This was long, long overdue - both the three points and actually winning a game in the last minute. It looked as if we'd have to settle for a point when Rory McArdle fired in an equaliser after Marc McAusland's equaliser. But with 40 seconds of stoppage time remaining, Paul McGowan slid the ball through to Jure Travner - making yet another burst forward - he got in behind his defender and then smacked the ball past former Saints keeper Mark Howard for a crucial winner that immediately lifted the dark clouds forming in Ferguslie Park.
Deserved? Possibly. We were by far the better side in the first half as Aberdeen created little, before equalising with their first real chance. They then carved out a few more chances but they were nothing special - and we also had a couple. We both had to put up with a shocking refereeing performance, so the numerous penalty claims are cancelled out, and we were well due a last minute winner - especially as Aberdeen have done us out of points so often in recent years.
McGowan and Travner were brilliant, Patrick Cregg looked far more solid while Aaron Mooy looks decent. Even the defence for the most part were OK and they managed to keep the likes of Paul Hartley pretty quiet. Aberdeen were pretty dreadful - their first half performance was perhaps one of the worst I've seen from an SPL side in Paisley (apart from us of course).
Another week, another different team line-up in a bid to end Saints shocking run of form. This time it was a 3-5-2 with David van Zanten and new recruit Aaron Mooy starting, with Hugh Murray and Kenny McLean dropping out. Lee Mair was still missing, no doubt disappointing the supporters of his former club. Sadly, the much-hated but quite good Paul Hartley (who amusingly got skinned by Vanzy early doors) was fit enough to play for Aberdeen, while former Buddie Mark Howard was in goals.
There was an early let off for Saints when the ball bounced up and hit Vanzy on the arm at least once, perhaps twice, but fortunately the penalty wasn't given and we could breathe a bit more easily. Having escaped with that one, he then tested the handling of Howard with an ambitious effort that was never likely to cause Howard any problems. Nearly 20 minutes later Higdon shot over from around the penalty spot, although it was irrelevant as he was offside. Things really were that exciting.
They got a bit better after that, Paul McGowan seeming to be the only man on the park thinking he'd been fouled when jostling with Ryan Jack. It was irrelevant seconds later though as Mooy's corner was met brilliantly by Mark McAusland, whose connection defines the term "looping header". It was well out of Howard's reach, although it may have flicked off a Dons defender, but it curled majestically over the line to the delight of the Saints support. It's fair to say the happiest Saints fan in the place was the goalscorer himself, while I was in shock as we'd actually scored from a corner!
I would like to tell you about the rest of the first half action, but that's about it. There was a scuffle involving Gareth Wardlaw and Jerel Ifil and a couple of long range efforts that weren't worthy of much mention. Aberdeen had offered nothing while we had looked relatively comfortable.
Scottish referees have come in for a fair bit of criticism in recent weeks and Crawford Allan did little to improve the situation early in the second half. jack appeared to kick the ball back to Howard, who picked it up. This is a passback, but not so according to Mr Allan. Then it was and then, with no consultation, it wasn't and he awarded a drop ball. Perhaps we should be writing anonymous letters to the SFA asking for such decisions to be explained.
We had started the second half well and looked like extending our lead, but when that didn't happen you can probably guess what occurred. Travner and McGregor hesitated to allow in Chris Maguire before McGregor tried to make up for things by tackling him on the by-line. Instead, he gave away a free-kick. Hartley cut it back to Maguire who brilliantly dummied it (as if he meant it) and the ball went straight to Rory McArdle, who drilled it first time into the bottom corner. Aberdeen had been awful, yet had equalised with their first shot on goal.
Still, Saints didn't buckle and tried to restore their lead, having a blatant penalty turned down when Travner tried to pass to Mooy, who was promptly sent tumbling by Jack. Apparently, the young defender had some sort of invincibility cloak on that meant he couldn't be punished for blatant fouls and play continued. Hartley then played a neat 1-2 with Mackie, who was booked for a foul on McAusland, before shooting into the advertising boards.
Unlike most of our players, Mooy seems to be able to take a relatively decent corner and it was one such set play that provided a half chance to restore our lead, McGregor heading well off target. Clearly, Danny Lennon was in shock at this as moments later the midfielder was replaced with Hugh Murray. The next sub gave us sight of someone involved in one of the most bizarre transfers in recent years with Andrius Velicka - who Aberdeen signed on loan from Rangers with Richie Foster going the other way - coming on for Maguire, who had been looking dangerous.
It had been a wee while since Jack had got away with a blatant foul inside the box so he decided it was time to bring someone else down, this time McGowan the aggrieved party at not getting a penalty out of what looked like a rugby challenge. Wardlaw then volleyed over from the edge of the box with a rare Saints chance and a wee while later McGowan unleashed a fierce shot from miles out that wasn't far from sneaking under the bar. Paton was much nearer the goal at the other end but blazed his shot much further over as we entered the last five minutes, Hartley doing the same from a corner.
Aberdeen had a second penalty shout for handball turned down when the ball hit Higdon somewhere and while I thought it was his arms, others seem to think it was his chest. We were finally given a decision near the penalty box when Robertson flattened van Zanten and Travner's free-kick flew just past the top corner. Hey, we'd scored from a corner already, getting another set-piece goal is just being greedy! Aberdeen also wanted another from a set-piece, but Scott Vernon headed just over.
Then it was Travner time. Saints attacked, McGowan played in Travner, he got in front of his man, he wasn't fouled and then he let fly with a fierce low shot that gave Howard no chance as it ended up in the bottom corner. Joy and bedlam in the stands as three crucial points were earned - so late was it that Aberdeen only had time to kick-off before time was up.
A turning point? Who knows, but I'll tell you one thing - suddenly the end of my holiday doesn't seem quite as depressing as it could have done!