Millennium Champions: Captain Tache to the rescue

Last updated : 15 October 2009 By Stuart Gillespie
Oscar Wilde once said "Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future". Something along those lines could describe the turnaround in Turner's fortunes at Love Street since the arrival of manager Tom Hendrie. Made captain in the new boss's first game, he had been outstanding in the back three before the magic against Raith. But that's to come.

We hadn't gone into the international break in good shape. After the fantastic start to the season, we'd ended the first quarter with a draw and a defeat. Mind you, we weren't meant to be challenging so we can't be too picky.

We should have been ahead at the break. Hugh Murray resisted the temptation to shoot and instead picked out Iain Nicolson on the wing, who floated in a ball for Barry Lavety to head home. Then Raith kindly had Steven Hamilton sent off. However, in typical Saints fashion, we gave them a hand. A clash between Ludovic Roy and future Saint Alex Burns could have been seen anything given and in the end a penalty was awarded. Some Raith prat sprinted the length of the field to get Ludo booked before Kenny Black thumped home the spot-kick.

Saints were struggling against 10 men, but as the hour mark approached Nicolson was once again the provider of a headed goal. This time it was Mark Yardley getting on the end of his cross and his glancing header was perfect.

Even that didn't settle Saints and with 10 minutes remaining Jay Stein levelled things up for Raith. For the remainder of the game, the home side battered the Raith goal but seemed to have no success. In stoppage time, Nicolson made a mess of a free-kick but when possession was won back, the wing back produced yet another fantastic ball that Turner managed to get enough of his head on to loop over keeper Guido Van de Kamp and into the back of the net, sparking bedlam in the North Bank.

Rather amusingly, Raith then managed to get Stevie Tosh sent off before Ian Ross went on a superb solo run that sadly ended with him hitting the bar. Must do better Rossco.

Late drama, and it wouldn't be the last time we had some at Love Street this season. Not that it was needed the following week at Ayr, mind.