ATHLETIC saved their "best home performance for probably our biggest game of the season" to wrap up the League One title in style.

Needing three points against Queen of the South to be sure of the crown, a rampant Dunfermline side hit five goals without reply to secure promotion with their biggest league win of the season.

It matched their best of the campaign in all competitions – also by a 5-0 margin, against Highland League Buckie Thistle, in the League Cup group stage in July – and Craig Wighton, who hit the net twice, said: "We probably saved our best home performance for probably our biggest game of the season, so we're delighted with that, and thoroughly deserved it.

"My legs went after about 70 minutes. As soon as the fifth sub was made, I started cramping up! I could've maybe got another one on the day, but I'm happy with a couple of goals.

"Big Lewis (McCann) did brilliant again for my first goal, and the second goal's just gut instinct to get in at the back post.

"We're delighted and we thoroughly deserved it. I think we said it at half-time that we've been 2-0 up at home before, the Peterhead game, and we've switched off, so it's important not to do that.

"I think we knew if we got a third goal, it killed the game. Luckily we got it quite early on, and then we could enjoy the last 20 minutes or whatever it was."

Matty Todd, who netted Pars' second goal just before the break, was delighted to score for the 11th time this season, and believed there was a determination from the team to complete the job from the kick off.

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"It is something that the manager said – just go out and believe in yourselves, enjoy the day and just play freely. I think we did that," he commented.

"I have said to you all the time, it is something that I have always wanted to do, add some goals. As the manager said the other week, I'm disappointed that it's not closer to 20, given some of the chances that I've had, but to add another today, I'm over the moon.

"The fans and the backing from them was superb again. The place was electric and we are just delighted to send them home happy."

Skipper, Kyle Benedictus, said: "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.

"There was a lot of good play first half. I think a lot of people have said our play, first half, throughout the season, we've probably been slow out the blocks, but I thought today it probably could've been three or four in that first half.

"Second half, it was very professional. Queens had a wee bit in the second half, but I just obviously think, three, four nil up, people know it's done. I think people just want to go out and celebrate!"

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Goalkeeper, Deniz Mehmet, said: "It's an amazing feeling.

"The boys have been so good all year, to be honest, and to do it the way we done it today, is special, 100 per cent.

"The sun's out, not a cloud in the sky – it's a beautiful day isn't it?"

Manager, James McPake, commented: "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."

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His assistant manager, Dave Mackay, added: "They (Queens) have been the best team (over the previous six games in League One) recently, so it was so important that we were right at it today, and it's probably our best overall home performance this season.

"We've had some really good performances away from home but, today, it finally clicked for us and we got the goals that some of our play's deserved over the season that we've not quite converted.

"We're delighted to go out on a bang like that.

"It's so important, and I don't think we've done it enough here, to start games on the front foot. We allow teams to settle, then at times crowds become edgy when the opposition maybe get a chance.

"It's so important we came out, and it's something we've tried to emphasise. We've done it a wee bit better recently but, today is probably the best we've done it.

"I think it's probably a mistake from the Queen of the South captain to turn the team round and had us shooting into our own crowd, because I think it made a difference. Shooting towards our own end, we got a lot of pressure, a lot of corners, stuff like that.

"It gets the crowd right on top of everything and I think played into our hands as well a little bit, so thanks to him!"

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