Willis scores on his 50th

"It was great to get my first goal in the SPL but it was unfortunate that we didn't get the three points

Paul Willis celebrated his 50th Pars appearance with his first goal of the season. He told the website after the match:-

"It was great to get my first goal in the SPL but it was unfortunate that we didn't get the three points and finish on a high. We have to take the positives from the game and there were a lot of positives in the first half. In the second half we just switched off at the goals."

The 20 year old whose last goal was in July 2010 against Arbroath almost scored another in the second half:-[

"I knocked the ball past Ben Gordon and saw the keeper come off his line. I just tried to dink it over him but just didn't get enough on the ball to take it over him."

The year in the SPL has seen Paul start 11 and come on off the bench ten times, he feels that the experience will greatly help his game develop:-

"Playing at Parkhead and Ibrox has really helped my game. Now I want to keep playing and help the team get back into the SPL."

It could be a very different squad for next season and Paul said that it was a strange dressing room on Saturday as team mates departed not knowing who would be back:-

"You don't know what is going to happen and what budget he is going to get yet. We just have to be ready for next season whether there is fresh faces in or keeps the same players."

Paul was making his first start and first appearance since losing to Hearts in the final SPL game prior to the split. He claimed that is just the way his season went:-

"The gaffer opted with experience because of the run in we had and I had just to bide my time. Both Ryan Thomson and I were given the chance to show the gaffer what we could do and I thought we did alright. If budgets determine that it will just be young players coming through we have to be ready for the challenge next season. I don't know what the gaffer is thinking for next season but I will be ready if I am called upon."

Ryan Thomson and Paul Willis

Having reached the half century in terms of appearances Paul is now keener than ever to extend that next season.

"I have been on the fringes since I was sixteen year old and you just have to take it how it is. I have made quite a few appearances this season but next I want to make as many starts as I can."

Paul Willis: Young Pars Young Player of the Year 2011-12