ST JOHNSTONE could end a seven-year wait for Scottish Premier League football in front of the Alba TV cameras next Sunday after finally taking charge of the First Division title race yesterday.
Strikes from Martin Hardie, Gary Irvine and Liam Cra
ig saw them cancel out an Andy Kirk strike as they beat 10-man Dunfermline yesterday.
That win, coupled with Partick's home loss to Queen of the South, put them seven points ahead with four games to play and, crucially, provided Saints with the chance to effectively wrap up the title next weekend.
They now know that another defeat for Jags – against an on form Morton side – coupled with a win over Queens in Perth on Sunday will put them within goal difference of the championship.
That would provide Alan Main, who surpassed the late Drew Rutherford as St Johnstone's record appearance holder yesterday with his 346th game for the Perth men, with a double celebration.
"It's a great day for me personally, but an even better one for the team," said Main. "Becoming the record appearance holder has been at the back of my mind for some time, so I'm delighted I've achieved it. Now I can focus on trying to win a medal. If it's to be next week against Queen of the South that would be great, but we're taking nothing for granted. There is still work to be done."
Saints were gifted the opener as Dunfermline failed to deal with Liam Craig's 18th-minute corner. Graham Gartland fired the ball back into the danger area and the ball cannoned off team-mate Hardie and into the net. That could and should have been the catalyst for Saints to claim victory and they powered forward in search of a killer second.
Hardie almost doubled his tally as Collin Samuel touched the ball on for the former Partick Thistle star to curl a drive over the top from 20 yards.
However, just as they were beginning to settle on their lead Kirk beat Gartland for pace and was pulled back by the Irishman, earning his side a penalty. Kirk duly stepped up and sent Main the wrong way to square things up. The former Hearts man was terrorising Saints at this point and within moments he had Main scrambling across goal to cover his curling 20-yard strike.
Yet the lure of crucial title points was proving strong for Saints and Irvine produced a stunning piece of individual skill to put them ahead at the break.
The former Celtic youth picked the ball up on the right flank before darting towards the penalty box, steadying himself and picking his spot in the top corner for one of the goals of the season. That gave Saints the impetus they needed and they took a firm grip on 48 minutes. Substitute Paul Sheerin had a spectacular 25-yard strike turned onto the post and as Steven Milne tried to react to the rebound he was brought down by Scott Wilson.
Referee Stevie O'Reilly rightly pointed to the spot and had no option but to send off Wilson. Craig stepped up to put the ball beyond the reach of Gallacher and Saints were on their way to one of their most crucial wins of the season.
The full article contains 573 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
