RAYMOND TRAVERS

FOR 20 minutes it looked very much as if we were witnessing the archetypal end-of-season stinker, one of those soulless and goalless non-events attended by an apathetic crowd who had pitched up out of duty and habit rather than expectation.

Anyone suggesting the match would subsequently produce five goals - three of which would have dignified matches far more significant than this - may very well have been sectioned. The lead changed hands three times, and Laryea Kingston's spectacular late winner, direct from a free-kick, had the otherwise subdued PA chappie yelling into his mic, "What a screamer!" Who says these post-split bottom-six affairs lack the ability to excite?

Oddly, Kingston's shooting had hitherto been awful, which gave the goal an even bigger element of surprise.

Hearts trailed to a superb Ryan McCay strike, another effort from outside the box, but clawed their way back into contention when Eggert Jonsson's shot was deflected past St Mirren's wrong-footed goalkeeper Mark Howard. Young Gary Glen, making his first start for the Edinburgh club, put them ahead before half-time when he foiled the visitors' offside trap and scored from close range at the second attempt.

Gary Mason's 79th minute equaliser - an arcing 25-yard volley - was yet another gem worthy of a bigger stage.

But Kingston, refusing to be outdone, won it for Hearts in the final 10 minutes with his sublime strike, although few around Gorgie are liable to get overexcited. Chasing a best-case scenario of seventh position in the league is hardly the stuff of success for such a proud old club.