Last day disappointment for Saints

ABOVE: Murray Davidson heads home to make it 2-1

Saints went into the final match of the season knowing that a draw would be good enough to ensure that they finished in seventh place and they took to the field at a sunny lunchtime.

There were three changes to the line-up from Wednesday’s draw at Falkirk – Steven Anderson, Kenny Deuchar and Cillian Sheridan dropped out and in came Graham Gartland, Liam Craig and Steven Milne.

Saints have been guilty of poor first half performances in recent weeks and if Manager Derek McInnes had hoped his troops would learn from that he was in for a major disappointment because Accies were two up inside quarter of an hour.

The first came in eight minutes and came after Graeme Smith produced a great tip over the bar to deny Marco Paixao. However, when the resultant corner came in Alex Neil dinked it goalwards and Graeme Smith was left stranded as Mark McLaughlin back-headed it over his head and into the net.

A set back for Saints and it got worse seven minutes later when Billy Reid’s side doubled their advantage.

It came from a free kick right on the edge of the box – the foul must have been just inches short of being a penalty kick – and Dougie Imrie calmly bent the ball around the Perth defensive wall and into the net with Smith motionless.

It was the 24th minute before Saints carved out a chance and it came after Sean Murdoch came out of his box to intercept a long Duberry ball, Murray Davidson pounced on the poor kick by the Accies keeper and played it quickly to Steven Milne who hit it from 25 yards but Murdoch got back in his goal and pushed it round the post for a fruitless corner.

The game was a tetchy affair from the early stages and Chris Millar and James Wesolowski exchanged heated views after the pair clashed in front of the East Stand, the Saints man feeling the Accies number seven had made too much of a tackle.

Derek McInnes and the supporters was not happy with several decision made by referee Willie Collum and the referee had words with the Saints gaffer.

Murray Davidson had the best chance to get a goal for Saints before the interval but he rattled the side netting from close range. Saints certainly picked up in the final 15 minutes of that first half but the poor start to the game cost us dearly.

Saints made a change at half-time with Kenny Deuchar introduced at the expense of Graham Gartland, Liam Craig moving into a left back role with Danny Grainger moving into the heart of the defence.

The move paid off within four minutes as we reduced the deficit through Murray Davidson. Kenny Deuchar was involved, laying the ball off to Steven Milne and although Savo was tackled, the ball went wide right to Chris Millar whose great cross was met by Davidson who headed home, leaving Murdoch helpless.

Accies keeper Murdoch came to his side’s rescue soon after, denying Dave Mackay and Murray Davidson in quick succession and the he remained the centre of attention in 67 minutes when he conceded a penalty kick.

He brought down Kenny Deuchar as the big striker broke into the six yard box – it looked as if he may have got the ball first – and referee Collum pointed to the spot.

Liam Craig took the kick and although Murdoch blocked the effort, Liam was quick to follow up and rattle it into the net from close range.

Saints were much more like the thing now and Jody Morris curled in a great free kick which Murdoch did well to turn around the post.

It was tense stuff now and Accies always looked dangerous on the break – sub Joel Thomas wasting a good chance – but the reshaped Perth defence looked reasonably comfortable.

It continued to be niggly and the referee was managing to incur the wrath of both sets of fans with some of his decisions.

A draw was enough for Saints to retain seventh spot but the rug was pulled from under them with six minutes remaining. Danny Grainger lost out to Dougie Imrie in a race and challenge for the ball down the inside right channel and when Imrie’s low cross came in James Wesolowski converted it from close range.

This seemed to knock the heart right out of the home players including Paul Sheerin who made a late bow in his final game for the club.

In the dying seconds Derek McInnes was sent to the stand by Collum after he made one too many complaints to the fourth official.

It very disappointing and frustrating end to the season as Accies snatched our long-held seventh place right at the death of the season but all three goals conceded today were poor from a Saints perspective and we were made to pay.

SAINTS: Smith, Mackay, Grainger, Gartland (Deuchar), Duberry, Morris, Davidson, Millar (Irvine), Craig, Milne, Samuel (Sheerin). Subs: Duffy, Rutkiewicz, Jackson, Sheridan

HAMILTON: Murdoch, McClenahan, Canning, McLaughlin (Elebert), Wesolowski, McArthur, Neil, F Paixo, M Paixo (Thomas), Imrie, Mensing. Subs: Potter, Van Zanten, Kirkpatrick, Wilkie, Crawford.

Referee: William Collum Att: 3,188

PHOTO

Top: Liam Craig nets from the rebounded penalty to make it 2-2... Bottom:......and celebrates in style