Hamilton were thrashed 4-0 by Inverness Caledonian Thistle away from home in their final Championship match of the season.
It was a shocking start for the visitors with Tom Walsh netting a brace while Shane Sutherland and Joe Hardy also netted inside the opening 30 minutes.
Billy Dodds' side took their foot off the pedal and coasted over the finishing line as the visitors toiled in pursuit of any joy.
Accies finish the season sixth in the Championship while Caley Thistle come in at third and look forward to the Premiership play-offs.
Head coach Stuart Taylor made one Hamilton change from last Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Raith Rovers, Kieran MacDonald out at left-back and replaced by Matthew Shiels.
Coming up against a side who knew they'd be contesting the promotion play-offs, Hamilton were aware a dangerous opponent awaited them up north.
But they didn't help their own case at all and started the match in the worst possible fashion, Walsh getting behind the defence and rifling into the bottom corner after three minutes.
Mihai Popescu and Lewis Smith had chances to bring Accies back into the game during the opening quarter but they were comfortably saved by home goalkeeper Mark Ridgers.
That was all they had to shout about as their defensive line faltered. Sutherland was the next behind it and he shot high into Fulton's net.
Seven minutes later and Walsh connected with the post and his effort rolled into the net. Misery was compounded on 28 minutes when Hardy was the next to find a way to goal.
Loud boos and chants for CEO Colin McGowan to leave were heard from a visibly frustrated away end who were wondering why they'd made the journey up the A9.
Experienced defender Brian Easton was brought on to steady the ship and some semblance of calm was brought to Taylor's men. But this was damage limitation.
They got to half-time still the four goals down with their slight improvement, and Popescu had another go on 55 minutes, which ultimately didn't trouble the Highland defence.
Austin Samuels wanted to add to the home tally but his effort on 63 minutes fizzed past the post. Dodds has started making alterations to his side ahead of their Premiership pursuit and the game had stalled almost completely.
Yet it was still them in the attacking ascendency as Accies struggled to create much going forward, although Lewis Spence's effort on 65 minutes was close, before David Moyo's speculative effort a few minutes later.
With 15 minutes to go, Andy Winter had it in the net for Hamilton, but it was met with a sarcastic applause and then an offside flag.
A couple of corners followed and Dan O'Reilly headed towards goal on 83 minutes before Caley Thistle broke and Fulton was forced to beat down a stinging Samuels drive.
This defeat will now linger for the South Lanarkshire club, who head into the off-season off a result that will leave a bitter taste in the mouth.
Inverness XI: Ridgers (Mackay, 45), Duffy (Welsh, 25), Deas (McAlear, 58), Carson, McKay (Samuels, 46), Sutherland (Chalmers, 63), MacGregor, Walsh, Hardy, Hyde.
Subs:
Hamilton XI: Fulton, Popescu, L Smith, Spence (Winter, 73), Mullin, Mimnaugh (Hughes, 45), Moyo, Lawson, Shiels, Brown (Easton, 31).
Subs: J Smith, McGowan, McGinn, Newbury.
Referee: Graham Grainger.
Attendance: 2131
Follow Lanarkshire Live Sport on Twitter via @LanLiveSport, like us on Facebook or find us on Instagram for the latest sports news, pictures and video.
