The curtain came down on what has been a truly memorable season as Nicky Clark`s 41st goal of the season saw champions Queen of the South defeat relegated Albion Rovers 1-0 at Cliftonhill.
Clark`s goal equalled Jimmy Rutherford`s 1931/32 club record of 41 goals scored in all competitions as Queens also extended the league points record to 92 points.
Ryan McGuffie leads the QoS players out as Captain for the day of his 100th Queens appearance. Number 5 in the Albion Rovers guard of honour for the double winners is ex QoS Marvin Andrews.
There were three changes to the Queens starting line-up as Mark Durnan, Michael Paton and Stephen McKenna made way for Steven Black, Dan Orsi and Pat Slattery.
The match began with neither side able to control the opening stages as the bobbly pitch made possession football difficult. It was Albion who had the first effort on goal as David Crawford found space to shoot from 25 yards but failed to threaten Lee Robinson as the ball rolled harmlessly wide. Queens responded as Nicky Clark had an effort from 18 yards following a Dan Carmichael free-kick but the ball flew well over the crossbar.
Paul Burns then had an effort well saved by Graeme Shepherd on 14 minutes after exchanging a couple of one-twos with Carmichael on the left wing before curling a low effort toward the far corner. The away side were beginning to dominate now and were very close to taking the lead five minutes later as a Carmichael corner fell to Steven Black on the edge of the box, his low shot was saved and Derek Lyle`s follow-up blocked before the Albion defence cleared.
Youngster Pat Slattery finds out how tough it can be as he gets a second imprint on his thigh.
Pat Slattery needed treatment for the second time in the half as he took a sore one from Albion`s Chris Boyle giving Queens a free-kick 25 yards out. Nicky Clark stepped up as he looked to match Rutherford`s goal record as he volleyed Ryan McGuffie`s flicked set-up inches over the crossbar. McGuffie himself then had an effort as he found space to drive into before hitting a left-foot shot just wide of the far post.
Queens were knocking at the door as Slattery was replaced by Michael Paton due to injury after 25 minutes. Paton nearly made an instant effect as he fired a well hit shot at the Albion goal only for Shepherd to make another excellent save this time low to his right.
Nicky went down late in the first half and Physio Crawford Quinn tells the bench that it`s all over. However the half time whistle sounded simultaneously and Quinn had the half time break to work some magic on the divisional player of the year.
As the first half came to a close Clark had another chance to hit the record books as he met Carmichael`s cross with a sweetly hit volley only to see the ball fly inches wide.
Albion had struggled to create anything in the first half but had a chance nine minutes into the second as Pat Walker found plenty of space inside the Queens box but he could not control the shot which went well over the crossbar.
Kevin Smith replaced Orsi on the hour as Queens pushed three up front in the search for an opening goal. It looked like they had it as Clark turned on the edge of the area and hit a low effort toward the near post. It looked for all the world that the ball was rolling in but Shepherd came to Albion`s rescue once again and Clark must have wondered if it was going to be his day.
Clark came back out for the second half and converted this chance to equal the club record of 41 goals in one season.
He did not wonder for much longer though as Ryan McGuffie stormed into space inside the Albion box and instead of shooting selflessly cut the ball across to Clark. The striker had time to take a touch before placing the ball under the diving Shepherd and writing his name into Queens history books.
Shepherd in the Albion goal can`t believe it after his string of great saves.
He still needed one more to claim the record as his own but despite his teammates` attempts to set him up he could not find a way past Graeme Shepherd in the Albion goal as the `keeper kept up his excellent display.
Nicky flicks another effort goalward to try and take the record outright............
..................but is denied again by Shepherd.
Young keeper Jim Atkinson gets his first team debut as a late sub after a very patient season on the bench.
Albion`s Crawford almost stole an equaliser in the closing stages as his cross from the right wing drifted over substitute goalie Jim Atkinson and rebounded off the post but it was Queens who secured their 29th league win of the season.