Scottish football club relegated and sinks to 18-year low in calamitous scenes

The Highlanders started the night in last spot - one point behind Airdrieonians and three behind Morton - but knew a victory over Raith Rovers in Kirkcaldy could lift them into the play-off place.

County were doing their bit, leading 1-0 through a first half header from Kieran Phillips with 15 minutes remaining, and were on course to finish the campaign with three straight wins, while a 1-1 scoreline in Greenock between their closest rivals meant that it was Airdrie who were staring at automatic relegation to League One.

Then the roof caved in on the men from Dingwall as they conceded twice within four minutes to headers from Innes Cameron and Jack Hamilton to condemn themselves to the third tier of Scottish football for the first time in 18 years.

They gave themselves a glimmer of hope when substitute Jayden Carbon levelled at 2-2 deep into stoppage time, but a penalty from Josh Mullin with the final kick of the ball resigned the visitors to their fate.

A season that started with County among the promotion favourites has ended with them finishing last on 34 points, two behind Airdrie in ninth, who now face Alloa or Queen of the South in the play-off semi-final, with Morton staying up.

Raith started the night needing a point to guarantee holding onto fifth place, knowing that Queen's Park and Ayr United could knock them down to seventh. For the visitors the stakes were far higher.

County lost 6-0 on their last visit to Kirkcaldy in December - a chastening defeat that cost former boss Tony Docherty his job. A repeat scoreline was unthinkable and a positive start from the visitors put any such notion to rest.

They were rewarded after 16 minutes when Noah Chilvers swung a free-kick in from the right and Phillips powered a header beyond Josh Rae in goal.

Raith come good at the death

County were causing Raith problems from set plays but Dylan Easton gave the away side a scare at the end of the first half when he jinked his way past three defenders in the box only to be denied by a point-blank save by the sprawling Trevor Carson.

The men from Dingwall had been served their warning and they looked for a killer second after the break.

Over in Greenock, Airdrie had taken the lead through Euan Henderson. As things stood County were going down on goal difference. They needed to score more and the message appeared to filter onto the pitch. Jordan White saw an effort deflected over and Rae made good stops from an Akil Wright header and Ryan Duncan piledriver.

But a red card for Airdrie's Lewis Strapp and a Morton equaliser from Curtis Main changed the picture back in County’s favour again - until Raith had their say.

With 76 minutes on the clock, a brilliant cross from Mullin was headed home by Cameron.

Four minutes later it was curtains for County's Championship survival hopes as another dream cross from Mullin was begging to put home and Hamilton obliged.

To their credit County never threw in the towel and Carbon sneaked a shot past Rae in the 94th minute, but a minute later Declan Gallagher felled Cameron in the box and Mullin blasted home the penalty.