THE wait is finally over for St Mirren.

On a night when they could have ended up with nothing, Tommy Craig's side went home with everything and their first three points of the season after a 2-1 win over Partick Thistle.

It has been a start to forget for Craig and his players but, for the first time in the Premiership this season, they have something to celebrate and show for their efforts.

This was a game that should have been outwith their grasps by half-time but the points were collected in the most dramatic fashion come the end of a Friday night thriller at Firhill as Kenny McLean fired home from the penalty spot with just seconds remaining.

After five wins and five defeats, having scored just once in the process, the importance of this result cannot be underestimated for Craig or his players.

The pressure had grown on the beleaguered Buddies boss as the winless run had gone from week to week but he now has a stay of execution after they finally put some points on the board.

For Thistle, it was a missed opportunity. Coming off the back of an impressive 3-1 triumph over Inverness Caley Thistle last time out, they should have seen off the Saints with ease as they dominated early on but were left with nothing.

The two will do battle again on Tuesday night in the League Cup, with both teams surely fancying their chances of progression after an entertaining affair at Firhill.

The signs looked ominous for Craig from the off as St Mirren failed to get out of the traps and while they had a couple of efforts on goal, they never looked like imposing themselves on the game.

Just minutes after Ryan Stevenson turned and shot just wide, Thistle found the route to goal and exposed the Buddies' defensive weaknesses with ease.

A Steven Lawless cross from the left flank wasn't dealt with by Jim Goodwin or Ellis Plummer, with Kris Doolan left unmarked in the middle of the area to head beyond Marian Kello and get Thistle up and running.

It could, and should, have got worse for the visitors in the next couple of minutes but after Stevenson and Lawless combined well to set up Doolan, the Firhill No.9 couldn't find the inside of Kello's left-hand post before he just failed to get a toe on a Jordan McMillan cross from close range.

Thistle continued to knock the ball about well, their free-flowing attack proving too much for St Mirren as they struggled to get themselves back into the game.

But the second goal that would have established the Jags' superiority didn't arrive before the break, Stevenson blasting over from the edge of the area.

The interval allowed St Mirren to take stock and while they re-emerged a brighter outfit, they still lacked a cutting edge as John McGinn's free-kick was saved before Craig called on Thomas Reilly and Callum Ball from the bench.

Just minutes later, the visitors had their leveller, Ball meeting Jeroen Tesselaar's cross and firing into the bottom corner to finally give the Buddies fans something to shout about.

It was the moment that changed the game and swung the momentum in St Mirren's favour, Ball coming close to a second and McGinn attempting an audacious long-range effort as the visitors sensed victory was now within their grasp.

They had to wait until the final seconds but it was a case of better late than never, McLean sending Scott Fox the wrong way from the spot after an Abdul Osman handball to finally end St Mirren's agony.