Ross County secured seventh place in the Premiership thanks to their final-day 2-1 victory against Kilmarnock.
Leading scorer Liam Boyce netted both the Staggies’ goals, which sees him finish the campaign with 24 goals in all competitions, with the Staggies forced to come behind following Conor Sammon’s early penalty for the home side.
County made four changes from the side that defeated Hamilton Accies 3-2 in a thrilling match in midweek, with Scott Fox, Michael Gardyne, Alex Schalk and Reghan Tumilty dropping out, replaced by Aaron McCarey, Jim O’Brien, Craig Curran and debutant Blair Malcolm.
Both sides showed early glimpses, with Christopher Routis nodding wide for County from Jonathan Franks’ delivery, while at the other end Sean Longstaff fired over after being teed up by Jordan Jones.
Wide player Jones was once again involved in the build-up to Killie’s opener when he was taken down by Franks on nine minutes, with referee Bobby Madden pointing to the spot, and attacker Sammon firing low into McCarey’s bottom-right corner from 12 yards.
County looked for a response, with Kenny van der Weg shooting over, before Curran failed to get enough contact on a Marcus Fraser delivery.
Killie probed for a second before the break, when Sammon’s flick-on found Greg Kiltie but he squeezed wide from a narrow angle.
The Staggies pulled level two minutes before the break in controversial fashion, when Franks’ struck the inside of the post with a shot, with goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald only able to palm Christopher Routis’ follow-up off the onrushing Boyce who guided it into the net, with Killie protesting for offside.
County went in search of a second goal after the break, with young midfielder Dylan Dykes seeing his goalbound shot deflected behind shortly after coming on as a substitute.
McCarey was twice called upon in quick succession to keep the scoreline level on 68 minutes, with the Irishman showing good reactions to thwart Adam Frizzell on both occasions.
County edged in front for the first time on 70 minutes however, when Routis sent Boyce clean through on goal, and he lifted the ball over the advancing MacDonald to double his and the Staggies’ tally.
McCarey made another smart save to deny Sammon, before Schalk volleyed Boyce’s cross over in County’s push for a third goal, however their lead was enough to finish best of the rest.
