Two second-half penalties from Jamie Gullan and a stunning volley from Reece McAlear earned Saints a convincing 3-0 victory over Greenock Morton in their Group F Premier Sports Cup clash at McDiarmid Park this afternoon.
After dominating possession throughout the first half, Saints were frustrated by a resolute Morton defence which stood firm to ensure the sides went into the break level.
The breakthrough finally arrived just after the hour mark when Jamie Gullan made no mistake, powering his penalty beyond Brian Kinnear, after Ruari Paton had been shoved inside the box.
Saints doubled their advantage on 72 minutes with the goal of the afternoon. Reece McAlear met the ball with a superb volley that flew into the net, leaving Kinnear with no chance.
The hosts sealed the victory in the closing stages when Josh Fowler was brought down in the box by Dean Black. Gullan once again stepped up confidently, converting his second penalty of the afternoon to cap off a dominating Saints performance.
The result moves Saints to the top of Group F with six points from their opening two matches.
Next up is a trip to the Highlands on Tuesday evening to take on Inverness CT, kick off 7:45pm.
MATCH REPORT
Saints welcomed Greenock Morton to McDiarmid Park for their first home game of the season. For this afternoon’s Premier Sports Cup Group F match Simo Valakari made two changes to the side which defeated Linlithgow Rose 2-0 on Tuesday evening as Liam Smith and Jack Baird dropped to the bench. They were replaced by Matty Todd, who was making his competitive debut for Saints, and Cheick Diabate. There was also a place on the bench for Macaulay Tait who joined yesterday on a two-year deal from Hearts. Greenock Morton manager Ian Murray made five changes to the side which lost 2-0 at East Fife on Tuesday evening. Bobby McLuckie, Grant Gillespie, Louie Murphy, Mackenzie Carse and Dean Black came in to replace Cammy Ballantyne, Jackson Longridge, Michael O’Halloran, Harry Cochrane and Jayden Gorman who all missed out completely. The Cappielow side came into today’s match with an extensive injury list and were only able to name four substitutes on the bench.
Michael Garrity got the match underway for the visitors, but it was Saints who would create the first chance of the match in the first minute. Good play down the right channel saw Matty Todd pick out Logan Chalmers in the box however, the shot from the midfielder was saved by Brian Kinnear.
With 12 minutes on the clock Kai Fotheringham won Saints a free kick in a promising position after he was fouled by Dean Black on the edge of the box. Reece McAlear stepped up to take the free kick, and the midfielder lifted his effort over the wall before seeing it going narrowly wide of Kinnear’s right-hand post.
PHOTO: Kai Fotheringham is fouled by Dean Black
Saints were controlling possession and on 28 minutes Sam Stanton played Fotheringham into the box however, the Morton defence were alert to the danger as they cleared the cut-back. Then 2 minutes later Cheick Diabate saw his powerful strike blocked by a Morton player. Saints kept up the pressure as Chalmers sent over a good delivery from the left, but Kristian Moore cut out the delivery before Zach Mitchell could connect with it. Todd was next to have a shot at goal shortly after however, his curling left-footed effort went inches wide as Saints continued to search for the breakthrough.
With 10 minutes of the first half remaining Fotheringham won Saints another free kick after he was brought down by Iain Wilson. Chalmers delivered the set-piece into the box however, he couldn’t pick out anyone in a Saints shirt as his delivery drifted behind for a goal kick.
PHOTO: Ruari Paton takes on Dean Black
Saints made a change at half time as Jamie Gullan came on to replace Jason Holt.
Saints started the second half strongly as on 47 minutes Fotheringham played in Gullan down the left but his cross into the Morton box was cut out for a corner by Moore. Gullan caused more problems for the visitors a minute later as his deep delivery into the box was turned behinf for another corner by Louie Murphy.
Simo Valakari’s side continued to apply pressure and on 50 minutes Chalmers went close with a powerful effort from just outside the box.
On 58 minutes Fotheringham played in Gullan, but Laiith Fairnie made a crucial block to keep the score level.
Just after the hour mark, Chalmers delivered a dangerous delivery into the box as he tried to pick out Ruari Paton, but the Saints forward was pushed in the back by Grant Gillespie. Referee David Dickinson immediately awarded a penalty, and Gullan stepped up to take responsibility from the spot, making no mistake as he fired his effort high into the net to give Saints the lead.
PHOTO: Jamie Gullan scores from the penalty spot to make it 1-0
Saints then made a triple change as Josh Fowler, Morgan Boyes and Liam Smith came on to replace Zach Mitchell, Kai Fotheringham and Matty Todd.
On 69 minutes Smith broke to the byeline before sending an inviting low ball across the six-yard box which Fairnie almost turned into his own net as he turned the ball inches past the far post. Gullan took the resultant corner from the left, and his delivery was cleared only as far as Matty Foulds but his volley went narrowly wide.
Saints doubled their lead on 72 minutes as a Chalmers corner from the right was punched clear by Kinnear. However, the goalkeeper’s clearance only went as far as McAlear, who unleashed a fantastic first-time volley from the edge of the area that flew high into the net.
PHOTO: Reece McAlear scores Saints second goal
Then 2 minutes later a Foulds cross from the left was met by Smith, but his header was well held by Kinnear. The one-way traffic towards the visitor’s goal continued as on 76 minutes Fowler saw his shot blocked by Moore and the loose ball then broke to Foulds but the left-back dragged his effort wide.
Saints made another change shortly after as Macaulay Tait came on to make his debut, replacing Sam Stanton.
With 5 minutes remaining Saints crafted another opening as Gullan’s cross from the left was met by Paton, but Moore produced another important block for the Inverclyde side. The ball then broke to Tait, but his left-footed effort drifted wide of the post. A minute later, Paton got another sight of goal however, his strike was saved by Kinnear.
In the closing minutes, Saints were awarded another penalty after Fowler was brought down by Black. Gullan stepped up to take the spot-kick once again and made no mistake, calmly sending the ball beyond Kinnear for his second and Saints third of the afternoon.
PHOTO: Josh Fowler is brought down by Dean Black for a penalty
PHOTO: Jamie Gullan scores his second penalty
Saints created one final chance in stoppage time as Chalmers brilliantly cut in from the right before unleashing a low strike. Kinnear was equal to the effort, making the save to deny him, but Saints had already done enough to secure a comfortable victory which sees them move to the top of Group F.
Saints: Steward, Diabate, Mitchell (Boyes 63’), Holt (Gullan 45’), Stanton (Tait 80’), Foulds, Fotheringham (Fowler 63’), Chalmers, Todd (Smith 63’), McAlear, Paton
Unused Substitutes: Sinclair (GK), Steven, Baird, Finlayson
Booked: Chalmers, Paton, Fowler
Scorers: Gullan (62’ pen, 89’ pen), McAlear (72’)
Greenock Morton: Kinnear, Moore, Garrity, McLuckie (Carroll 86’), Sandilands (Lang 83’), Gillespie, Wilson (Burgess 78’), Murphy, Carse, Black, Fairnie
Unused Substitute: Murdoch (GK)
Booked: Gillespie, Wilson
Referee: David Dickinson
Attendance: 2,040
Match Report by Daryl Scott
Picture: Jamie Gullan celebrates his first goal
