Saints continued their pre-season programme this evening as they lost 1-0 in a tightly contested friendly with Falkirk at McDiarmid Park.
The only goal of the game came on 9 minutes as Scott Arfield slotted home following a Liam McCann corner.
Saints had chances to level during the second half however, Nicky Hogarth was in top form in the visitors goal as Adama Sidibeh, Makenzie Kirk, Cheick Diabate and Uche Ikpeazu were all denied by the Falkirk keeper.
Saints are back in action on Saturday as they get their Premier Sports Cup campaign underway with a Group F match at East Kilbride, kick off 3pm.
MATCH REPORT
Saints welcomed Falkirk to McDiarmid Park this evening for a pre-season friendly. There were four changes to the side which started the 1-1 draw at Forfar Athletic on Saturday as Toby Steward came in to make his debut between the sticks after joining on a season-long loan from Portsmouth, whilst Jackson Mylchreest, Fran Franczak and Adama Sidibeh also came into the starting eleven. They replaced Makenzie Krik, who dropped to the bench, whilst Ross Sinclair, Jamie Gullan and Taylor Steven all missed out. There was also a place on the bench for Cheick Diabate who joined Saints yesterday on a one-year deal.
Scott Arfield got the match underway for the visitors and the Bairns created the first chance of the match after 2 minutes as Alfredo Agyeman saw his effort tipped around the post for a corner by Toby Steward.
On 7 minutes a pass across the box by Jonathan Svedberg picked out Sam Stanton however, Liam Henderson made a good block to deny the midfielder before he could get his shot away.
Falkirk took the lead 2 minutes later as a Leon McCann corner from the right worked its way to Connor Allan and the shot from the midfielder broke to Arfield who made no mistake as he turned the ball home.
PHOTO: Sven Sprangler and Alfredo Agyeman
Saints almost got a quick reply on 11 minutes as great work from Adama Sidibeh saw the Gambian brilliantly win the ball before picking out Stanton on the edge of the box however, the midfielder sent his looping effort over the bar.
On 21 minutes following good hold-up play by Jackson Mylchreest the youngster then brilliantly picked out Matty Foulds whose first-time cross into the box was met by Sidibeh however, he couldn’t test Falkirk keeper Nicky Hogarth with his header as the Bairns keeper comfortably gathered the ball.
Just after the half an hour mark Sidibeh burst through the Falkirk backline and was in on goal however, former Saints player Lewis Neilson was able to get back and did enough to put off the Saints forward as Hogarth came rushing out of his goal to gather the ball. The Gambian international then got another sight off goal on 39 minutes however, his effort was deflected behind for a corner by Neilson.
PHOTO: Jonathan Svedberg and Lewis Neilson
Saints were caused the Bairns problems and a Svedberg corner on 42 minutes picked out Sidibeh however, he put his diving header over the bar.
Then a minute later Steward made a good save as he tipped an Agyeman effort around the post for a corner.
Falkirk started the second half brightly as on 47 minutes they broke forward at pace as Agyeman played in Ross MacIver however, the forward put his effort wide of the far post.
PHOTO: Adama Sidibeh is tackled by Liam Henderson
Sidibeh’s pace was causing the Falkirk defence problems and on 54 minutes the striker chased a long ball forward down into the box and he took a touch before seeing his effort deflected behind by Neilson for another corner.
Falkirk was next to create an opening on 58 minutes as Agyeman picked out Arfield on the edge of the area however, Jack Baird produced a brilliant block to deny the former Canadian international as Saints cleared their lines. Arfield got another sight of goal on the hour mark however, Steward was alert to the danger as he tipped the ball over the bar for a corner.
On 64 minutes Saints made five changes as Cheick Diabate, Scott Bright, Victor Griffith, Andre Raymond and Makenzie Kirk came on to replace Reghan Tumilty, Jack Baird, Sam Stanton, Jackson Mylchreest and Matty Foulds.
Saints were passing the ball about well and on 72 minutes Bright tried to pick out Sidibeh with a brilliant ball into the box as the forward was inches away from connecting with the pass before Hogarth came out to gather. Then a minute later a long ball from Morgan Boyes picked out Kirk who brilliantly took the ball down before unleashing a strike however, Hogarth made himself big to block the shot from the Saints forward.
PHOTO: Andre Raymond gets away from Dylan Tait
Simo Valakari made another change with 14 minutes remaining as Uche Ikpeazu came on to replace Adama Sidibeh.
Saints were pressing for an equaliser and on 80 minutes Kirk got the break of the ball as he burst into the box one-on-one with Hogarth however, the Bairns keeper made another good save, tipping the ball over for a corner. Then a minute later Kirk sent over an inviting cross into the box from the right which Keelan Adams turned behind for a corner. Svedberg took the corner from the left and it was met by Diabate however, Hogarth combined with substitute Sean Mackie to clear the header from the Saints defender off the line.
Saints continued to create chances and with 5 minutes remaining Kirk’s cutback from the byeline was gathered by Ikpeazu and he unleashed a shot on the turn however, Hogarth again came to the Bairns rescue as he made another good save.
Ikpeazu created one final chance for Saints on 87 minutes as he got on the end of a long ball forward as he then tried to chip Hogarth how he couldn’t get enough height on the ball as the Bairns keeper was able to gather the ball to ensure the visitors left McDiarmid Park with the win.
PHOTO: Cheick Diabate’s header is cleared off the line
Saints: Steward, Tumilty (Diabate 64’), Boyes, Svedberg, Sidibeh (Ikpeazu 76’), Stanton (Griffith 64’), Baird (Raymond 64’), Mylchreest (Kirk 64’), Foulds (Bright 64’), Sprangler, Franczak
Unused Substitute: Thomson (GK)
Falkirk: Hogarth, Adams, McCann, Henderson (Mackie 69’), Spencer, MacIver (Graham 75’), Agyeman (McCafferty 75’), Neilson (Tait 69’), Oliver, Allan, Arfield (Nesbitt 69’) (Miller 75’)
Unused Substitute: Bain (GK)
Scorer: Arfield (9’)
Referee: Greg Soutar
Attendance: 2,004
Match Report by Daryl Scott
Picture: Jonathan Svedberg gets between Leon McCann and Brad Spencer
