Inverness CT 3 Greenock Morton 1

THE Championship is over for another year as Morton were perhaps a tad fortunate to somehow manage to scrape a fifth place finish despite the best efforts of Inverness - who couldn't avoid a journey through the relegation play-offs.

Kirk Broadfoot had his former side sweating when he poked home an equaliser to cancel out Morgan Boyes earlier effort shortly before half-time.

And he was keen to lap up the applause with a fantastic archer's celebration in front of his former fans. However, that would only encourage the Caley Jags to fight back as they needed a win to try and ensure their second tier status would remain.

But Cameron Harper's spot kick and Sean McAllister's late finish weren't enough for the Highlanders who now face the prospect of a first season in the third tier for the first time in almost 30 years.

It was a season of what could have been for Dougie Imrie and his men who, only a matter of weeks ago, had a finishing place within the top four in their own hands.

Then they suffered a horror dip in form which saw those prospects fade at the beginning of last month.

But they still had pride to play for, and Imrie wanted to ensure that his side secured back-to-back fifth place finishes.

Heading into the tie they had a point separating themselves and Dunfermline in sixth, who faced Ayr United at Somerset Park to round off their return to the Championship.

But much like the story of the season, Imrie was left with a decimated squad as the tribulations of the season were beginning to catch up with some already exhausted players.

This saw him take a squad of just 15 players up to the Highland capital on the final day, with just one natural centre half at his disposal.

And it meant he had to do some more tinkering before heading into the tie with two players dropping out of the squad altogether as Darragh O'Connor and Jack Baird failed to make the trip north.

This saw Alan Power drop into an unusual central defensive role alongside Broadfoot as they looked to limit the threat of Alex Samuel and Billy McKay.

Ton would start the game brighter, with Calum Waters making Mark Ridgers the first goalkeeper called into action.

Much like his surprise debut in the Highlands 18 months ago, he twice found himself stepping onto the ball in an advanced position down the left hand side.

He would twice see well struck, driven efforts have the Caley keeper unnerved as he dragged his first effort just wide of the bottom right corner before firing over from a similar distance inside the first few minutes.

The home side were looking for an early goal to settle their nerves. Former Cappielow hero Alex Samuel was a pest the last time these two sides met and it looked like he would be again as he forced Ryan Mullen into an acrobatic save just a few minutes later.

But the former Celtic kid was more than equal to the effort.

Despite looking potent going forward, Ton couldn't get that final touch to get the ball over the line and Caley would punish them for their slack play in front of goal with little over half-an-hour played as Imrie's men failed to deal with a set piece.

McAllister's deep free-kick wasn't dealt with properly as Broadfoot's clearance went upwards as opposed to away from his box and this saw the second ball find its way to Morgan Boyes who was lingering at the back post.

And for a moment you'd forget he was a no nonsense centre half as he produced a moment of magic that you'd expect from Billy McKay as he swivelled on a sixpence to unleash an unstoppable volley from the edge of the six yard box with a wedged drive that flew into the top left corner to put his side in front.

Alas though, not to their knowledge, but Queen's Park were already one nil up thanks to Ruairi Paton's 26th strike of the season and their point advantage currently remained intact as Duncan Ferguson's men remained in ninth place.

Caley's lead would last little over ten minutes though as Broadfoot levelled things up just four minutes from the half, with the 39-year-old using all of his experience to be in the right place to react first to Cameron Blues' header back into the box and flick the ball beyond Ridgers and into the bottom right corner for his fifth goal of the season.

Ton looked to come back out in the second half with their tails up and they looked to build on the platform they'd built themselves. Robbie Crawford saw a curling effort deflected wide after doing well to draw Carragher wide of the goal to create an angle for himself.

But things would take a turn ten minutes after the break after Ton yet again failed to deal with a set piece delivery effectively. Harper's corner was missed by everyone and this saw Power and McAllister fight for the loose ball, with the Ton man sticking a leg out to try and win the ball. He instead though wiped out his opponent, leaving referee Craig Napier no choice but to award a penalty.

Harper made no mistake from 12-yards, firing a brilliant penalty back across goal and into the bottom right corner.

And this was the start of a bit of an implosion for Imrie's men as a sea of bookings followed and within the next five minutes they'd be reduced to ten men as Robbie Muirhead threatened to end his Cappielow spell on the sourest of notes on the hour mark.

As he raced onto a George Oakley flick on, he brushed Carragher off the ball, before getting onto the end of another header from Crawford. He tried to draw some contact in the box from Remi Savage and fell to the floor looking for a penalty. He wasn't conning Napier though as the whistler brandished a yellow card for simulation.

And in a rush of blood, Muirhead couldn't control his emotions as he let rip into the official, which prompted a second yellow card being shown and the No.9 was sent for an early bath.

Things would go from bad to worse just a few minutes later as Everton loanee McAllister would make it three and make the home side's man advantage count.

He ghosted into a dangerous position at the edge of the area to get on the end of Billy McKay's cut-back and fire the ball beyond Mullen into the bottom right corner.

Whilst this contest was all but over results elsewhere would have a resounding impact on the outcome of the tie.

Dunfermline looked to have fifth place sown up, when 3-1 up at Somerset Park. But second half strikes from Ayr would peg the Fifers back and see Ton go back up to fifth on goal difference.

Cillian Sheridan would come back to haunt his former side, though, finding a second strike for Queen's Park that would set up a trip to Montrose this week for Inverness, who'd thought they'd done enough to avoid the drop.

For Ton though, on paper it looked like another successful season, ensuring Championship football again for another year. Instead though it was a case of what could and should have been. But they'll build and they'll get back on the road once again.

Inverness CT (3-1-4-2) Ridgers, Carragher, Boyes, Savage(Devine,69), Anderson, Kerr, Harper, Longstaff(Lawal(50), McAllister(MacGregor,77), Samuel(Pepple,68), McKay(Duffy,77)

Subs not used: Mackay, Samuels, Brooks Udjur

Booking:

Scorers: Boyes(31) Harper(54) McAllister(64)

Morton(4-2-3-1) Mullen, French, Power(Bearne,64), Broadfoot, Waters, Gillespie(Wilson,80), Blues, Muirhead, Crawford, Quitongo(McGrattan,64), Oakley

Subs not used: Murdoch

Bookings: Gillespie(52) Power(54) Mullen(54) Muirhead(58)

Red card: Muirhead(59)

Goal: Broadfoot(41)

MoTM: The Fans - 150 plus travelled up to the Highlands to back their boys in a. dead rubber fixture. Such a game wouldn't have seen a number of that ilk which is a sign of the connection that Dougie Imrie has built.

ATT: 2914