with thanks to Andy Burns for the photos !!!!!
Saints 3 East Fife 2
Team ::
Main,McQuillan,Davison,Preston,Weir,Griffin,Scott,O'Halloran,Grant,
Colquhoun,Jenko
Subs : McCluskey,Tosh,McAnespie
At Last !!!!!! With 3 games left we are now the champions but Saints managed to follow the Sturrock ethic of making the game as entertaining as possible by throwing away a 2-0 lead and only clinching the needed win in the last 15 mins. It was obvious from the start that the managers pleas all week in the media about ignoring the party atmosphere until the game was over was totally ignored by the fans and the backroom staff at McD - who else can explain the non-stop singing from 2.30 onwards, the pipe band playing "When The Saints.." at every opportunity and the announcer cheerfully talking about Saints winning the "teetle" (C. A. Sekerlioglu). Even Attila who failed a fitness test and was out of the team spent the half-hour before kick-off jogging round the track revelling in the chants of "Dino".
The game got off to a good start with both teams keen to play open football and, it has to be said, E Fife looking like a much-improved team over the mob we gubbed at the start of the season. Still Saints took the lead with only 12 mins gone thanks to one of the best pieced of keepie-up I've seen by a Saints player in years. Phizzy won the ball and juggled it a few times to beat the Fife defence before chipping a lob past Hamilton in goal. 1-0 and the party got into full swing.
East Fife had a few chances in the first half and the Saints players seemed to want to take it easy and Main had to be sharp to make a couple of good saves. At the other end, Jenko and McQuillan were causing havoc and both Colquhoun and Roddy had a few chances to increase the lead. We finally managed to do so on the half-hour mark when Davison broke through into the box only to be brought down. Up stepped Roddy to blast the ball home and send the home fans into ecstacy.
The second-half started well enough for Saints although they seemed content to ease up. Unfortunately the Fifers had decided to go for broke and several times we were forced into panic defending. Eventually they pulled a goal back when a long cross from the right was headed on past Main to make it 2-1. OK I thought so the bets at the bookies are screwed but its only a consolation goal before we run riot. Unfortunately 5 mins later they were equal when a through ball in the middle was fluffed by Danny and Weir and 2 forwards had plenty of time to pick their spot to equalise. I've never heard such a quiet reception to a goal - both sets of fans seemed shocked at the scoreline and for a while it looked like the party would be a non-event as the tension rose amongst the support (especially those of us who deliberately avoided radios to ignore what was happening at Cappielow).
However the boys decided to get stuck in - plaudits especially to Messrs McQuillan, O'Halloran (Paul Ramsey with pace and skill according to the programme notes) and Roddy. With plenty of chances going for Saints (although a Griffin clearance off the line didnt help the nerves), the ball eventually found Scott 10 yards out and totally unmarked. He finally decided to score a simple chance, made it 3-2 and entered the annals of club history. Cue the real partying to start. East Fife tried to get back and forced a few corners as Saints tried to slow the game down. Incredibly enough the E Fife timewasting tactics they developed when they equalised were all forgotten about, although the game was held up for 5 mins as one of their forwards was stretchered off. This of course meant the ref adding on the usual eternity of injury time before blowing for time and starting the real party !!!!
The plan was for the players to leave the park then come back on to receive the cheers of the fans (but not the trophy cos Farrys a mean git). But this didnt quite come off as they refused to leave the field. Instead they were joined by the boys who weren't playing and the kids of all the players and the final miraculous sight of Luggy minus coat and jacket - I swear I even saw him smile !!!!! And of course Dino resplendent in scarf, flag and blue and white wig.
As for this fan - Ive lost my voice totally and am now off to enjoy several beers and the champagne thats been in the fridge for the last month !!!!!!