Saints got their pre-season friendlies underway this evening as they ran out comfortable 4-0 winners at Forfar Athletic.
Sam Stanton opened the scoring after 20 minutes, rising highest to head home a pinpoint cross from Matty Foulds. Just four minutes later, Kai Fotheringham doubled the advantage with a composed finish, before Josh Fowler added a third on the stroke of half-time, converting from close range.
Despite making several changes during the second half, Saints maintained their momentum. Taylor Steven put the seal on an impressive performance in Angus on 65 minutes, firing home a superb strike from 20 yards to complete a convincing 4-0 victory.
Next up for Saints is a trip to Montrose on Saturday for a testimonial for former Saints player Andrew Steeves, kick off 2pm.
MATCH REPORT
Saints preparations for the new season stepped up a gear this evening as they made their first public outing with a pre-season friendly against Forfar Athletic at The Parkgrove Stadium at Station Park. There were starts for new recruits Logan Chalmers and Matty Todd as Simo Valakari looked to get minutes into the players ahead of the Premier Sports Cup getting underway in a fortnight.
Jamie Richardson got the match underway for the hosts but it was Saints who created the first chance of the game after 2 minutes as Matty Todd saw his effort smothered at the near post by Loons keeper Marc McCallum. Saints made a positive start to the match and shortly after Jamie Gullan tested McCallum from distance however, his effort was straight at the Forfar captain who comfortably gathered the ball.
Forfar created an opening on 15 minutes as Tyler Pasnik saw his effort deflected behind for a corner by Cheick Diabate. Adam Brown took the corner from the right and his delivery was met at the near post by Martin Rennie who saw his header go narrowly over the bar.
PHOTO: Kai Fotheringham gets between Callum Wilson and Aaron Lynas
The breakthrough came on 20 minutes as Matty Foulds sent over a delightful cross from the left and it was met in the centre of the box by Sam Stanton who rose highest to plant a beautiful header beyond McCallum.
Saints then doubled their lead 4 minutes later as Josh Fowler played in Kai Fotheringham and the attacking midfielder played a brilliant dummy before slotting the ball into the net.
Saints came close to further extending their lead just after the half an hour mark but Forfar defender Mackenzie Lemon produced a brilliant block to turn the ball behind for a corner. Saints then forced a series of corners however, the hosts soaked up the pressure.
PHOTO: Kai Fotheringham scores Saints second goal
Simo Valakari’s side was playing some brilliant passing football and with 9 minutes of the first half remaining Stanton played a good one-two with Fotheringham as he burst into the Forfar box, but McCallum was quick off his line to deny the Saints midfielder. Stanton got another chance to get his second of the evening a minute later as he gathered the ball from Chalmers before unleashing a strike on the turn which McCallum was equal to.
Saints got their third of the evening on 43 minutes as a long ball forward was gathered by Chalmers who then played a brilliant low ball across the face of the Loons goal and Fowler slide in to knock the ball over the line from point blank range.
Saints were not content with three as they pushed forward for more as just before half time Fowler’s cross was met by Stanton, but his effort was deflected behind for a corner by Adam Livingstone. Then shortly after Todd sent a dangerous low ball into the box however, no one in a Saints short could get on the end of it as Abbie Hendry blew the whistle for half time.
PHOTO: Josh Fowler celebrates his goal
Saints made a raft of changes at half time as Cheick Diabate, Trialist, Matty Todd, Jason Holt, Logan Chalmers, Kai Fotheringham and Jamie Gullan were replaced by Daniel Finlayson, Jack Baird, Liam Smith, Jack Robertson, Taylor Steven, Unax Álvarez de Eulate and Ruari Paton.
On 50 minutes a good passing move by Saints saw Jack Robertson play in Foulds down the left and his cross into the box was gathered by Fowler however, his effort was blocked by the Forfar defence. The loose ball was then met by Stanton who drilled a powerful effort wide of the target. Then shortly after Fowler put his effort over the bar from close range as Saints continued to apply pressure to the hosts goal.
Despite the seven changes at half time Saints made a strong start to the second half and on 53 minutes Ruari Paton played in Unax Álvarez de Eulate but his strike was straight at McCallum who gathered the ball.
Ross Sinclair was called into action on 61 minutes as the Saints keeper got down well to save a long-distance effort from Brown.
Further changes were made by Saints as Matty Foulds, Sam Stanton and Josh Fowler were replaced by youngsters Arran Brookfield, Dougal McAdam and Arran Clark.
Saints continued to push forward and they added a fourth goal on 65 minutes when Taylor Steven unleashed a low left footed strike from the edge of the box which found the bottom corner of the net.
PHOTO: Taylor Steven makes it 4-0
Jack Robertson was putting in a strong performance in midfield and he came close to making it five on 67 minutes, but he hooked his effort narrowly wide of the post. Then 5 minutes later youngsters Arran Clark and Dougal McAdam combined down the left before the latter fired wide of the post.
With 12 minutes remaining McAdam’s saw his low cross into the Forfar box cut out by McCallum and then on 80 minutes Liam Smith’s cross from the right was met by McAdam who unleashed a strike from the edge of the box but McCallum again was alert to the danger as he got down well to make a good save to prevent Saints from adding to their tally.
PHOTO: Dougal McAdam shoots straight at Marc McCallum
Forfar Athletic: McCallum, Lynas (Trialist 79’), Livingstone (Trialist 79’), Dolzanski, Rennie (Shepherd 72’), Brown (MacLean 72’), Mailer (Trialist 62’), Lemon (Trialist 62’), Richardson, Wilson, Pasnik
Unused Substitutes: Trialist (GK), Trialist, Trialist
Saints: Sinclair, Diabate (Finlayson 45’), Trialist (Baird 45’), Holt (Robertson 45’), Fowler (Clark 62’), Gullan (Paton 45’), Stanton (McAdam 62’), Foulds (Brookfield 62’), Fotheringham (Steven 45’), Chalmers (U. Eulate 45’), Todd (Smith 45’)
Unused Substitute: Hepburn (GK)
Scorers: Stanton (20’), Fotheringham (24’), Fowler (43’), Steven (65’)
Referee: Abbie Hendry
Attendance: TBC
Match Report by Daryl Scott
Picture: Kai Fotheringham celebrates his goal
