Match report: Saints 5-1 East Fife

Adama Sidibeh gave Saints the lead on 15 minutes as the forward headed home a David Keltjens cross.

Benji Kimpioka then doubled Saints advantage on 28 minutes turning home an Andre Raymond cross from the left.  

Sidibeh got his second and Saints third of the afternoon just before half time as he slotted home from close range following a Cammy MacPherson corner.

The Fifers pulled a goal back on 64 minutes when Alan Trouten converted from close range after Josh Rae had spilled a Scott Shepherd shot.

Makenzie Kirk scored his first goal for the club on 88 minutes to restore Saints 3 goal advantage. Then in stoppage time Kimpioka got his second of the game to make it 5-1.

Today’s result coupled with Alloa Athletic losing 2-1 at Greenock Morton means Saints finish top of Group F with 9 points and will now enter tomorrow’s last 16 draw.

Next up for Saints is a home game against Aberdeen a week on Monday as they get their William Hill Premiership campaign underway, kick off 8pm.

MATCH REPORT

Saints welcomed East Fife to McDiarmid Park this afternoon for their final Premier Sports Cup Group F match. Following Tuesday’s 3-2 defeat at Alloa Athletic Saints knew they had to win this afternoon’s match to stand any chance of progressing to the second round and hope that Alloa slip up at Greenock Morton. Craig Levein made five changes to his starting eleven for this afternoon’s cup match as Kyle Cameron, Drey Wright, Graham Carey, Matt Smith and Adama Sidibeh came in to replace Jack Sanders, Taylor Steven and Connor Smith who all dropped to the bench. Whilst Josh McPake missed out completely and Aaron Essel was suspended following his red card at the Indodrill Stadium in midweek. East Fife defeated Brechin City 4-0 on Tuesday evening and manager Dick Campbell made one change to his starting eleven as Alan Trouten came in to replace Nathan Austin who missed out completely.

Alan Trouten got the match underway for the visitors and it was Saints who created the first chance of the match on 7 minutes. A good move down the right channel saw David Keltjens cut inside as he tried to pick out Adama Sidibeh with his cross. However, his cross was cut out by former Saints player Brian Easton as the loose ball broke to Cammy MacPherson who unleashed a fierce strike which East Fife keeper Liam McFarlane tipped over the bar for a corner.

Saints were awarded a free kick 2 minutes later as Trouten fouled Matt Smith. Graham Carey took the free kick as he sent a curling delivery into the box however, no one in a Saints shirt could get on the end of it as the ball went out for a goal kick.

However, the breakthrough came on 15 minutes as Saints took the lead. Drey Wright played the ball into Keltjens and he clipped the ball into the box which Sidibeh got on the end of to head it into the net.

Saints continued to create chances to extend their lead. On 24 minutes Drey Wright saw his effort saved by McFarlane. Then a minutes later Wright got another sight of goal as MacPherson’s cross from the right was cutback by Sidibeh to Wright however, his effort tame as McFarlane gathered the ball.

PHOTO: Adama Sidibeh gets in behind Brian Easton to score for Saints

The pressure on the East Fife goal continued and on 27 minutes Kimpioka burst into the box before seeing his effort saved by McFarlane. The Swedish forward was given a second bite of the cherry as McFarlane was unable to hold onto the ball however, this time his effort was cleared off the line by Reis Peggie.

Kimpioka was not the be denied a minute later as he double Saints lead. A good long ball from Josh Rae played in Andre Raymond down the left and the Trinidad and Tobago internationalist sent over a good cross from the left which Kimpioka got on the end of to brilliantly slot the ball past McFarlane.

Just after the half an hour mark East Fife created a half chance as Scott Shepherd fired over from just outside the box. Then on 42 minutes Jack Healy picked out Alan Trouten with his cross from the right and the forward chested the ball down before seeing his overhead kick hit the bar.

However, Saints made it 3 just on the stroke of half time. A good move forward saw Carey move the ball onto his left foot before seeing his strike blocked by Easton for a corner. MacPherson took the corner from the left as Sam McClelland got on the end of it before Sidibeh fired the ball into the net from close range.

PHOTO: Benji Kimpioka celebrates his goal

Saints were forced into a change on 56 minutes as Max Kucheriavyi came on to replace the injured Cammy MacPherson.

Just before the hour mark Saints were awarded a free kick following a foul on Raymond by Healy. Carey took the free kick and his whipped ball into the box was met by Sidibeh whose header was palmed away by McFarlane.

The Fifers pulled a goal back on 65 minutes as Shepherd unleashed a strike from outside the box which Rae couldn’t hold onto and Trouten nipped in to score from close range.

Carey flashed an effort across the face of the East Fife goal on 70 minutes. Then shortly after the midfielder sent over a teasing ball into the box which was headed clear by Andrew Munro.

PHOTO: Andre Raymond is fouled by Jack Healy

Saints made a double change on 74 minutes as Fran Franczak and Makenzie Kirk came on to replace Andre Raymond and Adama Sidibeh. That was followed by another change on 85 minutes as Graham Carey made way for Taylor Steven.

Saints restored their 3 goal advantage on 88 minutes as a great through ball from Steven played in Kirk who burst into the box and was one-on-one with McFarlane and he brilliantly slotted the ball beyond the East Fife keeper for his first Saints goal.

PHOTO: Makenzie Kirk scores to make it 4-1

Saints were still not finished as in the first minute of stoppage time they made it 5. A long ball from Matt Smith picked out Kimpioka who burst forward down the right in between Munro and Easton before cutting inside, switching the ball to his left foot, to slot his strike into the corner of the net for his second of the afternoon and his fifth goal of the season. News then filtered through that Alloa Athletic had lost 2-1 at Greenock Morton which meant that Saints would finish top of Group F and progress into the last 16 of the Premier Sports Cup.

PHOTO: Benji Kimpioka gets the better of Brian Easton before scoring Saints fifth goal

Saints: Rae, Raymond (Franczak 74’), Cameron, MacPherson (Kucheriavyi 56’), Carey (Steven 85’), Wright, Sidibeh (Kirk 74’), McClelland, M. Smith, Kimpioka, Keltjens

Unused Substitutes: Sinclair (GK), Sanders, C. Smith, Sprangler, Parker

Booked: None

Scorers: Sidibeh (15’, 44’), Kimpioka (28’, 90+1’), Kirk (88’)

East Fife: McFarlane, Murdoch, Newton (Nicol 80’), Millar, Easton, Norey, Shepherd (Laaref 75’), Trouten, Healy (McManus 75’), Peggie, Munro

Unused Substitutes: Fleming (GK), Slattery, Docherty, Murray, Ramsay

Booked: None

Scorer: Trouten (64’)

Referee: Don Robertson

Attendance: 2,424

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Makenzie Kirk celebrates his goal