Andy Kirk Post Morton
Wednesday, 6th May 2009Top scorers 17th of the season gives Pars three successive wins, another three points and third place in the league.
Andy Kirk was the goalscoring hero on Tuesday night against Morton. His match winning goal was a welcome relief for the East End Park faithful who had not witnessed a home win in the league since the turn of the year. The Irishman was every bit as keen to get the victory:-
"Our main aim was to get the result and finish third. We are disappointed that our form fell away and we weren't up there challenging. At the end of the day we got into the semi final of the Scottish Cup and finished third which is better than finishing further down the table. It is good but a bit disappointing as well.
"We knew from last week's great result and a good result at Ross County as well that if we got a win tonight that would secure third spot. The Manager has been saying that to us all week in training. We just knew that we had to go out and put in a good performance especially after our home form has not been good.
"We had great chances in the first half. The keeper made a great save from Bayne's first shot and he is a wee bit disappointed that he didn't finish the next two either. It has been a problem at home when we have been on top, never taken our chances, go and goal behind and struggled after that.
"At half time we felt that we were playing some really good football and if we kept the tempo going then chances would come. Hopefully we could take one of them to win the game."
Rory Loy's opening goal in 56 minutes was equalised just six minutes later by Morton's Carlo Monti. In the end it needed an Andy Kirk goal in 87 minutes - his 17th of the season - to record the win for the Pars:-
"David Graham put one in a bit earlier which was a behind me and I had to let it go through my legs and it nearly dropped to Nicky Phinn. When the next one came in it wasn't as far behind me but I heard someone shout behind me as well and I just thought 'I'm going to swing my foot at this and have a go'. I was just glad to see it flying into the net.
"It came off the bar, dropped behind the line and bounced into the roof of the net. To get the three points to finish third was the icing on the cake."
Andy's season has possibly not panned out the way he or his Manager had hoped:-
"Before I signed I spoke to the Manager and he had big expectations. We believed that we could be up there challenging to go up; we had good enough players and I think if we had any decent home form at all we would have been there. It is disappointing that we fell away but next season will be another big season.
"This is a big club and there are great expectations from the supporters. I am sure that the Manager will bring in a few players and look to push again."
Andy who will be 30 years old on 29th of this month acknowledged that next season's push will have to be done on a shoestring budget:-
"It is that way for most teams, even those in the SPL. We have the basis of a good team; hopefully the Manager can hold on to them and bring in a few more."
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