In a winner takes all showdown, Pars were condemned to another season in League One after Cowdenbeath won the play-off final at East End Park with plenty to spare.

Goals from Kane Hemmings, Thomas O'Brien and Greg Stewart left a huge home support desolate at the final whistle.

The biggest Fife derby since Pars defeated Raith in 2011 to all but secure promotion to the SPL, the match was crucial for both clubs.

With Rangers always likely to win the League One title, this date was always etched in Athletic's calendar as the most likely route to the Championship.

After securing second place and negotiating three play-off matches, they took to the field against Cowdenbeath knowing the prize was in sight after a 1-1 draw in the first leg.

But it all started to go wrong with a goal for the Blue Brazil in just 27 seconds - and to make it worse it was Pars target Hemmings who did the damage.

A high ball into the box was nodded down by Thomas O'Brien and the striker reached the ball just before keeper Ryan Scully to guide the ball into the net.

Cue bedlam in the away end.

The whirlwind start from Cowden kept Pars hemmed in their own half and Greg Stewart had a good chance but scuffed his shot past the post.

Jon Robertson them thumped a free kick into the wall after Alex Whittle downed him on the edge of the box before Dunfermline finally carved out a chance in 28 minutes.

Faissal El Bakhtaoui skipped inside and fired an effort from 20 yards that had Thomas Flynn worried as the ball flashed past his right hand post.

Scully then kept Athletic in the match with two fantastic saves. Stewart's neat flick sent Hemmings scampering through on goal but the keeper stood tall and flung himself to his left to parry the shot.

And in 37 minutes he made a brilliant reaction save to prevent Dean Brett's half volley from crashing into the net.

Tackles continued to fly in and on the stroke of half time Danny Grainger let fly with a free kick that sped past the wall but also the post. Dunfermline tried to start the second half as quickly as their opponents started the first and after some clever play from El Bakhtaoui, the ball fell to Falkingham.

He connected perfectly but Flynn hurled himself to the left too push the ball out of the top corner.

Sub Ross Forbes flashed a great ball across goal as Pars pushed for a leveller and Ryan Thomson missed a great chance in 57 minutes.

He had a free header from Grainger's corner but sent the ball past the post when he should have hit the target.

Cowden threatened on the break and from one foray they won a corner which Lewis Milne whipped into the box and John Armstrong climbed high to head the ball narrowly over the top. And Pars had a mountain to scale in 66 minutes when the visitors grabbed their second goal.

Milne's corner flicked off Forbes and the ball was cleared off the line by Whittle - but O'Brien was lurking at the back post and pounced on the loose ball to steer it into the bottom corner.

The third goal for Cowden in 76 minutes sparked a large exodus from the home stands. Falkingham took his eye off the ball, O'Brien picked out Stewart and he cut inside Young before despatching a low shot past Scully.