Dunfermline Athletic's brave fight to avoid the drop to the First Division ended in heartbreaking fashion on Saturday after a 2-1 defeat by Inverness Caledonian Thistle. The defeat itself was cruel, but the manner in which it occurred, along with St Mirren's victory at Motherwell, made it a painful journey home for the large Pars following.
Football can so often be full of little ironies and Saturday was no different. As the Pars fightback from the brink began with a 3-1 victory in the Highland capital in March, it is all the more galling that it was finally killed off there thanks to a howler from goalkeeper Dorus De Vries and a deflected Rory McAllister goal.
But for so long the journey north looked as though it would have a happy ending. After a nervous start, the visitors took control of the match and went close twice through Adam Hammill before storming into the lead. A high ball from Gary Mason was flicked on by Tam McManus to Jim McIntyre, who crashed a stunning volley high into the net from 12 yards.
The travelling army were in raptures. News then came through that Motherwell were leading St Mirren, and continued to do so at half time. With just 135 minutes of the season remaining, Dunfermline were 2 points clear of St Mirren.
And as news came through that Motherwell led 2-0 just after half time, the fans dared to believe that Stephen Kenny was going to pull off a houdini act even better than the one his predecessor had achieved in 2005 at Tannadice.
But news of a goal for St Mirren dampened spirits but the Pars still remained on top. Darren Dods almost diverted a Jim O'Brien cross into his own net, while Sol Bamba saw a header flash wide.
McManus, as well as having a shot saved, should have hit the net on the hour mark as Caley keeper Michael Fraser dropped a Hammill cross, but the striker elected to take a touch and the chance was gone.
More bad news followed with a St Mirren equaliser, but Dunfermline were still just 13 minutes away from heading into the final day with a one point lead and their destiny in their own hands. But disaster struck.
A foul by Bamba gave Inverness a free-kick at the edge of the box. Richard Hastings' shot was straight at De Vries but, unbelievably, the big Dutchman let the ball squirm through his hands and over the line.
Dorus has been a model of consistency this season and has simply been immense in goal, but that one mistake will haunt him for the remainder of his Athletic career. With news coming in that St Mirren led, a draw would require a 5 goal swing in the final game so Kenny threw on Owen Morrison and Mark Burchill in an attempt to grab a winner.
But it was not to be. A foul by Barry Wilson on Morrison on the halfway line went unnoticed by the referee and the ball was played to McAllister, whose shot was heading straight for De Vries only for a wicked deflection off Bamba to send the ball the other way and in.
The fans expressions told you everything. There was no way back for the Pars and although Gary Mason struck the post with a header, their time was up and First Division football beckoned.
It was such a cruel way to go. The team had given everything over the last 2 months but 2 cruel, flukey goals sealed our fate. As the players collapsed onto the sodden turf, the fans applauded and cheered their heroes while choking back tears; they knew the team had come so close and were extremely unlucky.
We now say farewell to the Premier League against the old enemy Falkirk on Saturday before Kenny tries to raise spirits ahead of the Scottish Cup final. We may be down, but we are certainly not out. In Stephen Kenny, we have a very talented young manager who can do great things for our club and, perhaps most importantly, he has given the fans a team we can be proud of.
Roll on the cup final. We may be going down a league, but we'll be taking a trophy down there with us.
Match Stats
Inverness CT: Fraser, Tokely, Dods, Munro (McAllister 76), Hastings, Hart, McBain (Sutherland 69), Black, Paatelainen (Wilson 61), Bayne, Dargo. Subs Not Used: Ridgers, McCaffrey, Duncan, Rankin.
Goals: Hastings (77), McAllister (89)
Dunfermline Athletic: De Vries, Shields, Bamba, McGuire, Muirhead, O'Brien (Burchill 81), Mason, Glass (Owen Morrison 81), Hammill (McCunnie 66), McManus, McIntyre. Subs Not Used: McKenzie, Young, Hamilton, Woods.
Goal: McIntyre (37)
Walking Down the Halbeath Road MoM: Jim McIntyre
Attendance: 6,464
Referee: Mike Ritchie
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