A second half goal from Makenzie Kirk saw Saints battle out a 1-1 draw with Dundee United in their final pre-season friendly at McDiarmid Park this evening.
Bert Esselink gave the visitors the lead on 18 minutes when he slotted home Issac Pappoe’s low cross at the near post.
However, Saints fought back and their impressive second half display was rewarded on 86 minutes when Makenzie Kirk beat former Saints keeper Dave Richards with a brilliant glancing header.
Saints are back in action on Saturday as they head north to play Inverness CT in the Premier Sports Cup, kick off 3pm.
MATCH REPORT
Saints welcomed Dundee United to McDiarmid Park for their final pre-season friendly. Saints got their Premier Sports Cup campaign underway on Saturday as they defeated League Two side East Kilbride 3-1 at the Ross Commercial Financial Stadium and Simo Valakari made eight changes to the Saints starting eleven for tonight’s friendly. Cheick Diabate, Victor Griffith, Sam Stanton, Makenzie Kirk, Fran Franczak, Taylor Steven, Scott Bright and a trialist all came in to replace Reghan Tumilty, Jason Holt, Adama Sidibeh and Sven Sprangler, who all dropped to the bench. Whilst Morgan Boyes, Jamie Gullan, Matty Foulds and Josh McPake missed out completely. There was also a place on the bench for Louis Lloyd who joined Saints yesterday on a three-year deal from Cymru Premier club Caernarfon Town for an undisclosed fee.
Sam Stanton got the match underway for Saints and the midfielder did well to win Saints a free kick on 3 minutes after he was fouled by Isaac Pappoe. The free kick was taken by the trialist as the ball was worked out to Fran Franczak on the right who tried to pick out Jack Baird with his delivery into the box however, the Saints defender hit the ground under pressure from United keeper Yevhenii Kucherenko, but referee Nick Walsh wasn’t interested in the Saints appeals for a penalty as play continued.
United created their first chance of the match on 11 minutes as a Ryan Strain corner from the right was headed on by Iurie Iovu to Zac Sapsford however, the forward put his snapshot volley over the bar.
Saints were awarded a free kick 2 minutes later as the trialist was fouled by Panutche Camará. The trialist took the free kick himself as he sent a powerful delivery into the box which was cleared by the United rearguard.
Then on 18 minutes the visitors took the lead as Issac Pappoe’s low cross from the left was met by Bert Esselink who squeezed the ball home at the near post.
That goal gave Dundee United a boost and they went on to create several chances to extend their lead. On 23 minutes good pressing from Sapsford forced Baird to lose possession as Kristijan Trapanovski nipped in to win the ball before unleashing a strike which was straight at Toby Steward. Then a minute later the Macedonian got another sight of goal as he cut in from the left before seeing his curling effort pushed behind for a corner by Steward.
The pressure on the Saints goal continued and on 29 minutes Dario Naamo was in on goal however, Baird was able to get back to block the strike from the on-loan St. Pölten defender.
Saints came close to an equaliser with 6 minutes of the first half remaining as Stanton cut the ball back to the trialist whose curling effort from the edge of the box went narrowly wide of the far post.
Saints made a change before the second half got underway as Adama Sidibeh came on to replace Victor Griffith.
Dundee United were awarded a free kick just outside the box on 48 minutes after Trapanovski was brought down by Cheick Diabate. Trapanovski took the free kick himself however, his effort clipped the Saints wall before going behind for a corner.
On 55 minutes Sidibeh raced onto a short back pass from Iovu and the Gambian beat the onrushing Kucherenko to the ball before lifting his effort over the United keeper but his effort went inches wide of the post. Then 2 minutes later Saints got another chance to level the match as Sidibeh played in Kirk however, his low strike went narrowly wide of the far post.
Saints made a double change on 68 minutes as Jason Holt and Sven Sprangler came on to replace Jonathan Svedberg and Sam Stanton.
Saints were awarded a free kick in an inviting position on 73 minutes after Sprangler was fouled by Camará. The free kick was taken by the trialist and his shot at goal was held at the second attempt by substitute United keeper Dave Richards.
A brilliant defence splitting pass from the trialist with 15 minutes remaining sent Kirk free down the right channel and the forward then squared the ball to Sidibeh however, his effort was brilliantly blocked by Richard Odada. Then a minute later a corner from the right by the Saints trialist was met by Baird however, his goal bound header was cleared by the United defence.
The pressure from Saints continued and on 79 minutes Sidibeh latched onto a Kirk pass as his first time effort went over the bar. Sidibeh got another chance 2 minutes later as he got on the end of a free kick from the trialist however, his header went over the bar.
Then with 4 minutes remaining Saints got a deserved equaliser. Diabate played the ball out wide to Fran Franczak who took a touch before sending over an inviting delivery into the box which Kirk got up well to send a brilliant glancing header beyond Richards and into the far corner of the net.
Saints then made another change as Makenzie Kirk made way for new signing Louis Lloyd.
Saints created one final chance on 89 minutes as Franczak’s cross was met by Diabate however, the header from the defender was saved by Richards as both sides had to settle for a draw.
Saints: Steward, Diabate, Svedberg (Sprangler 68’), Griffith (Sidibeh 45’), Stanton (Holt 68’), Kirk (Lloyd 87’), Baird, Franczak, Steven, Bright, Trialist
Unused Substitutes: Hepburn (GK), Tumilty, Brookfield, Mylchreest, Ikpeazu
Booked: Bright
Scorer: Kirk (86’)
Dundee United: Kucherenko (Richards 66’), Strain (Thomson 66’), Esselink (Gilligan 66’), Iovu (Dewar 66’), Trapanovski (Constable 66’), Camará (Beattie 77’), Sapsford (Welsh 66’), Trialist (O’Donnell 66’), Naamo (Odada 66’), Trialist (Ševelj 66’), Pappoe (Sibbald 66’)
Booked: Iovu, Dewar, Sibbald
Scorer: Esselink (18’)
Referee: Nick Walsh
Attendance: TBC
Match Report by Daryl Scott
Picture: Makenzie Kirk celebrates his goal
