As dream debuts go, they do not come much better than the one experienced by Lawrence Shankland on Saturday.
The 18-year-old Dunfermline striker came off the bench to score the winning goal for his new club in a five-goal East End Park thriller, just a few days after joining on loan from Aberdeen.
When Shankland, who will now be with the Fifers until the end of the season, took to the field in the 70th minute, in-form Stranraer had the scoreline balanced at 2-2.
Within five minutes he had forged an immediate bond with the home fans after driving home what would be the winning goal.
“It was a good start,” said an upbeat Shankland after the game.
“I was delighted to get the goal and it was a good win against a very good team. It’s always good to score on your debut and I’m just glad the chance came my way when it did.
“I was approached by the gaffer at training during the week and he told me that Dunfermline were interested in taking me on loan. He said it would be good for me to get some experience and hopefully some first-team football.
“I jumped at the chance and the players have helped me to settle in quickly.
“They showed today how strong the team spirit is here by battling back to win the game after falling behind twice.”
Before the game began, it was an-nounced that there would be a minute’s applause in the fourth minute of the game to mark the 18th anniversary of the death of legendary Dunfermline captain Norrie McCathie.
It was during this tribute that the Pars were awarded a penalty after a trip by Scott Rumsby on Ryan Wallace.
Wallace took the spot-kick himself but his tame effort was blocked by Stranraer keeper David Mitchell.
The visitors, unbeaten in their previous 11 league games and pushing the Pars for second place in League One, then took a 16th-minute lead through Steven Bell.
Ryan Thomson equalised for the home side with a glancing header ten minutes before half time.
A header from Frank McKeown put Stranraerin front for a second time early in the second half but Shaun Byrne’s deflected effort restored parity before Shankland’s dramatic intervention.
Some of the shine was taken off the win when French-Moroccan midfielder Faissal El Bakhtaoui received a red card late in the game after a retaliatory kick at Bell but boss Jim Jefferies was in a forgiving mood.
“He’s lashed out a wee bit after being fouled,” he said. “I’ve told him he can’t do that. He’s been given the foul so he’s just got to get on with it.”