The Saints U19s picked up three well-deserved points at the McDiarmid Park astro on Tuesday afternoon.
It was a convincing 6-2 victory against Airdrieonians thanks to Murray Binnie’s hat-trick, a Lucas Louden double and a Danny Gray finish.
Saints had started the match on the front foot and midfielder Jack Robertson twice tried his luck with strikes from distance, which both fizzed the wrong side of the post.
We were forced into an early change when Fran Franczak hobbled off, with Gray his replacement.
It was Binnie who would open the scoring on the half hour mark when he weaved into the box and slotted beyond the goalkeeper.
The lead lasted all of three minutes before another switch was required due to injury. Cameron Fyffe hobbled off to be replaced by Cole Voy.
Undeterred, Saints doubled down and were back ahead on 38 minutes when Gray converted Dougal McAdam’s cut-back.
Gray would turn provider as the half-time whistle approached by driving into the box and finding Louden, who guided over the line.
There was a further change at the break with Robertson making way for Romano Poli.
Saints kept their foot on the gas and raced into a 5-1 lead courtesy of further goals from Louden and Binnie.
Airdrieonians, to their credit, did not down tools and found their second of the afternoon before Binnie rounded off the scoring – and his hat-trick – with little over 10 minutes remaining.
Saints: Thomson (Mustard 75), Martin, Crawford, Ashworth, Fyffe (Voy 36), McAdam, Binnie, Franczak (Gray 22), Louden, Robertson (Poli 45), Preston.
