When there's so much at stake, these winner takes all affairs can be cagey, nervous and frankly a drag for anyone not emotionally invested in them.
That went out the window at Ochilview as Queen's Park and Dundee went hell for leather to become champions and secure promotion to the Premiership. The Dark Blues only needed a point and got off to the perfect start when Alex Jakubiak fired them ahead after just three minutes. The 1000 strong travelling support from the City of Discovery thought they were on their way to a title procession and let their opponents know it.
Never shoot your bolt too early though, and the Spiders turned things around with a quickfire double salvo. Charlie Fox drew Owen Coyle's men level with a stunner just six minutes later and by the time 12 minutes had elapsed, the former amateurs were in front through on-loan Motherwell striker Connor Shields.
Their lead lasted even less than Dundee's though as Lee Ashcroft squared things up for the visitors on 17 minutes. Zach Robinson then put them back in front, only for Fox to grab his second and his side's third on the strike of half time as a ridiculous 45 minutes came to a close.
If anyone feared the second half would slow down, they were sorely mistaken. A swift Dundee counter saw Luke McCowan twist his man inside out before a Jakubiak leave allowed Lyall Cameron to fire low into the corner for 4-3.
McCowan went close after another jinking run, prompting a double save from Ferry. But there was no denying the wide man with ten to go as he drove inside and found the far corner to give the Dens Park club even more breathing space.
There was plenty to play for elsewhere too. Ayr United looked to have slipped from second to missing out on the playoffs completely thanks to one goal, but Mark McKenzie's strike two minutes from time gave them a 2-1 win away to Inverness to grab second spot ahead of Queen's Park.
Partick Thistle claimed fourth spot after a 2-2 draw with Raith - the only club in the division with nothing to play for. Morton missed out despite beating Cove Rangers 2-1 with ten men. They thought Inverness had rescued them with a late leveller but it was ruled out and with it went their playoff hopes.
Cove were sent back to League One after their home defeat. Rivals Hamilton and Arbroath played out a 0-0 draw to save the Red Lichties' baco, while Accies will face a playoff battle for survival.
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