Match report

Saints got their pre-season friendlies underway this afternoon as they drew 1-1 with Forfar Athletic at the Alpha Projects Stadium @ Station Park.

It was a perfect start for Saints as new signing Jamie Gullan put Simo Valakari’s side ahead from the penalty spot on 9 minutes after the striker was tripped in the box by Angus Mailer.

However, the Loons fought back and captain Stuart Morrison headed home an equaliser just after the half an hour mark.

Saints pushed for a winner during the second half as Adama Sidibeh saw his penalty saved by the trialist Forfar keeper. The woodwork was also hit twice; Sven Sprangler hit the crossbar with an effort from 25 yards and then substitute Jackson Mylchreest hit the post after being played in by Sidibeh.

Next up for Saints is a friendly at home to Falkirk on Tuesday evening, kick off 7:30pm.

MATCH REPORT

Saints preparations for the new season continued this afternoon as they made their first public outing with a pre-season friendly against Forfar Athletic at the Alpha Projects Stadium @ Station Park. There were starts for new recruits Reghan Tumilty, Jack Baird, Morgan Boyes, Matty Foulds, Sam Stanton and Jamie Gullan as Simo Valakari looked to get minutes into the players ahead of the Premier Sports Cup getting underway next weekend.

Craig Slater got the match underway for the League Two side but it was Saints who would create the first chance of the match on 4 minutes. A lovely passing move saw Sam Stanton play the ball out to Taylor Steven on the left and his ball into the box pick out Jonathan Svedberg at the back post however, he guided his effort wide of the target.

It was a positive start to the match for Saints and on 8 minutes they were awarded a penalty after Jamie Gullan was tripped in the box by Angus Mailer. Gullan stepped up to take the penalty himself and he coolly sent the ball straight down the middle to put Saints a goal up.

PHOTO: Jamie Gullan celebrates his penalty

The Loons were awarded a free kick in a promising position on 13 minutes after Stanton fouled one of the Forfar trialists. Martin Rennie took the free kick and his effort from distance didn’t trouble Ross Sinclair in the Saints goal.  

Saints came within inches of doubling their lead on 18 minutes as following a Svedberg corner Sven Sprangler played the ball back into the box and it broke to Morgan Boyes who made space for himself before putting his effort wide of the target from close range.

More good play by Simo Valakari’s side 2 minutes later saw Steven pick out Makenzie Kirk in the centre whose first time effort was brilliantly pushed over by Loons keeper Marc McCallum however, play was pulled back as the Northern Ireland under 21 forward was offside.

On 31 minutes a good move by Saints saw Steven cut the ball back to Matty Foulds whose first time cross picked out Kirk however, his header was straight at McCallum who comfortably gathered the ball.

PHOTO: Sam Stanton and Lewis Martin

Forfar levelled the match on 33 minutes as Slater’s corner from the right was met by Stuart Morrison and the Loons captain planted a fine header past Sinclair and into the top corner of the net. The League Two side threatened again barley a minute later as Ross MacLean’s cross from the left caught out everyone in the Saints box however, Sinclair was alert to the danger as he gathered the ball at the back post.

With 7 minutes of the first half remaining a Slater corner from the right was headed clear by Jack Baird however, his clearance only went as far as MacLean whose first time effort went wide of the target. Then just before half time Rennie unleashed a shot from just outside the box but Sinclair got down well to save.

Saints made a triple change at the break as Jason Holt, Fran Franczak and Adama Sidibeh came on to replace Sam Stanton, Jamie Gullan and Makenzie Kirk.

A quick break forward by Saints on 48 minutes saw Reghan Tumilty burst down the right channel before picking out Svedberg in the box. The Swedish midfielder then cut the ball back to Steven however, he couldn’t find the target with his shot on the turn.

PHOTO: Makenzie Kirk' s shot is saved by Marc McCallum

Saints created another good chance on 55 minutes as Franczak sent over a good cross into the box as both Svedberg and Tumilty were inches away from making a connection with the delivery before the ball trundled behind for a goal kick.

Simo Valakari made another triple change on the hour mark as Kyle Thomson, Scott Bright and Jackson Mylchreest came on to replace Ross Sinclair, Matty Foulds and Morgan Boyes.

Then a minute later Saints were awarded another penalty as Tumilty burst into the box before being brought down by a Forfar trialist. Sidibeh stepped up to take the penalty however the trialist Forfar keeper made a good save as he got a strong right hand to it to keep the score level.

Sidibeh got another sight of goal on 67 minutes as he took advantage of a slack back pass from Nathan Cannon but he prodded the ball into the side netting.

Saints continued to push forward and on 72 minutes Sprangler unleashed a strike from 25 yards which crashed off the bar. Then with 9 minutes remaining Svedberg burst forward and into the Forfar box before seeing his strike turned behind for a corner by the trialist Forfar keeper.

PHOTO: Jonathan Svedberg's shot is tipped around the post

With 5 minutes remaining Saints made a double change as Arran Brookfield and Murray Binnie came on to replace Reghan Tumilty and Sven Sprangler. That was followed by another change shortly after as Uche Ikpeazu came on to replace Taylor Steven.

Saints pushed in the closing stages for a winner as on 89 minutes Sidibeh burst forward before playing in Mylchreest, who was one-on-one with the Forfar keeper, however, his effort hit the base of the post. Then in the final minute a Svedberg free kick was headed behind for a corner by Matty Allan. The Swedish midfielder took the corner from the left as his delivery broke to Jason Holt on the edge of the box however, he blasted his effort over as Saints had to settle for a draw.

PHOTO: Adama Sidibeh and MacKenzie Lemon

Forfar Athletic: McCallum (Trialist 54’), Martin, Morrison (Allan 59’), Trialist (Lemon 59’), MacLean (Cannon 41’), Slater (Whatley 72’), Shepherd (Rodden 54’), Rennie, Inglis (Trialist 54’), Mailer (Trialist 54’), Trialist (Trialist 76’)

Unused Substitute: Trialist

Scorer: Morrison (33’)

Saints: Sinclair (Thomson 60’) Tumilty (Brookfield 85’), Boyes (Mylchreest 60’), Svedberg, Gullan (Franczak 45’), Stanton (Holt 45’), Kirk (Sidibeh 45’), Baird, Steven (Ikpeazu 88’), Foulds (Bright 60’), Sprangler (Binnie 85’)

Scorer: Gullan (9’ pen)

Referee: Duncan Nicolson

Attendance: 992

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Jamie Gullan scores from the penalty spot