A second half strike from Josh McPake saw Saints come from behind to secure a point against Greenock Morton at McDiarmid Park this afternoon.
Eamonn Brophy put the visitors ahead midway through the first half with a fine strike from 25 yards.
However, Saints battled back and McPake levelled the match with 7 minutes remaining as he cut inside before slotting a low right-footed effort beyond Jamie Storer.
Saints are back in action in a fortnight as they head to Kirkcaldy to take on Raith Rovers, kick off 3pm.
MATCH REPORT
Saints welcomed Greenock Morton to McDiarmid Park this afternoon for a William Hill Championship match. There was one change to the Saints side which defeated Arbroath 3-0 last weekend as Sam Stanton came in for his first league start, replacing the injured Jamie Gullan. There was also a place on the bench for new signings Kai Fotheringham and Liam Smith. Greenock Morton battled out a 2-2 draw at home to Ayr United last Saturday and manager Dougie Imrie also made one change to his starting eleven as Owen Moffat dropped to the bench and he was replaced by Iain Wilson.
Kerr Robertson got the match underway for the visitors, but it was Saints who created an early chance after 6 minutes. Josh McPake cut inside and away from Cammy Ballantyne before seeing his effort turned behind for a corner by James Storer.
Morton got their first chance of the match on 11 minutes when Eamonn Brophy won possession from Matty Foulds just outside the box before picking out Iain Wilson however, Toby Steward made a smart save from close range as he turned the effort from the midfielder behind for a corner. The Cappielow side were awarded a free kick a minute later in a promising position after Ballantyne was fouled by Adama Sidibeh. Nathan Shaw took the free kick and his delivery into the Saints box was turned behind for a corner by Jason Holt at the back post.
On 18 minutes a Stevie Mallan corner from the left was brought down by Jack Baird who laid the ball off to McPake however, his strike was turned behind for another corner by Kris Moore.
PHOTO: Sam Stanton is tackled by Zak Delaney
Then on 23 minutes Morton took the lead as Brophy gathered the ball outside the box and took a touch before unleashing a right footed effort from 25 yards which flew into the top corner of the net.
Good passing by Saints on 32 minutes saw the ball played out wide to Matty Foulds and his delivery into the box was met by Sidibeh however, his diving header landed on the roof of the net. Then 2 minutes later McPake came close as he curled an effort inches wide of the far post.
Saints continued to apply pressure to the Morton goal and on 37 minutes McPake won a free kick after he was fouled by Ballantyne, who was booked by Grant Irvine. The free kick was taken by Mallan as he curled an effort around the wall and just wide of the post.
PHOTO: Josh McPake shoots wide
Saints made a triple change at half time as Morgan Boyes, Uche Ikpeazu and Kai Fotheringham, who was making his Saints debut, came on to replace Jack Baird, Adama Sidibeh and Stevie Mallan.
Saints created a chance 3 minutes into the second half as McPake sent a dangerous ball into the box which Sam Stanton got on the end of as he sent his header over the bar. Then on 52 minutes McPake cut across the edge of the box before putting his effort wide.
PHOTO: Matty Foulds and Kerr Robertson
Just after the hour mark Ikpeazu got on the end of a Foulds cross into the box however, the header from the Saints forward was saved by Storer. Then on 63 minutes McPake saw his strike deflected onto the post and behind for a corner by Cameron Blues as Saints continued to push for an equaliser.
On 71 minutes Saints made another change as Liam Smith came on to make his debut, replacing Matty Foulds.
With 16 minutes remaining McPake picked out Reece McAlear on the edge of the box and the midfielder unleashed a low effort which went wide of the post.
Saints then made another change as Sam Stanton was replaced by Jonathan Svedberg.
PHOTO: Kai Fotheringham is closed down by Iain Wilson
Saints continued to search for a way back into the game and on 80 minutes a McPake cross from the left was met by Fotheringham however, he couldn’t find the target with his header. Saints though eventually found a way back into the game as Svedberg played the ball to McAlear and the midfielder then moved it out the left to McPake. The winger cut inside and into the box before finding the bottom corner of the net with a low right-footed strike.
On 85 minutes Tumilty sent over an inviting delivery into the box which was turned behind for a corner by Zak Delaney. Then a minute later Storer was called into action as the Morton keeper made a good save tipping a long-range effort from Cheick Diabate over for another corner. Diabate got another sight of goal on 87 minutes as the defender got on the end of a Fotheringham cross however, his header went over the bar.
Saints continued to press in the closing stages and on 89 minutes Ikpeazu came close to winning the match for Saints as he got on the end of a Svedberg corner but the forward couldn’t direct his header on target as Saints had to settle for a share of the spoils.
PHOTO: Josh McPake scores to make it 1-1
Saints: Steward, Tumilty, Diabate, Holt, Sidibeh (Ikpeazu 45’), Stanton (Svedberg 77’), Foulds (Smith 71’), Baird (Boyes 45’), Mallan (Fotheringham 45’), McPake, McAlear
Unused Substitutes: Sinclair (GK), Sprangler, Bright, Franczak
Booked: Tumilty
Scorer: McPake (83’)
Greenock Morton: Storer, Ballantyne (Gillespie 53’), Delaney, Moore, Blues, Brophy (Adeloye 75’), Robertson (Garrity 68’), Shaw (McKay 75’), Longridge, Wilson, O’Halloran (Moffat 53’)
Unused Substitutes: Murdoch (GK), Corr, Hart, Murphy
Booked: Ballantyne, Robertson, Shaw
Scorer: Brophy (23’)
Referee: Grant Irvine
Attendance: 4,237
Match Report by Daryl Scott
Picture: Josh McPake celebrates his goal
