Saints celebrated winning the William Hill Championship this evening as they comfortably beat Raith Rovers 2-0 thanks to a first half brace from Jamie Gullan.
The opener arrived on 21 minutes when Gullan calmly converted a penalty after Kai Fotheringham was brought down by Raith captain Ross Matthews.
Gullan then got his and Saints second of the evening 4 minutes from the break as he curled home a superb free kick from the edge of the area.
Raith briefly threatened a response when Lewis Vaughan had the ball in the net just before the hour mark, but the goal was chalked off for offside. Beyond that, Saints remained largely untroubled and managed the game comfortably.
Late opportunities came and went for Ruari Paton and Josh Fowler as Saints looked to add further gloss, but it wasn’t needed. The final whistle confirmed a routine victory before the trophy presentation and celebrations got underway as Jason Holt lifted the William Hill Championship trophy.
Next up for Saints is their final game of the season next Friday evening as they make the trip to Somerset Park to take on Ayr United, kick off 7:45pm.
MATCH REPORT
Saints welcomed Raith Rovers to McDiarmid Park this evening for their final home league game of the season. Saints wrapped up the William Hill Championship title and promotion back to Scotland’s top flight on Tuesday evening with a 2-0 win at Dunfermline Athletic. Simo Valakari made three changes to the side which started at KDM Group East End Park as Adam Forrester, Kai Fotheringham and Josh Fowler came in to replace Liam Smith, Reece McAlear and Ruari Paton who all dropped to the bench. Raith Rovers lost 2-1 at Arbroath last weekend and Dougie Imrie made two changes to the side which started at Gayfield Park as Kai Montagu and Innes Cameron came in to replace Josh Mullin and Jack Hamilton who both dropped to the bench.
It was a party atmosphere inside McDiarmid Park as Ross Matthews got the match underway for the visitors.
The first chance of the game came on 5 minutes as a corner from the right by Sam Stanton was neatly worked to Jamie Gullan however, he couldn’t direct his effort on target. Then 2 minutes later Kai Fotheringham got a sight of goal however, he dragged his effort wide from the edge of the area.
It was a strong start to the match by Saints and on 12 minutes Adam Forrester won Saints a free kick in an inviting position after he was fouled by Dylan Easton. The free kick was taken by Gullan and his effort was turned behind for a corner by Jai Rowe.
With 15 minutes on the clock the Stark’s Park side created an opening as Easton’s cross from the left was met by Innes Cameron however, the on-loan Barrow forward saw his header from 8 yards go over the bar.
Kai Fotheringham was looking dangerous out on the right and 2 minutes later he drew a foul from Easton on the edge of the area. Gullan stepped up to take the resultant free kick however, Rae produced a good save to tip the strike behind for a corner. Fotheringham continued to cause the visitors problems and on 20 minutes the attacking midfielder won Saints a penalty after he was wrestled to the ground by Matthews. Gullan took the penalty and confidently put Saints ahead, with a fine strike down the middle giving Rae no chance.
PHOTO: Jamie Gullan scores from the penalty spot to make it 1-0
PHOTO: Jamie Gullan celebrates his goal
Saints then pressed forward for a second goal and just before the half an hour mark Stanton, who was putting in another impressive display in midfield sent over a good delivery into the box which Fotheringham volleyed narrowly wide of the target. Good pressing by Gullan on 32 minutes saw the forward win possession from Callum Fordyce before playing in Josh McPake who unleashed an effort, but Fordyce made amends as he got back to turn the winger’s effort into the side netting.
With 11 minutes of the first half remaining a Gullan corner from the left was met by Josh Fowler but his header didn’t trouble Rae. Then on 39 minutes a foul by Lewis Stevenson on Fowler saw Saints awarded another free kick on the edge of the area in a similar spot to Gullan’s previous free kick. Gullan stepped up to take the free kick and he wasn’t to be thwarted on this occasion as his beautiful free kick left Rae with no chance as the forward got his and Saints second of the evening.
PHOTO: Jamie Gullan makes it 2-0
PHOTO: Jamie Gullan celebrates his second goal
Good link-up play by Fotheringham and Fowler 9 minutes into the second half saw the latter twist and turn in the box before unleashing a shot but his effort lacked power as Rae comfortably gathered the ball.
Saints then made their first change of the game as Ruari Paton came on to replace Josh McPake, who received a standing ovation from the home supporters as he left the pitch in his final home appearance for the club.
The visitors thought they had pulled a goal back on 58 minutes when Lewis Vaughan turned home from close range however, the goal was chalked off for offside.
PHOTO: Josh McPake applauds the fans as he is subbed in his final home game for Saints
More Saints changes followed as Jamie Gullan and Jason Holt were replaced by Taylor Steven and Reece McAlear.
With 20 minutes remaining Easton did well to cut in from the left however, the former Saints player then curled his effort wide of the target.
On 74 minutes Matty Foulds sent over a dangerous ball from the left into the danger area however, the Rovers defence was alert to the danger as they scrambled the ball away with Fowler lurking looking to get on the end of the left-back’s delivery.
PHOTO: Sam Stanton and Paul Nsio
The game drifted towards full time with Raith Rovers not causing Saints any serious problems. With 2 minutes remaining Stanton saw his left-footed effort from the edge of the area go over the bar.
2 minutes were added on at the end and in the first minute Paton saw his effort hit the side netting. Shortly after, he turned provider, slipping the ball through to Fowler, who burst into the box, but Rae was alert to the danger and quickly came out to block the forward.
It didn’t matter as Saints already had secured a fine home win before the celebrations truly began. The players and staff celebrated on the pitch as Jason Holt lifted the Championship trophy high into the night sky, with the fans joining in to mark an outstanding season.
PHOTO: Jason Holt and Morgan Boyes lift the William Hill Championship Trophy surrounded by their teammates
PHOTO: Simo Valakari lifts the William Hill Championship Trophy surrounded by his players
Saints: Steward, Diabate, Boyes, Holt (McAlear 65’), Fowler, Gullan (Steven 65’), Stanton, Foulds, Fotheringham, McPake (Paton 56’) , Forrester
Unused Substitutes: Thomson (GK), Tumilty, Svedberg, Mallan, Agyeman, Smith
Booked: Diabate, Forrester, McPake
Scorers: Gullan (21’ pen, 41’)
Raith Rovers: Rae, Rowe, Fordyce, O’Connor, Matthews (Hamilton 56’), Vaughan, Cameron (Mullin 81’), Easton (Winter 73’), Montagu (Chin 56’), Stevenson, Nsio
Unused Substitutes: Glavin (GK), Wilson
Booked: Easton, Nsio, Montagu
Referee: Dan McFarlane
Attendance: 7,729
Match Report by Daryl Scott
Picture: Jason Holt lifts the William Hill Championship Trophy surrounded by his teammates
