Cowdenbeath stunned local rivals Dunfermline on their own patch to cling to their Championship status for another season.
With Rangers and Hearts, and possibly Hibs, boosting the profile and finances of Scotland’s second tier, this would have been the worst of times for the Blue Brazil to succumb to relegation, and a great moment for the Pars to win promotion.
Given Cowdenbeath were within seconds of staying up on the last day against Queen of the South, a play-off final defeat would have been especially cruel.
However, the pain all lies a few miles along the kingdom in Dunfermline after the Central Park outfit silenced a huge home support to secure a bright future for the club.
Kane Hemmings’ 23rd goal of a remarkable season gave Cowdenbeath a dream opening after just 27 seconds and they never looked back.
Second-half strikes from Thomas O’Brien and the Dundee-bound Greg Stewart made it an afternoon to remember for all those in blue and white, and dealt a huge blow to their hosts who had turned up in numbers expecting victory after Wednesday’s 1-1 draw in the first leg.
Nicholl was presented with the consequences of relegation when he took over from Colin Cameron for a second spell in the Cowdenbeath dugout in November and he was thrilled not to have to contemplate those ramifications following a comprehensive and deserved success.
“Financially, the difference is massive,” said Nicholl. “In previous years I know for a fact that these directors have put their hands in their pocket to pay players’ wages. So, they’re getting an opportunity come next season to get all that money back and go and do something for the benefit of Cowdenbeath for years and years to come. I’m just delighted we managed to do it for them.
“Football-wise, it’s so exciting for the players. I remember saying months ago to the players ‘your main goal should be the thought of running out at Ibrox and Tynecastle’. If that doesn’t motivate you to win a game of football, what does?
“Hopefully we can give them a few bob more than they’re on and the whole picture changes dramatically. That’s what the game’s all about.
“Financially, the club’s in a sound position now and the players will benefit and hopefully Cowdenbeath will benefit for years to come.”
The home fans built up an incredible atmosphere ahead of kick-off, but it was Cowden who began all fired up, and they were ahead after just 27 seconds.
Lewis Milne floated a free-kick into the home box and O’Brien rose highest to nod towards goal. The Dunfermline defenders were caught on their heels but Hemmings was razor sharp and poked past an exposed Ryan Scully from seven yards for his 23rd of the season.
The goal did nothing to affect the frenetic approach of both teams, as Dunfermline sought to worm their way back into the tie and Cowdenbeath hunted the second they knew would threaten to kill off their hosts.
Dunfermline’s Scully twice denied them that advantage before half-time, stopping Hemmings after he had been sent through on goal by Stewart’s excellent flick and Dean Brett, whose volley appeared netbound until the on-loan Partick Thistle keeper’s intervention.
The half drew to a close with Danny Grainger spearing a 20-yard free-kick inches past for Dunfermline and the second period opened with Cowdenbeath’s Thomas Flynn brilliantly beating away a Josh Falkingham effort that appeared to be arrowing its way to the top corner.
Ryan Thomson was finally presented with the kind of gilt-edged opportunity Dunfermline craved in the 57th minute but his free header bounced harmlessly wide and belied his status as a makeshift striker.
It was a costly miss because the Blue Brazil doubled their advantage 10 minutes later from a corner.
Alex Whittle could only weakly knock the ball off the line as far as O’Brien and the midfielder returned it with interest as he volleyed into the corner of the net.
The mountainous task Dunfermline now had became an impossible one with 14 minutes remaining.
Falkingham blotted his copybook as he lost possession in midfield and that allowed Cowdenbeath to send Stewart one-on-one with Kerr Young inside the box.
The clinical striker showed why he is bound for Dundee next season by moving deftly past his marker before drilling home to the delight of the visting fans.
“The big difference in the teams was that their front two caused us all sorts of problems and we’ve got four strikers out,” admitted Dunfermline boss Jim Jefferies.
“But I’ve reminded the players we’ve had a fantastic season, we’re a young team and they’ve come up a bit short.
“They’re hurting in there but they’ve got to learn from the experience, they’ve got to dust themselves down and we go again next year.”
Attendance: 8,288.