Blair Alston struck a sensational 89th minute winner to spark a title party as Kilmarnock secured their top flight return on a night of huge drama in Ayrshire.
Just as it had looked like the Arbroath fairytale was about to enter the final chapter with Dick Campbell firmly in charge of penning the ending, Ash Taylor and Alston struck in the closing 12 minutes to rewrite the script for what seems like the 100th time of a thrilling campaign.
Alston slid home as the clock ticked towards injury time and with the title looking set to go down to the wire next Friday night.
But his cool finish from 18 yards sparked absolute bedlam in the home sections of the electric Rugby Park.
Thousands of KiIlie fans spilled onto the pitch to celebrate the most dramatic of endings meaning the trophy presentation was put on hold.
But that couldn’t dampen the delight of Derek McInnes and his side after they overturned Arbroath’s early advantage to secure their place back in the top flight.
It was harsh on Campbell’s Angus side who had led for 78 minutes after James Craigen’s scuffed opener.
Typically they ran themselves into the ground, snapped into tackles like there was no tomorrow, won a multitude of aerial duels and when the opportunity dropped they took it.
Deservedly they know the second bite of the cherry at gaining the most remarkable of promotions still lies in wait through the play-offs.
But for now the celebrations belong to Killie and McInnes who has overseen a dramatic turn in fortunes, taking 33 points from his 16 league games in charge to return to the Premiership.
Delighted McInnes hailed his Kilmarnock players for “killing the chief” in the title fight .. and proving they were the best side in the division on a night he said they simply had to win.
McInnes said: “I’m just happy for so many people. It’s not easy winning leagues and when you see the crowd turn up tonight, we were too anxious, too excitable in the first half.
“There was pressure on us tonight and the whole country outwith Kilmarnock seemed like they wanted Arbroath to win it and I get that, it’s a great story. They still might get there.
“But the best team wins the league and we are the best team, that’s a fact.
“We have had to do it the hard way.
“It would have been tough for us to go again and prepare for Raith Rovers. The boys sniffed it - we felt tonight was the night we had to do it.
“Our best opportunity was tonight.
“Normally you have to beat your closest competitors, you have to kill the chief.
“Arbroath have been the chiefs all season, they have been up there, terrific.
“When we came in Killie weren’t even looking convincing to be in the play-offs. But we have beaten Inverness here, Raith Rovers here and Partick here. All the teams round about us. It just left Arbroath and we needed to do it tonight.”
McInnes was delighted to settled a thrilling title bout in front of Killie’s own supporters.
And he added: “It was important we had this occasion. We’ve only ever won two titles and we’ve never won one at Rugby Park. It was important that the fans saw the teams delivering tonight.
“It was magic to see the place full. I think it was the biggest Killie support since the 90s.
“It shows what can be done here. We’ve a big summer ahead but these things can wait”
