Vics’ hopes of ending their Championship season on a high were blown apart by a nightmare start.
Brian McLuckie’s men shipped three goals inside the first 10 minutes to leave themselves with too much of a mountain to climb.
Hamish McKinlay pulled a goal back in a much improved second half performance.
But the Candy Rock had the last say when they netted a late fourth top seal to put the seal on a comfortable victory.
Vics arrived at James McGrory Park in high spirits after beating relegation with a midweek win against Girvan.
But the wind was taken out their sails as early as the third minute when Ryan McManus pounced on hesitancy to fire the home side in front.
Roch’s doubled their lead in six minutes, the unmarked Jordan Logan side-footing home Eddie Fern’s low cross from seven yards.
Ferns was giving Vics right back Jordan Craig a torrid time on the wing and he skipped past him with ease in nine minutes to fire in a cross-cum-shot that McManus headed home at the back post.
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The timing of the goal coincided with a planned – and immaculately observed – minute’s applause for the late Celtic and Lisbon Lion legend Stevie Chalmers who had a spell at the Candy in the mid 1970s.
Logan missed a great chance to make it four when play resumed, his shot from 10 yards straight at keeper Martin McDonald when it seemed easier to score.
But just when it looked like it could be a long afternoon for the visitors, the game fell into a lull with no clear cut chances created at either end before half time.
Vics made two changes at the break, Euan Farrell and Calvin Smith replacing Craig and frontman Kevin Adam.
They started the second half brightly, McKinlay forcing Roch’s keeper Jamie McGuire into his first save of the afternoon with an effort from close range.
Strike partner Ross McKenzie then went close with a header that drifted inches wide of the post.
There was more purpose about Vics’ play, with Lewis Warnock a real driving force in the middle of the park.
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They threatened again in 73 minutes when Ryan Morrow met a Farrell cross on the stretch at the back post but he could only find the side netting.
Roch’s were being forced into mistakes and McKinlay pounced on defensive dithering in 80 minutes to drive home an effort beat Maguire with the aid of a defelction.
It was no more than Vics deserved but the home side scored against the run of play in 86 minutes, when the unfortunate Jamie Donnelly turned the ball into his own net under pressure from Logan.
The goal took the shine off a decent second half display but Vics can hold their heads high after a good season.
