Look back at Dunfermline's Martin Hardie inspired Raith derby

And, by the close of play 90 minutes later, the legend of a talismanic veteran midfielder has been written into Pars folklore forever more.

The day that, every year on from that incredible afternoon at East End Park, would be known as Martin Hardie day.

One towering leap and bullet header, and one magnificent sweep of his right boot from one of the greatest free-kicks of all-time, assured the midfielder of legendary status as Dunfermline moved four points clear of Raith Rovers at the top of the First Division.

Martin Hardie heads home Dunfermline's equaliser.

Hardie was brought in by then boss Jim McIntyre, along with defender Kevin Rutkiewicz, in February that season to bolster his side's title challenge.

And what an insprired decision it proved to be.

After scoring his first goal for the club in a 2-1 win at bitter rivals Falkirk in March, Hardie then scored seven goals in as many games, including a stoppage time winner at Ross County later that month.

That goal propelled the Pars to a streak of six successive wins to finish the season, the fifth of those, at Morton, clinching the title and a return to the SPL after a four year absence.

But it was the game with Rovers, who went into it a point behind, that was critical - but it wasn't going Dunfermline's way after 45 minutes.

Despite dominating the opening half, which saw them miss numerous chances, and smash the bar through Andy Kirk, they trailed at the break to John Baird's goal.

John Baird gave Raith Rovers a first half lead.

That, however, merely set the stage for former Partick Thistle and St Johnstone star Hardie to steal the show.

Hardie races off to celebrate his leveller.

He headed in the equaliser from Joe Cardle's corner 10 minutes into the second half, and then enjoyed his crowning moment with 12 minutes left.

Steven McDougall was brought down 25 yards out and, to the backdrop of a Pars fan screaming "get them back, ref, get them back...that's niver ten yairds!" - as per the video above - as another punter filmed the free-kick, Hardie stuck it in the top corner to send a sell-out East End wild.

In an interview with Press Sport in 2014 the hero of the hour, who left the club in the summer of 2013, said: "When you see the type of crowd we had for that Raith Rovers game, it was an unbelievable attendance.

"Although I’ve played against all my former clubs, playing against Dunfermline has been the only time where I’ve been applauded.

"It’s something that I hold dear to my heart as I look back on my time at the club fondly and I still look for their results."

Another star of that side, Cardle, recently spoke to Press Sport about his work with the Joe Cardle Academy, where he also reflected on his memories of that day and that season.

"It was a tough season because we were going toe-to-toe with Raith Rovers for the majority of the season," he said.

"The way we won it in the end - obviously we beat Raith Rovers, everyone remembers Martin Hardie, the free-kick and everything else - but I just think from the get-go it was just amazing to be involved in.

"The Raith Rovers game, obviously when Hardie stuck the two goals in, I was delighted to play a part in the first goal from the corner that we'd worked on previously. We worked on that relentlessly on the training pitch and it came off in the end, with Hardie to peel to the back post.

"That game was a special, special day."

He continued: "Don't get me wrong, there was a lot of pressure involved.

"We knew it was going to be a full stadium that day, we knew it was make or break to be fair. If we didn't win that game, let's be honest, I think Raith Rovers would have went and won the league.

"When it came to it, the first half I think was the best football we've actually played, and then Raith Rovers went up the pitch and obviously scored.

"Going in at half-time, 1-0 down, we were like 'Jesus Christ, what are we going to do?', but we knew what we had in that changing room. We knew we had enough quality and ability in that changing room to get us out of what we were in.

"I think the first goal came about 10 minutes into the second half as I said previously with the corner kick. We'd worked on it and it managed to come off, with Hardie peeling off to the back post and blocking, I think it was (Gregory) Tade that was marking Hardie.

"It worked well and then obviously, the last minute free-kick, that will go down in Dunfermline history, the big man stepping up to it.

"I had encouragement in him doing it because I'd seen him doing it so many times before, but it was relief in the end.

"We wanted to get those three points; I don't think a point would've been good enough for us. To go and get the three points at home, especially in a full stadium, was one that will live with me forever.

"The noise that day, on the pitch you couldn't hear your team-mates. I don't think there's been a game at East End Park since that's been anything like that.

"I'm so glad I got to play a part in that. It was an incredible day all round."

It certainly was.

Here's to Martin Hardie and Martin Hardie day.