Brian Graham was so relieved that Raith Rovers secured their Division One status on Saturday that he was not interested in claiming his team’s second goal.
The Kirkcaldy men marched to a deserved win over Queen of the South the 3-1 victory condemning the visitors to relegation, while ensuring Rovers’ survival.
Graham put Rovers 1-0 ahead in the first half but there was debate over the scorer of the second goal after the break as both Graham and strike partner John Baird celebrated.
Rovers’ match announcer awarded the goal to Graham, but the on-fire forward was happy for his team-mate to claim it.
Graham said: ”It’s a debatable one, but I’ll give it to Bairdy. He says I’ve kicked him instead of the ball, but who cares? It’s a goal and we’re staying up and that’s all that matters.
”What might have happened if we had been relegated doesn’t bear thinking about. The club might have gone part-time.
”It’s been a hard season and a bit of a hangover from the disappointing end to last season but we’ve shown great character to dig ourselves out.”
Graham is one of only a small handful of Raith players under contract for next season but he hopes that staying in Division One will allow the club to retain the core of the squad.
”Only four or five of us have got a deal for next seaso so there will be a lot of talking with the gaffer this week and I wish them all well,” he said.
”I hope Bairdy stays because I’ve really enjoyed playing with the wee man. He’s maybe a level above now so he might get a big move. If he does, I wish him well.”
Raith simply had to match Ayr United’s result to stay in the league, and things looked good for John McGlynn’s side when Graham fired them in front after 14 minutes.
He collected an Allan Walker knock-down with his back to goal, and showed great awareness to find the bottom corner with a superb strike on the turn.
Rovers looked home and dry nine minutes after half-time when Jamie Walker crossed and a combination of Graham and Baird forced the ball home.
However, within three minutes Danny Carmichael gave the visitors’ hope when he ghosted into the box untracked to smash Sam Parkin’s knock-down past David McGurn.
With Ayr coming from behind to secure a 3-2 win over Dundee, only three points would guarantee Rovers’ survival and McGurn’s stunning save on 82 minutes proved a pivotal moment.
With Queens piling bodies forward at a corner, sub Gavin Reilly found space six yards out but his diving header was somehow kept out by a fully stretched McGurn.
Rovers secured the win, and their league status, when sub Pat Clarke raced clear in injury time and slid the ball past Scott Robinson.
The result means Rovers are three points clear of Ayr with a game left to play, but with a goal difference advantage of 17, the Fifers cannot be caught.
Raith boss John McGlynn, who is expected to put pen to paper on a new deal this week, said: ”The players have been under a lot of pressure for a long time now, and now it’s off their shoulders.
”We’ve been down there for most of the season, but it’s a massive tribute to the players that they’ve shown such character, desire and work rate to battle through.
”Unfortunately, however, the financial situation is still not particularly great, so we’ll need to have a meeting with directors this week, get a budget, and see who we can keep and what we need to do going forward.”