermline and Arbroath, with the perimeters set to fulfill once more subsequent week within the promotion play-off quarter-final.
The primary leg will happen in Fife on Tuesday earlier than the return at Gayfield Park subsequent Friday night time.
