CAPTAIN Kyle Benedictus has said that Athletic's League One title win is "a moment I'll treasure forever".

The 31-year-old, who joined the club from Raith Rovers last summer, said he was "absolutely buzzing" after the Pars thumped Queen of the South to be crowned champions in style.

First half goals from Kane Ritchie-Hosler and Matty Todd, added to by Craig Wighton's second half brace, and Kevin O'Hara's late effort, gave Dunfermline their biggest league win of the season against the play-off chasing Doonhamers.

READ MORE: Pars wrap up League One title with Queens rout

It extended Athletic's unbeaten league run to 21 matches, provided them with a 20th league clean sheet, and means they have lost just one of 33 League One games.

Benedictus, who has claimed Championship and League One winner's medals with Dundee and Raith respectively, said post-match: "I'm absolutely buzzing.

"Obviously, inside the club, inside the dressing room, that was our main goal from the start of the season, without bumping our mouths like other teams have this season I think.

"It's nice to finally do it. I think it's fully deserved. I think we were the best team by a long way this season, and it's fully deserved.

"We always said that some team would probably get a bit of a hiding from us, and we probably couldn't have picked a better day for it.

"You need to treasure these moments. Not a lot of people can win things in their careers, and every single one of them deserves what's coming their way.

"I've won a couple of things but, to play every single minute of every game so far...I managed to win the league with Dundee, and I played 18 games. At Raith, it was the Covid thing - I couldn't lift the trophy or anything.

"To go and play every minute of every game, and captain the team to the league, is a moment I'll treasure forever."

Boss, James McPake, commented: "I'm still pretty calm just now because I don't think it's sunk in.

"I'm just delighted for the players. I'm delighted to see them with their families out on the pitch after the game. I'm delighted with the performance; I thought it was excellent, against a Queen of the South team that were the form team in the league.

"When we first came in, and Dave will say the same, the boys were great. They were great to work with.

"In pre-season, the way we do it is very demanding, but they kept doing it. I think we won all our friendlies apart from Kilmarnock as well, so we went in with a standard that we wanted to start winning games, because that was lost the season before.

"We did that, and it's ended, seven or eight months later with a league winner's medal for every single player in there, so we're delighted."

We'll have more reaction and pictures from today's title win to come over the next few days on the Press Sport website, and in Thursday's print edition.