Was this the most dramatic relegation battle ever?

A captain's header, an overhead kick, a controversial decision, a saved penalty, a goalmouth scramble and three different teams in bottom spot.

All of this happened across two matches in the final six minutes of the Irish Premiership season in 2016, and it flipped the relegation battle on its head.

Miguel Chines' spectacular injury-time finish, as well as late controversy at Milltown, kept Carrick Rangers in the top flight and sent Warrenpoint Town down.

On Saturday, Crusaders take on Glenavon in what is set to be a tense relegation battle at Mourneview Park.

But 10 years ago, was Carrick's great escape the most dramatic conclusion to a relegation battle in history?

The background

How things stood at the bottom ahead of the final round of fixtures in 2016 [BBC Sport]

Four teams headed into the final day of the Irish Premiership season with the threat of relegation, with the bottom team facing the drop to the second tier and the 11th place side forced into a play-off against a Championship club.

Portadown started the day in ninth, and thanks to their routine 2-0 win at Ballymena United, we don't need to worry about them in this iconic final day.

Carrick Rangers faced Ballinamallard, while Warrenpoint Town hosted Dungannon Swifts, who were already well clear of danger.

Carrick were bottom of the table and one point off Warrenpoint in 11th, while Ballinamallard were in 10th and out of the drop zone, again by one point.

Heading into the final 10 minutes, Warrenpoint put themselves in a strong position when Stephen Hughes put them into the lead, while former Northern Ireland international Ivan Sproule had put the Mallards in front at Carrick.

It was all rather sedate and low key, and as the minutes ticked down it looked certain like Carrick would be relegated and Warrenpoint would face the relegation play-off.

The six minutes that changed everything

Mark Surgenor's equaliser gave Carrick Rangers hope of an unlikely comeback [BBC Sport]

"There's still a lot that can change in this game," co-commentator Chris Morgan said on Radio Ulster in the 87th minute.

It was a mystic prediction from the former Glentoran striker, who himself famously scored a late title-deciding goal against Linfield in 2005.

Less than two minutes after his comment, a deep free-kick was played to the back post and Mark Surgenor rose highest to hammer a header into the back of the net.

At that point Carrick were still bottom, but it gave them hope. Warrenpoint were still leading and moved above Ballinamallard into automatic safety.

But few could have predicted what would have happened next as Chines acrobatically scored a superb winner for Carrick in the 91st minute.

"At a younger age, you always try those silly things, right?," Portugal-born striker Chines told BBC Sport NI.

"But the older you get, if you try it, you're always going to end up hurting your back or something.

"I just threw my leg at it, there was nothing else I could do because the ball was slightly behind me."

After Chines had put Carrick in front, it looked like Ballinamallard would be facing the drop [BBC Sport]

Chines said it was "instinct" to try the acrobatic effort, and he did not think about his options as the ball was headed back across goal by Aaron Traynor.

"As a striker, I always thought it's an instinct thing inside the box. You have literally a second, if that, for you to actually finish a chance.

"I had no other option and, luckily enough, I actually managed to connect with it."

Chines' goal sparked wild celebrations as the players ran to the crowd behind the goal - except for Chines who just dropped to the turf in relief.

Not only had he saved his team from relegation, but there was personal relief too as he had made a big contribution when he had been struggling for game time, largely due to a new job he had taken up in the new year that had limited how much he could train.

"It was like a relief over five to six months of not getting any joy from football because of work and everything else.

"And then there was more of a relief that we might be able to even see it out. It was probably the best feeling I've had in football."

As things stood, Carrick were 11th and facing a play-off and Ballinamallard were bottom, but there was more drama to come.

Controversy, controversy, controversy

Meanwhile at Milltown, where play was a few minutes behind Carrick, Warrenpoint still looked set to remain in the top flight and Ballinamallard would have faced the drop.

But everything changed again.

The clock had just ticked into injury-time when Dungannon's Cormac Burke collided with Jordan Dane in the area after a Swifts corner was cleared.

It looked for all the world that it should have been a free-kick to the hosts, but referee Ross Dunlop pointed to the spot.

The drama wasn't over there.

Ryan Harpur's effort was saved by Jonathan Parr, and the goalkeeper produced another superb save to deny Andrew Mitchell from the follow-up.

Harpur's header was then superbly kept off the line, but Mitchell hammered home at the fourth time of asking to leave Warrenpoint crestfallen - and furious.

Six minutes earlier they were staying in the top flight. All of a sudden they were dealing with automatic relegation on goal difference.

Ballinamallard fell into the play-off, which they would go on to win against Institute, while Carrick retained their top-flight status.

"Our team was outstanding, we done everything we needed to win the game and it was taken off us by a third party," said a furious Warrenpoint manager Gray.

The final Irish Premiership table after the late drama at Taylors Avenue and Milltown [BBC Sport]

For Morgan, he said he was left "stunned" by how the final few minutes played out.

"It was an incredible finish, and then the drama with what happened at Warrenpoint," he said.

"What a way to secure your future for another year in the Premiership."

Chines remembers then Carrick boss Gary Haveron comparing it to Sergio Aguero's famous title-deciding goal for Manchester City in 2012. The stage may not have been as big but the drama was just as high, and the striker described it as "draining", both physically and emotionally.

"I'm sure if you ask the boys at Man City, they would rather have been three or four goals up at half-time, rather than having a mini heart attack every 10 minutes and wondering what may happen.

"But it was an experience that we will never forget and we're always going to remember that day.

"We weren't aware what was happening in the other game, you can only take care of what's in front of you.

"We just needed the three points which we managed to get. After that, it was party time and we just made memories with the boys."