Saints extended their lead at the top of the William Hill Championship this afternoon to eight points as they defeated Greenock Morton 2-0 at Cappielow Park.
The breakthrough came late in the game, with Reece McAlear opening the scoring on 79 minutes with a superbly taken free kick. Saints then sealed the win with just 2 minutes remaining as Liam Smith fired an angled effort into the net after an excellent surging run through the middle by Cheick Diabate.
Saints are back in action next Saturday as they welcome Ross County to McDiarmid Park, kick off 3pm.
MATCH REPORT
Saints got the final quarter of their William Championship campaign underway this afternoon as they made the trip west to Inverclyde to take on Greenock Morton at Cappielow Park. There were two changes to the side which started the 3-1 win at home to Ayr United last weekend as Jamie Gullan and Josh Fowler both dropped to the bench and they were replaced by Ruari Paton and Louis Lloyd. Morton lost 3-1 at Airdrieonians last Saturday and manager Ian Murray made four changes to his starting eleven. Both Cammy Ballantyne and Curtis Main missed out due to suspension after getting sent off at the Albert Bartlett Stadium whilst Reuben Lopata-White and Michael O’Halloran also missed out. They were replaced by Kris Moore, Aaron Comrie, Nathan Shaw and Fergus Owens.
Michael Garrity got the match underway for the hosts and the Ton started brightly as they forced an early corner after 2 minutes which came to nothing.
Saints were awarded a free kick out wide on the right on 4 minutes after Reece McAlear was fouled by Iain Wilson. Ruari Paton took the free kick and his delivery into the box was worked to Jason Holt and the Saints captain clipped the ball back into the danger area, which was met by Jack Baird however, the defender couldn’t direct his header on target.
On 10 minutes Louis Lloyd produced a brilliant flick to play in Paton who burst forward before unleashing a strike which Murray Johnson tipped over for a corner. Then a minute later Saints got another sight of goal as Sam Stanton brilliantly won possession from Wilson just outside the box before seeing his curling effort deflect off Kris Moore for another corner.
PHOTO: Josh McPake gets the better of Aaron Comrie
Saints were starting to click into gear and on 17 minutes Josh McPake brilliantly stole possession out wide on the left before cutting inside and unleashed a right-footed which went over the bar. Then 2 minutes later Saints were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area after Paton was fouled by former Saints player Aaron Comrie. Paton stepped up to take the free kick but his effort hit the Morton wall.
The Ton was awarded a free kick near the halfway line on 24 minutes after Stanton had caught Grant Gillespie. Cammy MacPherson took the free kick as he sent a deep ball into the Saints box which was met by Fergus Owens who couldn’t direct his first time volley on target. Then 2 minutes later a Nathan Shaw cross was headed clear by Holt however, the clearance from the Saints captain dropped to Gillespie just outside the box but he put his volley well wide of the target.
On 32 minutes Paton got a sight of goal as his low strike was saved by Johnson. Then a minute later Paton turned provider as he played in Lloyd, but Johnson was again equal to the effort as he gathered the Welshman’s shot at the second attempt.
Saints continued to search for the opener and on 34 minutes Holt clipped the ball into the box which was met by Matty Foulds at the back post, but his header was well held by Johnson.
PHOTO: Louis Lloyd reacts after his shot is saved
With 6 minutes of the first half remaining McPake worked his way to the byeline before sending an inviting delivery into the box however, Stanton was unable to get a touch on the cross as the hosts cleared their lines.
Then a minute later Morton created a good chance as MacPherson’s delivery from the right was met by Shaw, but he guided his first-time effort wide of the target.
Saints then regained control of possession, which they had dominated during the first half, and carved out another opportunity on 42 minutes as McAlear delivered an inviting delivery into the box from the right. McPake met it at the back post however, he could not find the target with his header.
Saints started the second half with intent and in the first minute McPake’s delivery was met by Paton, but he couldn’t direct his header on target. Then 3 minutes later McAlear sent the ball out wide to Liam Smith on the right and the full-back sent over an inviting delivery into the box which Paton got on the end of however, he was unable to test Johnson in the home goal.
On 54 minutes Saints got a big chance to take the lead as McPake brilliantly won the ball before bursting away from Comrie and into the box however, Johnson was alert to the danger as he came out and smothered the ball at the winger’s feet.
PHOTO: Michael Garrity brings down Matty Foulds
Greenock Morton created their first chance of the half a minute later as Zak Delaney saw his effort saved by Toby Steward. The hosts were asking questions of Saints and on 57 minutes Comrie’s delivery to the back post was headed back across by Delaney to Garrity however, his volley was well held by Steward.
Saints then made a triple change as Jamie Gullan, Josh Fowler and Alfie Agyeman came on to replace Ruari Paton, Louis Lloyd and Jason Holt.
The changes disrupted the flow of the game and it took Saints some time to find their rhythm again. However, on 74 minutes a Gullan corner picked out Cheick Diabate whose header was blocked by a Morton defender. The Saints defender then got a second bite of the cherry as his shot on the turn went over the bar. Then shortly after Agyeman went on a powerful run before unleashing a strike from the edge of the box which took a deflection as it looped up and into the arms of Johnson.
With 13 minutes remaining Stanton won Saints a free kick 20 yards out after the Saints midfielder drew the foul from Fergus Owens, who was booked by referee Duncan Nicolson. Before Saints could take the free kick, they made another change as Josh McPake made way for Kai Fotheringham. Both Gullan and McAlear looked keen to take the free kick, although it appeared that Jack Baird, now captaining the side, instructed McAlear to take the set piece. It would prove to be the correction decision as the midfielder produced a fine piece of skill as he curled his effort around the wall and into the bottom corner of the net to break the deadlock.
PHOTO: Reece McAlear celebrates his goal
Saints then wrapped up the points on 88 minutes as Diabate drove forward on a powerful run before picking out Smith, who lashed an angled finish beyond Johnson and sent the away end into raptures.
PHOTO: Liam Smith scores his goal to make it 2-0
PHOTO: Liam Smith celebrates his goal with Cheick Diabate
Greenock Morton: Johnson, Delaney, Moore (Longridge 85’), Moffat, MacPherson, Garrity, Comrie, Gillespie, Shaw (Lyall 75’), Owens, Wilson
Unused Substitutes: Murdoch (GK), Crawford, Taylor, Murphy, Black
Booked: Gillespie, Owens, Wilson
Saints: Steward, Diabate, Holt (Agyeman 61’), Stanton, Foulds, Baird, Lloyd (Fowler 61’), Paton (Gullan 61’), McPake (Fotheringham 78’), Smith, McAlear
Unused Substitutes: Sinclair (GK), Tumilty, Steven, Mallan, Forrester
Booked: Gullan
Scorers: McAlear (79’), Smith (88’)
Referee: Duncan Nicolson
Attendance: 1,798 (424 Saints fans)
Match Report by Daryl Scott
Picture: Reece McAlear celebrates his goal
