Saints wrapped up their 2025/26 campaign with a 1-0 win at Ayr United this evening.
The only goal of the game came on 37 minutes as Kai Fotheringham applied the finish to a slick passing move to guide home a pass from Jason Holt.
Saints had further chances to extend their lead as Ruari Paton was denied by a brilliant block from Kevin Holt just before half-time.
In the second half, Saints continued to create the better opportunities, though Ayr goalkeeper David Mitchell produced strong saves to keep out efforts from Fotheringham and Josh Fowler.
The win caps a superb end to the season, making it five straight wins for the champions. Saints finish the season top of the table on 77 points, 11 clear of Partick Thistle in second place. It was also a landmark night for goalkeeper Toby Steward, who set a new William Hill Championship record with his twentieth clean sheet of the season.
Tonight’s win brings the curtain down on an outstanding campaign which has seen Saints lead the table since the opening day of the season and they can now look forward to a return to the William Hill Premiership next season.
MATCH REPORT
Saints were on the road for their final William Hill Championship game of the season this evening as they headed to the west coast to take on Ayr United at Somerset Park. Simo Valakari made six changes to the side which started the 2-0 win at home to Raith Rovers last Friday as Sam Stanton, Josh McPake and Josh Fowler dropped to the bench, whilst Cheick Diabate and Jamie Gullan missed out completely. Also, absent was Adam Forrester who had been recalled by his parent club Hearts earlier this week. They were replaced by Liam Smith, Jonathan Svedberg, Stevie Mallan, Taylor Steven and Ruari Paton. Jack Baird was also included in the starting eleven after missing the previous two games against Dunfermline Athletic and Raith Rovers due to suspension. Ayr United lost 2-1 at Airdrieonians last weekend and interim head coach John Rankin made one change to his starting eleven as Nick McAllister came in to replace Ben Summers who dropped to the bench.
Before the match got underway there was a minutes’ applause for former Ayr United player Quintin “Cutty” Young who passed away last month.
Kevin Holt got the match underway for the hosts, but it was Saints who made a positive start to the match as in the opening minutes Taylor Steven unleashed a curling effort which looked destined for the far corner of the net but was brilliantly cut out by a Leon King header.
The Honest Men got a sight of goal on 5 minutes as Holt dragged his effort wide from the edge of the box.
On 25 minutes Stevie Mallan’s corner from the left was cleared only as far as Jonathan Svedberg who put the ball back into the box, but King was able to cut out for another corner before Ruari Paton could get on the end of the cross. The pressure on the home goal continued as this time another Mallan corner tried to pick out Morgan Boyes but again it was turned behind for another corner by Jamie Hislop. Mallan again took the corner from the left, picking out Boyes at the back post but his effort was gathered at the second attempt by Ayr keeper David Mitchell.
PHOTO: Stevie Mallan is tackled by Kevin Holt
Saints were now dominating possession and on 28 minutes Mallan went for goal with a sublime effort as his volley on the turn which went narrowly over the bar. Then 3 minutes later Kai Fotheringham advanced down the left channel before cutting inside to move the ball onto his right foot before seeing his effort go wide of the target.
The pressure from the champions eventually told on 37 minutes as Saints took the lead. A great team move ended with Jason Holt slipping the ball into the path of Fotheringham who fired a low strike into the corner of the net.
PHOTO: Kai Fotheringham scores for Saints
PHOTO: Kai Fotheringham celebrates his goal
Saints then went in search of more and on 42 minutes Matty Foulds picked out Paton on the edge of the box, but his shot was brilliantly blocked by Holt. Moments later, Holt again got the better of Paton, deflecting another effort from the on-loan Port Vale striker behind for a corner. This time Mallan took the corner from the right and his delivery was missed by everyone in the box, before breaking to Boyes but he couldn’t test Mitchell with his shot.
The Honest Men made a quick start to the second half as they tried to get back into the match. On 49 minutes former Saints player Jamie Murphy played the ball into the feet of Ben Dempsey but the midfielder was unable to test Toby Steward in the Saints goal.
Saints though soon got a foothold of the game and on 52 minutes Svedberg saw his effort headed behind for a corner by King. The Swedish midfielder unleashed another effort just before the hour mark from distance which dipped just wide of Mitchell’s left-hand post.
PHOTO: Jonathan Svedberg’s shot is deflected wide
Saints then made a double change as Sam Stanton and Josh Fowler were introduced into the action, replacing Stevie Mallan and Taylor Steven respectively.
On 73 minutes a Svedberg corner picked out Boyes in the box however he sliced his effort wide of the target.
The Honest Men then created a couple of chances to level the match. Firstly on 74 minutes substitute Dylan Watret put his shot wide of the target. Then 2 minutes later Anton Dowds got a great chance to bring the hosts level however, he blasted his effort over the bar.
Saints then hit Ayr on a quick break on 77 minutes as a brilliant through ball from Stanton played in Fotheringham who burst forward before seeing his shot saved by Mitchell and the Ayr keeper was up quick to gather Fotheringham’s follow-up header.
PHOTO: Josh Fowler takes on Kevin Holt
Another quick counter-attack with 6 minutes remaining saw Fotheringham and Fowler link-up well but it was ended with Fowler being thwarted by an alert Mitchell who was out quick to deny the Saints forward.
Ayr created another opportunity to snatch a late equaliser on 87 minutes, but Toby Steward made a good save to deny Dowds.
The closing minutes saw Saints make further changes as youngster Jack Robertson came on to make his Saints debut, replacing Ruari Paton whilst Alfredo Agyeman was also introduced into the action with Kai Fotheringham making way.
PHOTO: Jack Robertson is hugged by Ruari Paton as he makes his debut
Saints comfortably saw the game out and made one final change in stoppage time as Reghan Tumilty was brought on to replace Liam Smith. The 1-0 win was also significant for Toby Steward as the on-loan Portsmouth keeper recorded his twentieth clean sheet of the season, a record for the William Hill Championship.
Overall, it has been a season to remember for Saints and the players, management team and fans can now go into the summer looking forward to a return to the William Hill Premiership next season.
PHOTO: Toby Steward celebrates with the fans at full time
Ayr United: Mitchell, McAllister (Finney 66’), Dick, Holt, Bannigan, Dowds, Dempsey, Murphy, Hislop (Summers 67’), King (Douglas 76’), McMann (Watret 62’)
Unused Substitutes: Thompson (GK), Russell (GK), Want, Turley, McRoberts
Booked: McAllister
Saints: Steward, Boyes, Holt, Svedberg, Foulds, Baird, Paton (Robertson 89’), Steven (Fowler 59’), Fotheringham (Agyeman 89’), Mallan (Stanton 59’), Smith (Tumilty 90+1’)
Unused Substitutes: Thomson (GK), Mikulić, McPake
Booked: Boyes
Scorer: Fotheringham (37’)
Referee: Josh Hay
Attendance:
Match Report by Daryl Scott
Picture: Kai Fotheringham celebrates his goal
