Dunfermline: Pars go down to League One after Championship semi-final defeat to Queen's Park.

DUNFERMLINE have been relegated to League One after an 89th minute goal saw them lose to Queen's Park in their Championship play-off semi-final.

Simon Murray's goal, after the Pars had been reduced to 10 men, has sent them back to the third tier for the first time in six years.

Efe Ambrose was sent off just before the hour mark, for a foul on Murray as he ran in on goal, but aside from 15 minutes at the end of the opening period, Dunfermline didn't do enough to win this tie.

Murray's goal, a close-range finish after Bob McHugh laid it on a plate, condemned Dunfermline and provided the feared, sad end to what has been an appalling season.

From talk of going for the title when Peter Grant replaced Stevie Crawford as manager, the Pars have joined Queen of the South in being demoted, and a summer of soul-searching is surely ahead at East End.

There will be much food for thought amongst the club's DAFC Fussball GmBH group, and new chief executive, David Cook, with the future of manager John Hughes potentially up for discussion.

There was a deeply unhappy reaction at full-time from the Pars faithful and, although the manager is under contract next season, the outcome of this campaign - which will see them battle both Falkirk and Kelty Hearts next term - means it remainsn to be seen what the Pars, on the playing side, will look like next term.

it also brought chairman Ross McArthur's tenure to a disappointing end, having taken over the role from Bob Garmory in Athletic's first season back in the division in 2016.

Hughes made just the one alteration to the team that started Wednesday's night's scoreless first leg draw, with Lewis Martin coming in for Josh Edwards, who had been an ever-present for Athletic this season.

There was, however, no place in the line-up for winger - and fans' player of the year - Dom Thomas, who again started on the bench, on which there was a place for Dan Pybus, who missed the game at Firhill completely.

For Queen's Park, ex-Par, Louis Longridge, and Darren Lyon dropped to the bench, with Luca Connell and Jai Quitongo coming into their starting line-up.

It was a crowd that was not as large as the previous home crowd - the disappointing loss to Queen of the South last Friday night - that greeted the Pars as they took to the field, and within three minutes, those of a home persuasion had their hearts in their mouths.

The visitors broke well down the left and Bob McHugh did well to dig out a cross and find Connell, who hit a shot from 12 yards straight at Stolarczyk.

It was a good - and important - stop from the keeper, but the Spiders man may feel as though he should have done better.

Almost straight away, Dunfermline were at the other end of the field and, when Ryan Dow's cross was headed out, Liam Polworth tried his luck from distance, but Calum Ferrie was there to turn it around the post.

On more than one occasion, there were home players looking for options moving forward, and it wasn't until the 25th minute, when Ryan Dow flashed a decent effort wide of the far post, after Steven Lawless played the ball into him from a quick free-kick, that they next threatened.

Lawless then had an attempt blocked as the home fans tried to rally their side, with Dow trying his luck again, this time from range, only to see the ball clear the crossbar.

Dunfermline now, though, were enjoying the better of the play and a mistake by Charlie Fox allowed Kevin O'Hara to rob him on the goal line, only for the forward to smash his shot well wide, before Lawless couldn't keep his attempt on target after Matty Todd found him from a knock-down inside the area after Fox could only head Martin's fine cross to the Pars full-back.

The hosts continued to apply pressure and, following a fine counter that saw Liam Polworth win a corner from a deflected shot, Ambrose was denied at the far post by a superb stop by Ferrie, who manouvered his feet brilliantly to stop what looked like a certain goal.

Athletic continued to press, with Dorrans the next to have a go, shooting not too far wide after being found at the edge of the area by Dow, before Ambrose headed over from a Lawless cross.

The scoreline, however, remained blank at the interval, but Dunfermline were on the offensive from the restart, with Polworth unlucky to have a far post header deflected out of play.

However, just before the hour mark, Dunfermline were reduced to 10 men.

Polworth played a sloppy pass in midfield to a Queen's player and, as the ball was slid through looking for the run of substitute, Simon Murray, he was sent crashing to the ground by Ambrose.

The centre back slid in but failed to win the ball and, with his opponent looking to run in on goal, referee Craig Napier produced a straight red card.

Hughes reacted to that by sending on full back Aaron Comrie, and midfielder Dan Pybus, for Joe Chalmers and Dow, and his team came so close to scoring as the clock ticked into the final 20 minutes.

From a Lawless free-kick, Coll Donaldson got free and his head to it, but agonisingly, could only watch the ball clip the top of the bar on its way over.

Donaldson again had an opportunity with a header from a Lawless delivery, but Murray came close with a header of his own as the clock ticked into the final 10 minutes.

Queen's Park came close with five minutes left when Connell flashed a fine half volley not too far over the top, before Fox headed over from a free-kick.

However, with a minute to go, Queen's broke on the right and McHugh squared for Murray, who had the easy task of netting from close range to send the visitors into ecstasy - and the play-off final - and Dunfermline to the drop after a disastrous campaign.

Match stats

Pars: Stolarczyk, Todd, Ambrose, Donaldson, Martin, Lawless (McCann 90), Chalmers (Comrie 62), Polworth, Dow (Pybus 62), Dorrans (Kamwa 90), O'Hara.

Subs not used:  Breen, Thomas, Todorov, Cole, Mehmet.

Red card: Ambrose (58).

Booked: Pybus (65), Dorrans (87).

Queen's Park: Ferrie, Davidson (Thomson 67), Robson, Grant, McHugh, Brown (Longridge 67), Quitongo (Murray 55), Fox, Doyle, Smith (McBride 80), Connell.

Subs not used: Morrison, Lyon, Heraghty, Longstaff, Darcy.

Goal: Murray (89).

Booked: Davidson (61), Smith (75).

Referee: Craig Napier.

Attendance: 3,179.