St Johnstone 3 - 1 Morton: Saints turn it around to clinch title

Published on Saturday 2 May 2009 18:12

ST JOHNSTONE secured the Irn-Bru First Division title after coming from behind to beat Morton and end their seven-year absence from Scotland's top flight.

Top scorer Steven Milne was the hero with a second-half double, after Martin Hardie had cancelled out Ryan McGuffie's penalty opener, which briefly threatened to spoil the party.

Saints were forced to wait for the title after nearest rivals Partick Thistle won last weekend but there were no hold-ups today as they wrapped up promotion with a game to spare.

The home side started brightly as they looked for the three points that would guarantee the championship and Colin Samuel had a great chance to open the scoring after a Hardie knockdown but his shot went wide.

Morton looked dangerous on the break though and forced a corner after 24 minutes.

As the ball came in, referee Steven Nicholls awarded a penalty after spotting a push in the box.

McGuffie took the spot-kick and sent Alan Main the wrong way to put the visitors ahead.

The lead was short lived, however, as just five minutes later a Paul Sheerin corner was eventually knocked into the net by Hardie after an almighty scramble in the box.

Buoyed by their equaliser, the home side picked up the pace and Samuel had two great chances to give Saints the lead, the second of which came crashing off the post in 38 minutes.

Within a minute of the restart, St Johnstone nearly went in front after Chris Millar struck a powerful drive off Kevin Cuthbert's right-hand post.

Morton's relief was only short-lived as Saints kept the high tempo going and a delightful flick from Hardie sent Milne through on goal and his curling shot beat the keeper to put the home side into the lead.

Morton hit back quickly and a Kevin Finlayson corner caused panic in the Saints box but the home side scrambled the ball clear.

Samuel then had another go after a powerful run down the right but his shot once again went narrowly wide.

Stewart Greacen went into the book for a foul on Milne in the 59th minute and the resultant free-kick was cleared for a corner.

Liam Craig's netbound inswinging corner was then headed off the line by Kevin Finlayson.

Saints continued to pile the pressure on Morton and Milne came so close to extending their lead but his diving header from Samuel's cross sneaked just past the post.

Derek Holmes replaced Samuel after 70 minutes and big centre forward could have made it 3-1 but he shot straight at Cuthbert from just inside the box.

It was all one way traffic now and Milne capped a fine performance by blasting an unstoppable half volley into the net 11 minutes from time to erase any remaining nerves in the home support and allow the celebrations to begin.

• Raith Rovers won the Second Division with a 1-0 win away to Queen's Park, after Ayr were held to a draw by Alloa.

• Dumbarton won the Third Division with a resounding 6-0 win at home to Elgin.