Saints put in a five-star performance this afternoon as they defeated Greenock Morton 5-0 at McDiarmid Park.
Josh McPake opened the scoring on 12 minutes with a fine low effort from 25 yards. The winger then turned provider for the second, his low cross was met by Sam Stanton, who doubled Saints lead with a close-range finish.
With six minutes of the first half remaining, Jamie Gullan made it 3–0 after Adama Sidibeh’s superb pressing won the ball and allowed him to tee up Gullan.
Gullan struck again on 70 minutes with a fine 30-yard free kick before Sidibeh completed the scoring with a brilliant glancing header from Adam Forrester’s cross, ensuring Saints will spend Christmas top of the league.
Saints are back in action next Saturday as they head north to take on Ross County in Dingwall, kick off 3pm.
MATCH REPORT
After progressing to the last 16 of the KDM Evolution Trophy with a 1-0 win against Hearts B on Tuesday evening, Saints returned to league action this afternoon as they welcomed Greenock Morton to McDiarmid Park. Simo Valakari made eight changes to the side which started at The Vanloq Community Stadium in midweek as Liam Smith, Cheick Diabate, Adam Forrester, Jason Holt, Reece McAlear, Jamie Gullan, Josh McPake and Adama Sidibeh all came into the starting eleven. They replaced Jack Baird, Matty Foulds, Sven Sprangler, Victor Griffith, Jonathan Svedberg and Fran Franczak who all dropped to the bench, whilst Reghan Tumilty and Jannik Wanner missed out completely. There were three changes to the Greenock Morton side which started their 1-0 loss at home to Airdrieonians last weekend as Michael Garrity and Tomi Adeloye both dropped to the bench, whilst Cammy MacPherson missed out completely. They were replaced by Zak Delaney, Michael O’Halloran and Iain Wilson.
It was a lovely sunny winters afternoon in Perth as Owen Moffat got the match underway for the visitors.
It was almost a perfect start for Saints as in the second minute they worked the ball to Adama Sidibeh on the right and the Gambian played a dangerous low ball across the face of the Morton goal which Sam Stanton was inches away from connecting with. Then on 5 minutes Saints created another chance as Josh McPake’s cross was met by Jamie Gullan, but his header went wide of the mark.
The early pressure from Saints was rewarded on 12 minutes as they took the lead. Morgan Boyes played the ball to McPake and the winger cut in from the left and burst forward before sending a fine strike into the bottom left corner of the net.
PHOTO: Josh McPake scores for Saints
Saints doubled their lead on 24 minutes as McPake brilliantly broke away from Cameron Ballantyne before seeing his cross into the six yard box initially blocked by the Morton defence. However, the winger got a second bite of the cherry and this time his delivery was met by Sam Stanton who fired the ball high into the roof of the net from close range.
Just before the half an hour mark the visitors were claiming for a penalty after Owen Moffat broke forward and into the Saints box before going down under the challenge from Boyes however, referee Colin Steven was unmoved.
PHOTO: Sam Stanton celebrates his goal
Brilliant pressing from Sidibeh on 39 minutes saw the Saints forward win possession from Jackson Longridge, before the Gambian squared the ball to Gullan, who calmly slotted past Jamie Storer for Saints third of the afternoon.
As the match ticked towards half time Saints continued to create chances and on 42 minutes more good feet work from McPake saw the in-form winger cut inside before unleashing a strike from the edge of the box which was blocked by Iain Wilson as Saints went in at the break with a commanding lead.
On 50 minutes Wilson tried his luck from distance for The Ton however, his effort didn’t trouble Toby Steward in the Saints goal.
PHOTO: Jamie Gullan scores Saints third goal
Saints made their first change of the afternoon on 57 minutes as Victor Griffith replaced Sam Stanton.
It was a relatively quite opening to the second half however, on 62 minutes Sidibeh came close to adding a fourth as he collected the ball from Jason Holt before seeing his shot on the turn go just wide of Storer’s left-hand post.
Saints continued to press and, on 69 minutes were awarded a free kick in a promising position after Adam Forrester was fouled by Cameron Blues, who was subsequently booked by Colin Steven. Gullan stepped up to take the free kick, and he curled a fine effort from 30 yards into the top corner of the net for his second and Saints fourth of the afternoon.
PHOTO: Jamie Gullan scores his second goal
Simo Valakari then made another change as Stevie Mallan came on to replace Jamie Gullan.
With 14 minutes remaining Saints made it 5-0 as Forrester sent over a brilliant delivery from the left and Sidibeh rose superbly, like a salmon out of the River Tay, to guide a glancing header into the net.
Not content with five Saints came forward again a minute later as Mallan played in McPake, but Storer was alert to the danger as he palmed away the strike from the Saints winger.
Saints made further changes shortly after as Louis Lloyd, Sven Sprangler and Fran Franczak came on to replace Adama Sidibeh, Josh McPake and Liam Smith.
PHOTO: Adama Sidibeh celebrates scoring Saints fifth goal
On 84 minutes Reece McAlear was booked for a foul on Morton substitute Michael Garrity as the visitors were awarded a free kick just outside the box. Garrity dusted himself down to take the free kick as he sent a low effort wide of Steward’s left-hand post.
With 2 minutes remaining Franczak was played in by Mallan however, his strike was blocked by former Saints player Aaron Comrie. The loose ball then broke to Forrester, but his follow-up effort was saved by Storer.
Morton’s Jackson Longridge was the next player in Steven’s book as he was shown a yellow card for a foul on Lloyd in the final minute. Mallan stepped up to take the free kick, but his curling, dipping effort drifted just over the bar as Saints ended the match on the front foot and go into Christmas top of the league.
PHOTO: Simo Valakari celebrates with the fans at full time
Saints: Steward, Diabate, Boyes, Holt, Sidibeh (Lloyd 80’), Gullan (Mallan 72’), Stanton (Griffith 57’), McPake (Sprangler 80’), Smith (Franczak 80’), Forrester, McAlear
Unused Substitutes: Sinclair (GK), Svedberg, Foulds, Baird
Booked: McAlear
Scorers: McPake (12’), Stanton (24’), Gullan (39’, 70’), Sidibeh (76’)
Greenock Morton: Storer, Ballantyne (Garrity 57’), Delaney, Moore, Moffat (Shaw 80’), Blues, Comrie, Gillespie (Lyall 38’), Longridge, Wilson, O’Halloran (Adeloye 57’)
Unused Substitutes: Murdoch (GK), Corr, Brophy, Holloway, Black
Booked: Gillespie, Blues, Longridge
Referee: Colin Steven
Attendance: 4,363
Match Report by Daryl Scott
Picture: Jamie Gullan celebrates scoring Saints third goal
