Match report

Saints made it back-to-back wins in the Premier Sports Cup this afternoon as a last-minute strike from Uche Ikpeazu secured all 3 points against Inverness CT at the Caledonian Stadium.

Saints looked comfortable during the first half as they passed the ball about well and pressed Inverness but couldn’t find a way past Caley Jags keeper Ross Munro.

Then during the second half the game opened up with both sides creating chances to take the lead. The only goal of the game came in the final minute as Uche Ikpeazu used his strength to hold off the challenge from Danny Devine before slotting the ball past Munro to secure the points for Simo Valakari’s side.

Saints are back in action on Tuesday evening as they welcome Raith Rovers to McDiarmid Park for a Premier Sports Cup Group F match, kick off 7:45pm.  

MATCH REPORT

Saints headed up the A9 today to take on Inverness CT at the Caledonian Stadium for their second Premier Sports Cup Group F match. Simo Valakari made eight changes to the side which started Tuesday’s 1-1 friendly draw with Dundee United as Reghan Tumilty, Morgan Boyes, Jason Holt, Jamie Gullan, Sven Sprangler, Josh McPake and Adama Sidibeh all came into the starting eleven. They replaced Jonathan Svedberg, Jack Baird, Fran Franczak, Taylor Steven and Scott Bright who all dropped to the bench. There were also places on the bench for new signings Stephen Mallan, who featured against Dundee United as a trialist on Tuesday evening, and Reece McAlear, whilst Victor Griffith and Sam Stanton missed out completely. Inverness CT got their Premier Sports Cup campaign underway on Tuesday evening as they defeated Elgin City 2-0 and head coach Scott Kellacher made one change to his starting eleven this afternoon as Alfie Stewart came in to replace Ross Millen who missed out completely.

Jason Holt got the match underway for Saints however, it was the hosts who would create the first chance of the match after 2 minutes as Billy Mckay dragged his effort wide of the target. The Caley Jags created a good chance to take the lead on 5 minutes as Alfie Stewart played in David Wotherspoon down the right and the former Saints player sent over a cross into the box which picked out Mckay but Toby Steward made a brilliant save to deny the Caley Jags forward.

On 9 minutes Makenzie Kirk created space for himself just outside the box before unleashing an effort which went wide of the post. Then a minute later Kirk turned provider as his cross into the box picked out Adama Sidibeh who flicked his header wide of the target.

Saints were awarded a free kick in an inviting position on 16 minutes after Holt was brought down by Luis Longstaff. The free kick was taken by Jamie Gullan however, he couldn’t repeat his free kick from last week against East Kilbride as this time his effort was block by the Inverness wall.

Saints continued to press for the opener and on 21 minutes good build-up play by the Perth side saw the ball worked to Josh McPake however, his strike was straight at Ross Munro who comfortably gathered the ball. The Caley Jags keeper was called into action again 4 minutes later as McPake’s cross into the box was headed on by Holt to Sidibeh who directed his header goalwards however, Munro made a brilliant one-handed save to claw the ball away.

The pressure continued and with 10 minutes of the first half remaining Reghan Tumilty’s cross into the box was headed behind for a corner by Danny Devine. Gullan took the corner from the left and the ball was worked to Holt and he picked out Tumilty in the box however, his shot was saved by Munro. Then a minute later Tumilty played in Kirk but Munro was again alert to the danger as he got down well to gather the cross from the forward. Saints continued to create chances and shortly after McPake’s cross into the box picked out Sidibeh who laid the ball off to Gullan but he fired his effort high into the North Stand.

Saints created one final chance before half time as McPake cut inside from the left however, he couldn’t find the target with his strike.

Simo Valakari made a change at half time as Stephen Mallan came on to make his debut, replacing Adama Sidibeh.

On 47 minutes good link-up play down the right saw Kirk play in Tumilty and his cross into the box picked out Gullan however, his header was turned behind for a corner by Devine.

Inverness were awarded a free kick 2 minutes later after Wotherspoon was fouled by McPake. Stewart took the free kick and his delivery into the Saints box was headed behind for a corner by Gullan.

Saints were passing the ball about well and on 58 minutes a lovely pass from McPake played in Gullan however, his strike was blocked by Remi Savage. The loose ball then broke to Mallan who saw his shot on the turn saved by Munro.

The Caley Jags created a great chance to break the deadlock on 63 minutes as following a quick break Stewart burst down the left channel before trying to pick out Inverness substitute Liam Sole however, Steward came out and got down well to gather the ball at the feet of the on-loan Livingston midfielder.

Saints then made a double change as Jamie Gullan and Sven Sprangler were replaced by Jonathan Svedberg and Reece McAlear, who was making his Saints debut after joining from Livingston yesterday for an undisclosed fee.

On 67 minutes great play by McPake saw the winger send an inviting ball into the box however, Svedberg couldn’t make a clean connection with it. The ball then fell to Tumilty at the back post but his effort was deflected behind for a corner by Longstaff.

McAlear picked up the first booking of the game on 73 minutes for a foul on Sole. From the resulting free kick Paul Allan lifted the ball into the box and it was met by Devine whose header was well held by Steward.

PHOTO: Josh McPake and Calum MacLeod

Inverness were causing Saints problems on the break and the hosts were awarded another free kick on 78 minutes as Savage was fouled by Holt. Stewart took the free kick as his effort from just outside the box was tipped over the bar for a corner by Steward.

Saints then made another double change as Taylor Steven and Uche Ikpeazu were introduced into the action, replacing Josh McPake and Makenzie Kirk.

Saints continued to try and find a way through the stubborn Caley Jags defence and on 81 minutes Svedberg sent over a good delivery into the box which was met by Matty Foulds but his header was saved by Munro.

Then in the final minute of the match Saints got the breakthrough. Morgan Boyes played a good ball through the centre to Mallan who produced a brilliant pass to play in Ikpeazu, and the forward used his strength to hold off Devine as he turned in the box and slotted a low shot into the bottom corner of the net to spark wild celebrations amongst the Saints fans in the stand behind the goal.

The Caley Jags then went for it to try and get an instant equaliser as straight from the kick-off Joe Chalmers had a go from the halfway line which was tipped over by Steward for a corner. Then deep into added on time Sole saw his right-footed effort deflected behind for a corner by Cheick Diabate as Saints saw the game out to secure a vital 3 points.

Inverness CT: Munro, Savage, Devine, Allan, Mckay (Sole 60’), Wotherspoon (Alonge 60’), Longstaff (Corner 69’), MacLeod, Strachan, Chalmers, Stewart (Kerr 90+2’)

Unused Substitutes: Ross (GK), R. Thompson, Nixon, Keogh, S. Thompson

Booked: None

Saints: Steward, Tumilty, Diabate, Noyes, Holt, Sidibeh (Mallan 45’), Gullan (Svedberg 64’), Foulds, Sprangler (McAlear 65’), McPake (Steven 80’), Kirk (Ikpeazu 80’)

Unused Substitutes: Thomson (GK), Baird, Bright, Franczak

Booked: McAlear, Foulds

Scorer: Ikpeazu (90’)

Referee: Graham Grainger

Attendance: 1,585

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Uche Ikpeazu scores for Saints