EVEN without the fans, fog to match the Icelandic fjords, and an attritional 90 minutes of football, try telling Danny McNamara a first professional goal was not worth savouring.
The Irishman cemented his early season promise in Perth by reacting quickest to wade through the mist and rifle the ball beyond Danny Rodgers for the match winner on Friday night.
It was the just rewards for the fullback’s endeavour and the only tinge of regret for the Londoner was that his family couldn’t be there to enjoy the moment with him.
“It is something I’ve wanted to add to my game and I’m glad it has come now rather than later,” he said.
“There have been games when I have come away asking myself why I didn’t pull the trigger, hit the target or whatever.
“It’s just a pity there was no one here to celebrate with me.
“Hopefully a lot of fans were watching online and they could see it through the fog, because I couldn’t!
“Obviously I miss home but it is my job and if I want to push on. I have to go out of my comfort zone to get where I want to be.
“My mum and dad and girlfriend would probably be up every week in normal times. They love coming to watch me. It’s just a shame it is such a rubbish situation just now.”
There was a moment in the first-half of St Johnstone’s 1-0 win over Kilmarnock where McNamara was caught up in the storm of a handball shout when Greg Kiltie's shot was blocked on the line.
The 21-year-old was clear it “didn’t hit [his] hand” even if replays suggested it was too close to call.
Regardless, what was much clearer was he’s in a happy place at McDiarmird Park and enjoying the chance to adapt to a new role in Callum Davidson’s 3-4-3 plan.
“At Millwall under the old manager Neil Harris we played 4-4-2 but I got to learn a bit about playing wing back on loan at Newport,” he added.
“But I have played regularly as an out and out wing back here and I have loved every bit of it.
“I’d say this is a step up for me. It is a very good level, much quicker and the lads have more ability.
“I feel I am still adapting and hopefully I can bring a lot more to the team further down the line.”
While McNamara was “over the moon” with Friday’s result, Killie’s Greg Kiltie was left to rue another slow showing from the visitors, who have now lost three straight games 1-0.
Fine margins decided the match and having hit the woodwork and been denied by the match winner’s "handball" it wouldn’t have been all that surprising had Alex Dyer’s men demanded a recount.
“It was one of those games were there was nothing in it,” Kiltie, 23, said. “It could’ve ended up one way or the other and unfortunately we came off worse.
“We must take it on the chin and move on. Just a wee bit of luck or my chance coming off. That’s two weeks in a row I’ve had it cleared off the line.
“It looked like it came off his hand when I hit it but I’d need to go back and watch it.
“We had the best two chances of the first half. We grew into it after St Johnstone started well and we started to play well and higher up, got the chances off the corners.
“Any time you hit the woodwork or get one cleared off the line you’re going to be disappointed going in at half time drawing.
“For whatever reason it didn’t click in the second half and it’s a disappointing result.”
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