Former Hibee Kenny inspired Mason to help Jambos' cause

DEREK MCCALLUM AT EAST END PARK

DUNFERMLINE’S Gary Mason today revealed it was former Hibs star Kenny Miller who inspired him to grab the goal that all but clinched Hearts a place in Europe.

Mason, whose family are all Hearts fans, admitted he was delighted to have hit the target for only the second time this season to leave Craig Levein’s troops dusting down their passports in preparation for a continental calling after drawing with Kilmarnock.

The inspiration for Mason’s golden finish however came from an unexpected source. The Dunfermline midfielder revealed Wolves striker Miller had shunned the showpiece FA Cup Final in Cardiff for a seat in the East End Park stand to cheer on his long standing pal - they have been mates since playing boys’ football in Edinburgh with Hutchie Vale.

Mason said: "It was pleasing to get on the score sheet to make it 2-0. It was just disappointing we didn’t go on from there as we started so well. Kilmarnock had hardly touched the ball by the time we were two up.

"Everyone felt good at half-time, to lose a goal in injury time leaves it on a bit of a downer. We worked our socks off but instead of going on to win we ended with a draw.

"With it being the last home game of the season I had a few people in the stand watching and Kenny Miller was up from down south.

"I’m good pals with him and he said ‘go and get me a goal’ so I think that brought good luck to me. It would have been nice to have secured it for Hearts, but we did our best; losing a goal so late on leaves everyone disappointed."

Mason has shrugged off a couple of injury niggles this season to become one of manager Jimmy Calderwood’s favourites with his uncompromising approach and tenacious tackling. He reckons, however, that the Fifers’ lack of firepower since Christmas has contributed to their slump in form.

Riding high until the winter shutdown, the Fifers have struggled since the restart producing performances that have only been a shadow of their early promise.

Saturday’s show encapsulated that enigma in a 90 minutes that Calderwood admitted "summed up the whole season."

The Fifers emerged like greyhounds out of a trap show boating their way to a comfortable two-goal lead with style, Stevie Crawford and Mason both making their mark in the first 11 minutes.

They had opportunities to add to their lead before a fluke Gary McDonald goal brought Jim Jefferies men back into the game. The Killie winger’s speculative cross deceived Derek Stillie in the Pars goal somehow drifting in at the back post.

From that moment on the confidence seemed to drain from the Pars with the early glitz being replaced by graft as they knuckled down to try and grind out a win. But it was not to be as the unrest on the park transferred itself to the fans, they created countless openings to make the game safe but paid the ultimate penalty when Kris Boyd grabbed a last-gasp injury time equaliser.

Mason added: "We had enough chances in the second half to kill them off. Bru (Craig Brewster) and Craw (Stevie Crawford) between them had the chances to win the game and they didn’t score.

"At the start of the season they were scoring left, right and centre and that helped us. What is disappointing is that when other teams have gone on and improved throughout the season we have not built on our good start and that’s why we are not challenging for Europe."

Meanwhile, Kilmarnock boss Jefferies admitted barring a miracle his side will be pipped by Hearts for a place in Europe. He said: "If it’s not to be then congratulations to Hearts, we ran them close. With five games to go we were ten points adrift, we have narrowed that to three points so we have at least put in a challenge. All credit to the players on Saturday for fighting back to get a draw."

Taken from the Scotsman