Match report

A perfect hat-trick from Adama Sidibeh saw Saints run out worthy winners against Airdrieonians at McDiarmid Park this afternoon.

Sidibeh opened the scoring on 25 minutes, heading a powerful header high into the net from a pinpoint Liam Smith cross.

The Gambian doubled Saints lead 8 minutes into the second half slotting home a right-footed effort after linking up well with Jamie Gullan.

Sidibeh then completed his hat-trick on 73 minutes as his low left-footed strike found the bottom corner of the net.

Saints are back in action next Saturday as they head to Fife to take on Dunfermline Athletic at KDM Group East End Park, kick off 3pm.

MATCH REPORT

Saints were back on home soil today as they welcomed Airdrieonians to McDiarmid Park. Saints comfortably beat Greenock Morton 4-0 last Saturday and Simo Valakari decided to go with the same starting eleven which started at Cappielow Park last time out. Airdrieonians got their first league win of the season last weekend as a Euan Henderson penalty was enough for the Diamonds to defeat Arbroath at the Albert Bartlett Stadium and caretaker manager Aaron Taylor-Sinclair made two changes to his starting eleven this afternoon. Goalkeeper Matty Connelly was recalled by parent club Motherwell at the beginning of the week and he was replaced between the sticks by Cade Melrose. The Diamonds other change saw Charlie Telfer miss out after sustaining a heavy ankle knock against Arbroath and he was replaced by Cammy Cooper.

Jamie Barjonas got the match underway for the visitors and the Diamonds created the first chance of the match on 2 minutes as Cammy Cooper got on the end of a cross into the Saints box however, his effort was saved by Toby Steward.

Saints first chance of the match came on 6 minutes when Josh McPake burst forward with a powerful run before seeing his effort go wide of the post.

It was a lively start to the match and on 13 minutes Chris Mochrie did well to wriggle into the Saints box before putting his right-footed effort wide of the far post.

PHOTO: Jonathan Svedberg and Dean McMaster

The end-to-end action continued and 2 minutes later McPake worked his way to the byline before seeing his ball across the box cut out for a corner by Aidan Wilson. Gullan took the corner from the left and his delivery was met at the back post by Cheick Diabate who headed the ball wide of the target.

On 23 minutes a Jamie Gullan free kick went narrowly over the crossbar. Then 2 minutes later Sidibeh was fouled by Dean McMaster. The Gambian got up quick and took the free kick, sending it out wide to Liam Smith on the right. The right-back then burst down the right channel before whipping over a fine ball into the box and Sidibeh got up like a salmon out of the River Tay as he sent a sublime header past Cade Melrose and into the net.

PHOTO: Adama Sidibeh celebrates his goal

A lovely move by Saints on 33 minutes saw McPake play the ball to Jason Holt and the Saints captain sent a dangerous delivery across the Airdrie box which was cut out for a corner by Liam Strapp. Then 3 minutes later Holt was involved in the thick of the action again, as he sent a fabulous ball into the box which Jonathan Svedberg chested down before unleashing a shot on the swivel which went over the bar.

Saints continued to apply pressure to the Airdrie goal as the match approached half time. On 41 minutes Smith’s cross into the box from the right broke to McPake but Melrose got down well to save the effort from the winger. Then 2 minutes later Melrose was called into action again this time brilliantly tipping over a Gullan effort. From the resulting corner Gullan’s delivery broke to McPake but his strike rippled the side netting.

PHOTO: Former Saints manager Tommy Wright acknowledges the fans at half time

Saints started the second half in a similar fashion as on 50 minutes Smith tried to pick out Sidibeh with a cross from the right however, the forward couldn’t make a clean connection with the ball as it went wide of the target.

However, the Gambian didn’t miss 3 minutes later as Saints doubled their lead. Brilliant work on the left saw Sidibeh play the ball to Gullan who then returned it to the forward and he sent a composed right-footed finish beyond Melrose for his and Saints second of the afternoon.

PHOTO: Adama Sidibeh scores his second goal

On 64 minutes Holt linked up with Svedberg however, the shot from the Saints captain was straight at Melrose. Then 5 minutes later Gullan got a sight of goal but his effort was saved by Melrose.

Saints wrapped up the points on 73 minutes as Svedberg played in Sidibeh with a perfect through ball and the forward slotted home a low left-foot shot into the bottom corner of the net to complete his hat-trick.

Saints then made their first change of the game as Matty Foulds came on to replace Morgan Boyes. That was followed by a triple change shortly after as Josh McPake, Jason Holt and Adama Sidibeh were replaced by Kai Fotheringham, Sven Sprangler and Uche Ikpeazu.

PHOTO: Adama Sidibeh completes his hat-trick

With 5 minutes remaining a good delivery into the Saints box by Airdrie substitute Lewis McGrattan was met by Jake Hastie however, the header from the substitute was straight at Steward who comfortably held the ball.

Saints final change of the game saw Jonathan Svedberg replaced by Sam Stanton and the midfielder also made an instant impact. On 89 minutes he sent an inviting ball across the face of the Diamonds goal however, no one in a Saints shirt could get on the end of it to knock it home which would have been the icing on the cake for a side that had already done more than enough to secure a thoroughly deserved victory.

PHOTO: Simo Valakari celebrates with the Saints fans at full time

Saints: Steward, Diabate, Boyes (Foulds 73’), Holt (Sprangler 79’), Svedberg (Stanton 87’), Sidibeh (Ikpeazu 79’), Gullan, Baird, McPake (Fotheringham 79’), Smith, McAlear

Unused Substitutes: Thomson (GK), Tumilty, Forrester, Wanner     

Booked: Boyes, McPake

Scorers: Sidibeh (25’, 53’, 73’)

Airdrieonians: Melrose, Strapp, McGinty, Wilson, McMaster, Mochrie (Xavier-Jones 71’), Gallagher (McGrattan 87’), Henderson (Reid 71’), Barjonas (D. Williams 88’), Cooper (Hastie 57’), McKinnon  

Unused Substitutes: Hutton (GK), C. Williams, Chisholm, Smith

Booked: Gallagher, McKinnon, McMaster, Strapp

Referee: Greg Soutar

Attendance: 4,607

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Adama Sidibeh celebrates his second goal