Caley Thistle secured third spot in the SPFL Championship thanks to Nathan Austin’s first half strike at the Caledonian Stadium against Dunfermline.
Other results swung in Caley Jags favour, with Ayr United held to a 1-1 draw by Alloa Athletic as The Wasps fought tooth and nail to secure their Championship status.
The result in the final league fixture now means Caley Thistle travel to Ayr in the first of the Championship playoff fixtures, with the tie scheduled for Tuesday evening.
Caley Thistle came into this afternoon’s encounter with six changes from the side that overturned a one goal deficit at Alloa last weekend, with Mark Ridgers, Brad McKay, Kevin McHattie, Darren McCauley, Tom Walsh and Nathan Austin introduced to John Robertson’s starting 11.
Club captain Carl Tremarco missed out completely through injury.
Caley Thistle produced the first real chance after 15 minutes of the match after Austin pick pocketed former Caley Thistle man Danny Devine, but his scuffed shot from the left hand side of the 18-yard-box sailed wide of Cammy Gill’s goal.
Stand in skipper Ridgers was called into action after 24 minutes after Aberdeen loanee Bruce Anderson produced a terrific spin on the edge of the 18-yard-box, but the Caley Thistle stopper was quick down to his bottom right to smother the danger.
The hosts opened the scoring in bizarre fashion. A mixup at the back for The Pars seen goalkeeper Gill spill Stuart Morrison’s awkward passback right into the path of Austin, who cooly stroked the ball home to make it 1-0 to Caley Thistle in the 35th minute.
Caley Thistle took their lead into the break with Coll Donaldson departing during the interval and Jamie McCart introduced as his replacement.
The visitors came out the traps the stronger with winger Kallum Higginbotham sending a lovely low half-volley goal bound, which seemed destined to end up in the bottom right hand corner, but Ridgers again denied The Pars, parrying away for a corner after 48 minutes.
Liam Polworth and Aaron Doran were introduced midway through the second half, as Charlie Trafford and Austin departed.
Caley Thistle went close in the closing periods of the half with Darren McCauley’s neat flick falling into the path of Walsh in the 85th minute, whose rasping drive was parried onto the post by Pars goalkeeper Gill.
The hosts held on to clinch the victory and with it finish above Tuesday’s opponents Ayr United.
