Ayr United's Second Division title hopes, were dashed after Greig Spence's late equaliser for Alloa Athletic at Somerset Park.
United had to at do no worse than Raith Rovers to take the titlae race to the last game of the season.
In front of one of Ayr's largest crowds of the season, Mark Roberts put the Honest Men in the driving seat with a header in the 38th minute as they looked to keep the pressure on champions-elect Raith.
As United pressed Chris Aitken went agonisingly close to doubling Ayr's lead in the 61st minute when his free-kick hit the bar. With raith Rovers already firmly in the lead at Queens Park, United had to hold on to their slender lead against drop zone opponents Alloa.
However disaster struck for Ayr with 15 minutes remaining. Spence shattered their title dreams in the 75th minute when he fired past Stephen Grindlay from Gary Carroll's pass to give Alloa Athletic a 1-1 draw.
The result handed the tital, and automatic promotion, to the Kirkcaldy club and means that Ayr United now have to depend on the play off route to Division 1 with an almost certain semi-final against Brechin City, the side that Ayr lost to only a few weeks ago and paved the way for Rovers return to the Division 1.