Raith Rovers finished the season with a third straight defeat but winger Joe Cardle admitted the campaign went off the rails at Christmas.
The 2-0 defeat to 10-man Livingston means Rovers finished just two points above the relegation play-off zone, despite starting the season with a 15-game unbeaten run.
Cardle said: “We started the season so well and we were up there challenging, then over the Christmas period there was a couple of games we should’ve won, and I think the boys’ heads went then.
“Things have not been right since and we know ourselves that we’ve not been good enough. We’ve just got to be positive and look forward to next season.”
Cardle revealed it was an ‘emotional’ Raith changing room after the match.
“The boys are all upset,” he said. “It’s the last time we’re going to play together as a team. We wanted to finish the season on a high.”
Livingston took an eighth minute lead when Marc McNulty hit the by-line and his cut back was swept home by unmarked Danny Mullen.
By the 15th minute, the hosts were down to 10 men as defender Craig Sives was shown a straight red card for bringing down Greig Spence as the striker bore down on goal.
Despite the man advantage Rovers struggled to create chances, but they came close to an equaliser in the 41st minute when Cardle’s 20 yard effort was deflected on to the post.
The visitors failed to create a chance of note in the second half, while Livingston had several opportunities to extend their lead before McNulty made it 2-0, firing a low angled drive past Lee Robinson 10 minutes from time.
It was a sorry end to the campaign for Raith boss Grant Murray, but he took solace from the club’s Ramsdens Cup success.
“It’s the most successful season I’ve been involved with, but we’ve got to go away, look at things, look at the squad, and prepare for next season,” he said.