ST MIRREN took another huge step towards Championship glory and automatic promotion with their first win at East End Park for 17 years.

Perhaps appropriately one of the men who scored that day, Mark Yardley, watched on as his old club moved 11 points clear of Dundee United.

It was a gutsy victory, with Cammy Smith and Jack Baird on target either side of a Nicky Clark header, against a Dunfermline side who fought tooth and nail to the very end.

There were may positives for Jack Ross, not least the resilience of his side, but it was the quality of the first goal that is the abiding memory of this contest and Lewis Morgan’s contribution.

There may be some Celtic fans who are wondering what the talented 21-year-old will bring to their team next season. Those watching on BT Sport last night were given a tantalising glimpse and those who didn’t should get watching the highlights now.

Was he playing to the cameras? Who knows but the sheer skill and the invention involved was so impressive.

Dunfermline had actually started quite brightly but they were ripped wide open in 13 minutes by what is surely one of the goals of the season.

It all starred in St Mirren’s half as Harry Davis switched the play to Jack Baird on the right side. Baird drove the ball forward, Stephen McGinn dummied it and Cammy Smith laid it back to him before dashing towards the box.

As he made his run McGinn clipped a slick pass towards Morgan, who brilliantly back-heeled the ball into the path of Smith and he drove a left foot shot past Lee Robinson.

It was a quite sensational and mesmerising goal that had the Saints fans at the other end in absolute raptures.

Smith nearly hurt Dunfermline again in 21 minutes when he robbed Michael Paton on halfway then burst forward to release Gavin Reilly but from a tight angle the striker shot wide of the right post.

The Fifers, however, responded and they came desperately close to finding an equaliser in 29 minutes.

Ryan Williamson caused panic with a curling, in-swinging cross from the right and Kallum Higginbotham should have converted it but failed to make any contact.

Then two minutes before half-time Nicky Clark forced a decent save out of Craig Samson with a volley from 10 yards.

Four minutes into the second half the former Rangers striker was not to be denied as Dunfermline drew level from a set piece that St Mirren boss Ross will not be happy about.

Michael Paton clipped a free kick towards the edge of the penalty area, Jean Yves Mvoto headed it into the danger zone and Clark got in front of Jack Baird to guide a header into the left corner.

St Mirren were quick to respond, however, as Kyle Magennis stung the fingers of Robinson with a dipping free kick in 52 minutes.

It was a decent save from Robinson, but the former Rangers keeper was made to look foolish in 64 minutes when Saints went in front again.

It was also a personal disaster for Fraser Aird who had only come onto the pitch seconds earlier as a replacement for Paton.

Magennis played a free kick into the box that dropped for Jack Baird and his shot hit Aird, bounced in front of Robinson, catching him off-guard, and flew into the net.

It was tough on the Pars who had fought so hard but it was another sign of the belief within this St Mirren team.

However, there were some anxious moments as the game moved into added time and Dunfermline peppered the Saints’ goal, desperate for an equaliser.

But St Mirren held on and their fighting spirit was exemplified by Baird, who threw himself in front of Andy Ryan’s shot to deny the Dunfermline substitute.